Through the Window: December 2017

Some surprises and delights by the time the Bird Monitoring Walk and Christmas Bird Count rolled around. (We did not actually have quite this much snow, but it’s getting there.)

Birders on a winter monitoring waslk
Snow Birders

At our feeders, and in the various dogwoods, crabapples, forsythia, azalea, spruce, birch and other bushes, shrubs and trees visible from our viewing window:

  • Blue Jay
  • Mourning Dove (a flock of over 26 birds on 12/8/2017)
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Black-capped chickadee
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker (12/27/2017 and again during the Bird Monitoring Walk, Window-watching segment)
  • White-throated Sparrow (12/27/2017)
  • Ruffed Grouse (12/27/2017 and several of the days after)
  • Northern Shrike (I know, right?!? Confirmed by two experienced birders, 12/30/2017)
  • American Robin (12/30/2017)
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch (12/30/2017)
  • Barred Owl (heard in early afternoon on 12/11/2017)

(Bold items in this list are those species not recorded in November 2017.)

The usual wee winter fuzzies (Gray and Red Squirrels) appeared as well as a Cottontail Rabbit (which just may have inspired a “squee” sort of noise from at least one of us here, but we’re not confessing, nope, not a bit.)

Although we’re “open by appointment”, we love having people call to visit! From November to April, please call or emai lto arrange a visit—this lets us adjust the heating to human comfort, among other things. If you are one of the exhibiting artists, this is a great time to pick up art. Volunteers, we have opportunities for you all the time. “Just sayin'”

We continue to host walks, carving classes, and more through the winter, listed on our events page.  If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter , tumblr, and/or Instagram too, you’ll find more comments, links, and observations. See you soon!

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.

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