A nice month! We were busy with camp groups, some new Nestlings programs, our wonderful annual butterfly walk, a carving class, and the final touches on our July Chip Notes newsletter.
And with all that, we still time to do a little sedentary birding! Though we are a bit sparse on birds at the feeders right now (see below)…
July Bird List
Heard (from Bridge)
- Veery
- Ovenbird
- Chestnut-sided Towhee
Seen (through museum windows)
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Blue Jay
- Eastern Phoebe
- Great-Crested Flycatcher
- Northern Cardinal
(Bold items in this list are those species not recorded in June 2022.)
Still Not Feeding
We are restricting feeding due to avian influenza being present in the state. While we don’t see domestic fowl at our feeders, we do sometimes see wild turkeys, hawks or falcons, and sometimes have waterfowl on the nearby pond. We are using only sunflower chips, which are eaten quickly, thus reducing time birds spend at the feeder and leaving less waste for the squirrels.
A few relevant links:
Avian Influenza Wildlife Health Bulletin from VT Fish and Wildlife Department: https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/living-with-wildlife/wildlife-diseases/avian-influenza-wildlife-health-bulletin
USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Vermont from VT Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/agency-agriculture-food-markets-news/usda-confirms-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-vermont
Avian flu has been detected in Vermont. Here’s how to protect your flock from VPR: https://www.vpr.org/vpr-news/2022-04-12/avian-flu-has-been-detected-in-vermont-heres-how-to-protect-your-flock
And about those July events? See what we did : July 2022 events
Check out our newsletter archive, too: https://birdsofvermont.org/more/chip-notes-newsletter/
Care to observe with us? Register for one of our upcoming events. See you soon!
Volunteers, we always have opportunities for you!
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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, 8′ steel 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.