Through the Window: August 2015

We had a critter cam, sensitive to motion, installed this month. It’s been such a treat to see some of the larger birds at times when we are not at the Museum! It’s also possible that more species were seen—especially by visitors—but not recorded on the noteboard.

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

• American Goldfinch
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Tufted Titmouse
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Mourning Dove
• Blue Jay
• Downy Woodpecker
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  
• Wild Turkey (2 juveniles! And more seen after hours with our new critter cam!)
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• Sharp-shinned Hawk (juvenile?)
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Northern Cardinal
• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• Song Sparrow (and a juvenile on 8/10/2015)
• Common Grackle
• Purple Finch
• Northern Oriole
• Gray Catbird
• Hawk spp.
• Mourning Warbler (8/8, in front of Museum; the same or other warbkler spp seen in feeder area but not identified, ~8/16)
• American Crow (seen only on the critter cam! They cam every morning around 6 am for several days)

Diurnal mammals included Woodchuck, Red Squirrels, Gray Squirrels, and Eastern Chipmunks. Nocturnal ones included raccoons, mice, and once a cat.

We caught a strange glimpse of a katydid too, looking surprisingly like a mythical creature…

Come see for yourself! We’re open every day from 10am until 4pm, through October 31. From museum exhibits to relaxing in our accessible treehouse to a short stroll to the bond: catch some glimpses of maturing fledglings, juveniles and adults as they prepare to migrate or find fall and winter roosting sites. There’s always some wild thing to learn from or about. Come by or get in touch: (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.