More light traffic… or should I say continued light traffic? at the feeders this month.
Through the Window: November 2017
Thanking some shoppers
Thank you to AmazonSmile shoppers! Your shopping choice helps us a lot. If you shop Amazon.com, try the Smile program instead at http://smile.amazon.com/ch/03-0277302 —Amazon will donate to the Birds Of Vermont Museum. #YouShopAmazonDonates
Through the Window: October 2017
Through October, we continued to have light traffic at our feeders, but plenty of birds deeper in the woods. Great insects, fruits, berries? Could be.
This month’s list includes what we observed at the Big Sit!, one of our favorite birding activities.
Through the Window: September 2017
It’s pretty dry out there this month . Several people have called in to report no one is at their feeders. What are your thoughts about that? Have you observed a decline in recent weeks at your feeders? You can compare this September to past ones: 2016, 2015, 2014. Consider coming on October 19th to Steve Faccio’s presentation, The Status of Vermont Forest Birds. (RSVP, so we can have the right number of chairs and possibly refreshments.)
Thank You Volunteers!
On Sunday, September 10, many volunteers chose to spend a beautiful sunny day helping out in and around the Museum.
We are beyond grateful.
With everyone’s help we trimmed trails, cut trees, weeded gardens, organized storage areas, sorted donated items, entered bird lists into ebird, cleaned and dusted exhibits, updated signage, replaced window netting, prepped for programs, photographed pollinators, updated bulletin boards, and removed invasive plants. Many thanks to Darlene, Erny, Bob, Shirley, Elizabeth, Pat, Ginger, Brian, Owen, Hunter, Rita, Justin, Chase, Bill, Mae, John, Lori, Josh, Morgan, Abi, and Levi.
We ended the day with Mike Kessler, another volunteer, leading a tracking walk where the group found signs of bear, bobcat, moose, red squirrel, deer, and porcupine.
Thank you!
Art Review: ‘Birding by the Numbers,’ Birds of Vermont Museum
Most art shows can be viewed without particular attention to their settings, but ‘Birding by the Numbers’ is inseparable from its locale. The Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington organized the community art exhibit to celebrate its 30th anniversary. …Numbers are the key to ornithology… The artists’ responses to this intersection of ideas range from literal to literary.
Source: Art Review: ‘Birding by the Numbers,’ Birds of Vermont Museum
Read further: the original Call to Artists
Through the Window: July 2017
High summer! The flow at the feeders is steady, not too many surprises. Mammals are taking great advantage of our feeding; we may limit the food on the ground for a while.
Through the Window: May 2017
Wow, what a spring! Some unusual species seen and heard this month, for us, down here at the Viewing Window. (Okay, okay, we did record a few birds heard or seen while we were coming into the Museum or running out to check the mail….)
Female (carved by Bob Spear)
Bold items in this list are those species not recorded last month.
- Black-capped chickadee
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Blue Jay
- Red-Winged Blackbird
- Mourning Dove
- Tufted Titmouse
- White-throated Sparrow
- Wild Turkey
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Hairy Woodpecker
- American Goldfinch
- Common Grackle
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak (May 2, 2017 and often thereafter)
- Downy Woodpecker
- Wood Thrush
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird (First of Year male: May 10, 2017; female: May 13)
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Common Raven
- Northern Cardinal
- Baltimore Oriole (FOY 5/15/2017)
- Ovenbird (heard outside May 16, 2017)
- Canada Goose (heard outside May 14, 2017)
- Song Sparrow (heard outside)
- Scarlet Tanager (Male, seen drinking from stream below the riparian slope pollinator gardens on May 17, 2017)
- Eastern Phoebe (nesting under Bridge)
- Cooper’s Hawk (trying to take prey at the feeding area, May 28, 2017; two unsuccessful attempts)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher (heard and seen Tuesday May 23, 2017)
- Eastern Towhee
The usual mammals maintained their presence: Red and Gray Squirrels, and Eastern Chipmunks. We didn’t observe the Eastern Cottontail but we did see the Woodchuck. Wood Frogs tadpoles occupied the pon on May 17, 2017, and Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are back by May 23.
Our “summer” hours have arrived! May through October, we are open daily from 10am – 4pm (with a few extra evenings, and sometime closed for part of the July 4 holiday). Click over to 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.
Through the Window: April 2017
Welcome spring! As often in April, the number of species seen rises dramatically. Boldface in this list are those species not recorded last month.
- Wild Turkey
- Black-capped chickadee
- Blue Jay
- Northern Cardinal
- Dark-eyed Junco
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Mourning Dove
- Red-Winged Blackbird
- Downy Woodpecker
- Red-tailed Hawk (seen soaring over Museum 4/4/17)
- Hairy Woodpecker
- American Tree Sparrow
- Turkey Vulture (overhead, westward, 4/4/17)
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Tufted Titmouse
- American Crow
- Song Sparrow
- Fox Sparrow (4/6/17)
- Eastern Phoebe (talking 4/10, and at bird blind)
- Purple Finch (First of Year 4/15/17)
- Pine Siskin (First of Year, 4/15/17)
- American Goldfinch
- Common Grackle
- Downy Woodpecker
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Northern Flicker (4/17/17)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4/19/17)
- Barred Owl (heard 4/13/17)
- Chipping Sparrow (First of year 4/25/17)
- White-throated Sparrow
The usual mammals maintained their presence: Red and Gray Squirrels, Eastern Cottontail rabbit, and Eastern Chipmunks. Wood Frogs made the feeder area mini pond noisy on several rainy days, and Spotted Salmander eggs will remain in the pond for a little while longer.
Our “summer” hours have arrived! May through October, we are open daily from 10am – 4pm (with a few extra evenings, and sometime closed for part of the July 4 holiday). Click over to 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.
Volunteer Work Day 2017
We have awesome volunteers.
On Saturday, April 15, we accomplished over 100 hours of work together! Continue reading “Volunteer Work Day 2017”