Category: Carvings and Displays

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Northern Cardinal Carving Class

We are really looking forward to this coming Saturday’s carving class.  David Tuttle of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers will be teaching it, which means a great combination of experience and fun. He’ll provide the cardinal wood blank and eyes; the Museum will offer snacks and coffee. Northern Cardinal Carving Class at the Birds of Vermont MuseumThe cardinal can stand alone or become a holiday ornament (as in the picture). There’s still some time to pre-register! Call (802) 434-2167 or email us at museum@birdsofvermont.org; you can bring payment to the class or pay by phone. (Aside: do you think we should we enable PayPal?)

If you take this class, please bring your lunch and your own carving tools. Some carving tools may be for sale–let us know when you register. The fee is $25 for Birds of Vermont Museum members / $35 non-members.

Class starts at 9:00am and goes until 4:00pm. Best for older kids and adults, and beginners are welcome.

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The Peeps of the Museum: First (Annual?) Community Art Show

First (Annual?) Community Art Show: the Peeps of the MuseumThe First (and possibly Annual) Community Art Show is open! Members, Volunteers, Interns and Staff display their artworks at the museum. Drop by and admire our local talent.

The show is open with the Museum: Daily 10 am – 4 pm until October 31st.

If you are a member or volunteer and would like to display a piece, please give us a ring (802 434-2167) or an email (museum@birdsofvermont.org). We still have some space.

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Feeding hummingbirds in fall

I received a call today from a woman wondering what to do about hummingbirds. Two juvenile birds still come to her feeder, but she hasn’t seen the parents in some time. Should she take in the feeder? Is the food she provides keeping those young birds from migrating? Will they migrate without the parents? Are the parents still around, just not coming to her feeder?

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Female (woodcarving)
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Female (carved by Bob Spear)

I asked Bob Spear, since he’s got considerably more experience as a naturalist than I do–decades more.

“Leave it up,” he says. In fact, our hummingbird feeders are still up at the Museum and we saw a female ruby-throated hummingbird on Tuesday the 14th of September.  He tells us the males head south earlier than females and young ones, and he suspects that the female parent of the two juveniles is still nearby. Furthermore, migrating individuals from further north may stop at feeders on their way south (and in this week’s chilly rain, every bit helps). “It’s a myth,” he says, “that our feeders will keep them from migrating when it’s time for them to go.”

So enjoy your last glimpses of these little birds, glinting against the autumn leaves.

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Early Morning Bird Walk

Shirley Johnson and Alison Wagner have been leading the Early Morning Birds Walks this spring. (Haven’t been on one yet? Come on Sundays at 7:00 a.m.; we will be doing these through June).  They post the birds the group observes on a white board here at the museum, and report some of the highlights to us over coffee.

Last week, Alison lead a group despite the snowy weather. Yes, they were successful, observing some dozen or so species.

Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler (carved by Bob Spear). One of the species identified on today's Early Morning Bird Walk.

Today, Shirley reported hearing two barred owls having a “party”, cackling and laughing back and forth to each other. She also said they’d heard a Louisiana Waterthrush, and compared the sounds of that species as recorded by the iFlyer and the Birding by Ear CDs.

Come along on our next trip! See http://www. birdsofvermont.org/ events.php for the schedule. There’s no fee, and coffee is provided.

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Bob Spear turns 90!

Bob Spear, Master Woodcarver and Founding Director of the Birds of Vermont Museum, turned 90 on February 21st!

Bob’s first carving was completed in 1938 when he carved a parakeet with just a penknife. This carving is on display at the Museum. He is also the author of the book, The Birds of Vermont, published in 1969 by the Green Mountain Audubon Society. In 1979 he started creating a collection of bird carvings in hopes of someday establishing a location where people could come to see them and learn about birds. In 1982 he was active in establishing the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington and served as its first director for seven years. In 1987 the Birds of Vermont Museum opened. In addition to creating all the bird carvings on display, Spear also built the museum building and all the display cases. At the time of the opening, the museum housed only 231 bird carvings.

Spear continued to carve more species of birds and the museum’s collection has since swelled to more than 486 carvings. The length of time required for Spear to complete a carving varies widely, depending on the size of the bird. Prior to completing a wild turkey carving, which required 1,230 hours, Spear’s carving of a California condor had held the honor of having required the most hours to complete (500 hours). Bob continues to carve for the Museum and recently completed two shorebirds for the Wetland Diorama.

For more information about Bob’s accomplishments see http://www.birdsofvermont.org/carver.php

Many people have already donated $90 to the Museum to honor Bob on his birthday. The Museum greatly appreciates these donations. For those wishing to make a donation in honor of Bob please send a check to Birds of Vermont Museum, 900 Sherman hollow Road, Huntington, VT 05462. Thank you!!

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Art Contest 2009 Results

Some of our terrific entries on display in the Museum
Some of our terrific entries on display in the Museum

We’ve created a FaceBook Album to show the winning entries from our 2009 Art Contest. Many thanks to all artists, and to their parents and teachers who supported and encouraged them.

Our 2009 wining artists are:

Age 0-5:  Clayton M, Natalia G, and Kate J
Ages 6-8: Syd F, Brandon B, Joanna W, Connor O, Daniel C, Jessica B, Jonah J, Josh D, Logan W, Olivia C, Olivia V, Owen Z
Ages 9-13: Clarisse H, Georgia W, Ashley M, Austin B, and Hannah M
Ages 14-18: Madeline D, Bridget F, Leighsha J, Chiara E, Emmy T

And some special categories:

3-Dimensional: Austin V, Esme C, Hannah M and Jason H
Foil Art: Haley T, Olivia R, Kristina T, Dania A, Jordan A and Justine M

We had a few additional artists deserving mention:

Morgan B for the “Best Bird Part” (a beak); Cadence B for “Best Indigo Bunting”, Kelly W for “Funniest Penguin” and Yasmine N for the “Hummingbird Award”.

More great entries in our 2009 Art Contest
More great entries in our 2009 Art Contest
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puzzlePalooza puzzle piece finished

BOVM puzzle piece

Ingrid Riga, Museum Curator, has finished painting the puzzle piece for puzzlePalooza. For more infromation about puzzlePalooza see http://vermontartscouncil.org/ProgramsInitiatives/ArtFitsVermont/tabid/67/Default.aspx.

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Museum paints puzzle piece as part of Puzzle Palooza

A partially finished puzzle piece for Puzzle Palooza!
A partially finished puzzle piece for Puzzle Palooza!

The Birds of Vermont is working on a puzzle piece for Puzzle Palooza!

See www.vermontartscouncil.org for more information.

The puzzle piece is under construction and is being painted by Museum Curator, Ingrid Riga!

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Dick Allen donates bird carving for International Migratory Bird Day raffle

chickadee bird-carving

The Birds of Vermont Museum and Audubon Vermont are getting ready to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day on May 16, 2009.  Every year we hold a raffle to jointly benefit both organizations.  This year the raffle prizes are 1) A  Black-capped Chickadee donated by local wood carver, Dick Allen,  2) Audubon coffee with Museum mugs, 3) A $125.00 certificate for a week of camp at Audubon Vermont, and 4) A gift basket of plush birds and bird books.  Interested in purchasing raffle tickets?  Stop by Audubon Vermont’s  Sugar on Snow Party this coming weekend (http://vt.audubon.org/), or swing by the Museum.  Call for more information, or with questions 802-434-2167.

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