October is so full of color changes. Not, perhaps, so much for birds; they’ve already mostly shifted into their winter costumes if they’re going to (hey, American Goldfinches, I’m looking at you). But look at some of those birds…if you can see them against the leaves. Did you know there were so many beautiful shades and tints of browns? Look again; there’s another.
Bold text indicates the species we did not see last month.
- Purple Finch
- Blue Jay
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- American Goldfinch
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Song Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Tufted Titmouse
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Northern Cardinal
- Northern Goshawk (10/2, 10/9)
- American Crow
- Mourning Dove
- Common Grackle
- Brown Thrasher (10/8)
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Fox Sparrow (10/26)
- Pileated Woodpecker (at the front of Museum eating dried-on-the-vine grapes)
- Barred Owl (several days after 10/25, in the trees along the road by the Museum, and even hunting in the verge)
We’ve just shifted to winter hours (that is, by appointment). If you’d like to come and practice your bird ID skills and find out more about winter feeding or winter birdwatching and citizen science opportunites, great! (We have these nifty birds-carved-in-wood, too…) Call or email to set up your time to visit: (802) 434-2167 or museum@ birdsofvermont.org.
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film covering that helps hide watchers from the birds. We have chairs and binoculars to try, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.