Our Blog

Posted on

Through the Window: October Birds at the Feeders

If you’ve been to see us, you know that we record these birds on a whiteboard by the viewing window. The handwriting on the board is varied, as staff, volunteers, and even visitors will jot down the common name of birds they see. This month, against the final changes in foliage, we noted:

Brown Creeper, carved by Robert N. Spear, Jr.
Brown Creeper, wood carving by Robert N. Spear, Jr.
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Blue Jay
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Black-capped chickadee
  • American Goldfinch
  • White-crowned sparrow
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Purple Finch (male)
  • American Crow
  • Mourning Dove
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Brown Creeper
  • Fox Sparrow
  • Ruffed Grouse
  • Song Sparrow
  • Rusty Blackbirds (unless they were Common Grackles?)
Posted on

Through the Window: September Feeder Birds

Against the shifting foliage, we’ve seen many birds (some the last of the year, as they migrate southwards).  Nearby, we also observed a mammal of some note!

Birds:

  • Blue Jay
  • Grackle
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird (last male on 9/7/2010; last female on 9/14/2010)
  • Purple Finch
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • American Goldfinch
  • Mourning Dove
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak (still here 9/11/2010)
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Black-capped chickadee
  • White-throated Sparrow (9/17/2010, 9/29/2010)
  • Easter Phoebe
  • Pileated Woodpecker — swooping over and museum
  • Song Sparrow
  • Bluebird (9/28, 11:30 a.m.)

Mammal:

  • Bobcat sighted by a cyclist on 9/20/2010 at 1:33 p.m., just north of museum parking lot on Sherman Hollow Road

And something you can’t actually see from the window, but must get up and walk to:

Autumn Flowers at the Birds of Vermont Museum
Autumn Flowers at the Birds of Vermont Museum. Photo taken in September 2005 in the field between the road and the pond.
Posted on

Through the Window: April birds and more

This was a seriously happenin’ month! Birds, mammals, amphibians. And yes, they were all seen through the windows of the museum. As always, these are roughly in the order we saw them.

Mourning Dove with nest, egg
Mourning Dove with nest, egg; carved by Robert N. Spear, Jr.
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Black-capped chickadee
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Red-winged blackbird (female, April 3)
  • Mourning Dove
  • Ruffed Grouse (April 1)
  • American Goldfinch
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Evening Grosbeak (April 3)
  • Eastern Phoebe (FOY, April 3)
  • Sapsucker (April 3, FOY)
  • Song Sparrow (April 6, FOY)
  • Chipping Sparrow (FOY, April 7)
  • Kestrel (April 6)
  • Northern Flicker (April 6)
  • Common Grackle
  • Brown-headed Cowbird (FOY, April 10)
  • White-throated Sparrow (FOY, April 13)
  • American Robin (April 29)

For amphibians, we noted a wood frog on April 1 and a spotted salamander April 11. Wood frog eggs were noted in our little pond (the one near the viewing window) on April 3 and April 6).

We observed chipmunk, red squirrel, gray squirrel, a woodchuck (a.k.a. groundhog, on April 3) and, in a lucky moment, a bobcat on April 16.

The birds were recorded in our eBird record as well.

Posted on

March Through the Window

We’ve seen these through the window in March, sometimes while passing by, and sometimes while directly observing for Feeder Watch. The ones we didn’t see last month are in bold.

  • American Crow
  • Wild Turkeys (20 on 3/16; 2 displaying Toms)
  • Blue Jays
  • Chickadees, Black-capped
  • Purple Finch
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Mourning Dove
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • White-Breasted Nuthatch
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Fox Sparrow 3/26
  • Common Grackle 3/28
  • Red-winged Blackbird 3/20
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Song Sparrow 3/23
  • Ruffed Grouse 3/25
  • Northern Cardinal 3/28
  • Red Squirrel
  • Gray Squirrel
  • Eastern Chipmunk
Posted on

Early Birders’ Observations for June 19, 2016

Michelle Patenaude continues her volunteering, by leading the June 19th Early Birders Morning Walk also. Thank you, Michelle, for your consistent and so-welcome effort!

Here’s the report:

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 Jun 19, 2016 7:10 AM - 10:15 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.5 mile(s)
 Comments:     Early Birders Walk led by Michele Patenaude.
 39 species
 
 Turkey Vulture  1
 Mourning Dove  1
 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2     2 males displaying
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
 Downy Woodpecker  3
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Pileated Woodpecker  3     observed adult female putting her head 
                            into a nesting hole, feeding 2 young
 Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
 Eastern Phoebe  2
 Great Crested Flycatcher  1
 Red-eyed Vireo  4
 Blue Jay  7
 Black-capped Chickadee  8
 Tufted Titmouse  3
 White-breasted Nuthatch  2
 Brown Creeper  1
 House Wren  1
 Winter Wren  4
 Hermit Thrush  2
 Wood Thrush  2
 American Robin  3
 Gray Catbird  2
 Cedar Waxwing  1
 Ovenbird  18
 Black-and-white Warbler  2
 Common Yellowthroat  2
 Blackburnian Warbler  2
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  4
 Black-throated Green Warbler  4
 Dark-eyed Junco  1
 Song Sparrow  1
 Scarlet Tanager  1     heard repeatedly, observed by entire group
 Northern Cardinal  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
 Indigo Bunting  1
 Red-winged Blackbird  1
 Common Grackle  1
 Brown-headed Cowbird  1
 American Goldfinch  2
 
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30299602
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. Begin your day with friends, birds, and more. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Posted on

Early Birders’ Observations for June 12, 2016

Michelle Patenaude led the June 12th Early Birders Morning Walk also. The walk so so popular today that they split into tow groups, and reunited later at the viewing window for coffee, conversation, and more birdwatching.

Here’s the report:

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 Jun 12, 2016 7:05 AM - 9:05 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 3.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early Birders Walk led by Michele Patenaude
 31 species
 
 Wood Duck  1     Flying over
 Mourning Dove  1
 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2
 Downy Woodpecker  1
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Great Crested Flycatcher  2
 Red-eyed Vireo  3
 Blue Jay  3
 American Crow  1
 Common Raven  1
 Black-capped Chickadee  4
 Tufted Titmouse  3
 White-breasted Nuthatch  1
 Winter Wren  2
 Veery  1
 Hermit Thrush  1
 American Robin  1
 Cedar Waxwing  2
 Ovenbird  14
 Black-and-white Warbler  2
 Common Yellowthroat  2
 Blackburnian Warbler  1
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  1
 Blackpoll Warbler  1
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  2
 Black-throated Green Warbler  4
 Song Sparrow  1
 Scarlet Tanager  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
 Common Grackle  3
 American Goldfinch  3
 
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30189837
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. Begin your day with friends, birds, and more. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Posted on

Early Birders’ Observations for June 5, 2016

Michelle Patenaude led the June 5  Early Birders Morning Walk. The walk so so popular today that they split into tow groups, and reunited later at the viewing window for coffee, conversation, and more birdwatching.

Here’s the report:

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 Jun 5, 2016 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 0.5 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early Birders Walk led by Michele Patenaude- split into two groups who walked different directions but covered part of the same area.
 30 species

 Turkey Vulture  2
 Mourning Dove  1
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
 Downy Woodpecker  1
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
 Eastern Phoebe  1
 Great Crested Flycatcher  2
 Red-eyed Vireo  1
 Blue Jay  1
 American Crow  1
 Black-capped Chickadee  3
 Tufted Titmouse  1
 White-breasted Nuthatch  2
 Veery  2
 Hermit Thrush  1
 American Robin  2
 Cedar Waxwing  2
 Ovenbird  1
 Louisiana Waterthrush  1
 Nashville Warbler  1
 Common Yellowthroat  3
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  2
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  1
 Song Sparrow  2
 Scarlet Tanager  2
 Northern Cardinal  1
 Indigo Bunting  2
 Common Grackle  2
 Baltimore Oriole  1

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S30084511
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. Begin your day with friends, birds, and more. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Posted on

Early Birders’ Observations for May 29, 2016

Erin Talmage, the Museum’s Executive Director, lead the May 29th  Early Birders Morning Walk. Thank you!

Here’s the report:

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 May 29, 2016 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 2.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early Birders Walk led by Erin Talmage
 26 species

 Mourning Dove  2
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Pileated Woodpecker  1
 Blue-headed Vireo  2
 Red-eyed Vireo  6
 Blue Jay  3
 Black-capped Chickadee  2
 Tufted Titmouse  1
 Brown Creeper  2
 Veery  1
 Hermit Thrush  2
 American Robin  1
 Gray Catbird  2
 Ovenbird  8
 Louisiana Waterthrush  2
 Black-and-white Warbler  1
 Common Yellowthroat  3
 American Redstart  1
 Blackburnian Warbler  2
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  1
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  2
 Black-throated Green Warbler  2
 Song Sparrow  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
 Brown-headed Cowbird  1
 American Goldfinch  1

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29967223
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Posted on

Early Birders’ Observations for May 22, 2016

The May 22  Early Birders Morning Walk was led by our own Mae Mayville, member of the Board, excellent baker, and terrific eBirder. Thank you!

Here’s the report:

 Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 May 22, 2016 7:00 AM - 9:05 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early Birders Walk led by Mae Mayville
 35 species
 
 Ruffed Grouse  1     Heard
 Wild Turkey  1
 Mourning Dove  3
 Barred Owl  1     Heard
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  6     1 near the museum, 2 near the pond, 3 in the woods.
 Downy Woodpecker  1
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Eastern Phoebe  2
 Blue-headed Vireo  3     Observed 2 foraging near ground
 Red-eyed Vireo  3
 Blue Jay  6
 American Crow  3
 Common Raven  1
 Black-capped Chickadee  8
 White-breasted Nuthatch  2
 Veery  2
 Hermit Thrush  1
 Wood Thrush  1
 American Robin  2
 Gray Catbird  3
 European Starling  2
 Ovenbird  8
 Common Yellowthroat  4
 Magnolia Warbler  1     Observed by entire group
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  2
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  2
 Black-throated Green Warbler  1     Observed foraging on ground near stream
 Dark-eyed Junco  1
 White-throated Sparrow  1
 Song Sparrow  1
 Scarlet Tanager  1
 Northern Cardinal  2
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
 Common Grackle  1
 American Goldfinch  2
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29832773
 
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Privacy Policy