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Early Birders’ Observations for May 8, 2016

The Early Birders Morning Walk results are in two parts today, first from the walk (thanks to M. Patenaude!) and then from coffee klatch and viewing from indoors. What a delight it is to have so many birds around and about.

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 May 8, 2016 7:00 AM - 8:45 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early Birders Walk led by Michele Patenaude
 23 species
 
 Ruffed Grouse  1
 Cooper's Hawk  1
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  3
 Downy Woodpecker  4
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Northern Flicker  1
 Eastern Phoebe  2
 Red-eyed Vireo  1
 Blue Jay  5
 American Crow  1
 Black-capped Chickadee  11
 Tufted Titmouse  3
 White-breasted Nuthatch  2
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
 American Robin  1
 Ovenbird  6
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  1
 Pine Warbler  2
 White-throated Sparrow  4
 Song Sparrow  3
 Northern Cardinal  2
 Red-winged Blackbird  1
 American Goldfinch  3
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29482149
 
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)


Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 May 8, 2016 8:45 AM - 10:45 AM
 Protocol: Stationary
 Comments:     Feeder window birds following the bird walk
 21 species

 Mourning Dove  3
 Downy Woodpecker  2
 Hairy Woodpecker  2
 Blue Jay  6
 American Crow  2
 Black-capped Chickadee  3
 Tufted Titmouse  2
 American Robin  1
 European Starling  2
 Chipping Sparrow  2
 Dark-eyed Junco  1
 White-crowned Sparrow  1
 White-throated Sparrow  1
 Song Sparrow  1
 Northern Cardinal  2
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  4
 Red-winged Blackbird  8
 Common Grackle  2
 Brown-headed Cowbird  3
 Purple Finch  2
 American Goldfinch  14

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29484299

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for one or more of these, Sundays in May and June. Greet the day with birders, 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

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Through the Window: April 2016

The intense time has begun! Just look at this list:

Bohemian Waxwing in crabapples, Birds of Vermont Museum, April 3, 2016
If I turn my head this way, you can’t see me, right?
  • Blue Jay
  • Dark-eyed Junco 
  • Wild Turkey 
  • Red-winged Blackbird (M & F 4/3)
  • Mourning Dove
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • American Goldfinch 
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Common Grackle
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Bohemian Waxwing (! hungry for our little crabapples on April 3)
  • Song Sparrow (4/1)
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Ruffed Grouse (March 2)
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • American Robin 
  • American Crow (mostly observed with the web cam; they are usually here before we are)
  • Barred Owl (observed on the nightcam 4/14)
  • Ruffed Grouse
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Purple Finch
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Rough-legged Hawk (4/24 over parking lot and private afjacent land)
  • Evening Grosbeaks (4/14)
  • Cedar Waxwing (4/14)
  • Northern Goshawk (4/18, took a Mourning Dove)
  • White-throated Sparrow (4/19)
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak (4/29)
  • Possible Red-tailed Hawk (4/7, briefly glimpsed mostly silhouetted)

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

Other neighbors:: OH! Those squirrels! Red, Gray and Eastern Chipmunks, as usual. We’ve also heard and seen Wood Frogs (as early as 4/1, “quacking” 4/12).

You too can watch from our window! We are open daily now (May 1- October 31, except for the July 4th Holiday). Drop in between 10am and 4pm, or come early on Sundays in May and June for bird walks. Details are on our events page. Enjoy our new art exhibit! Bring kids, grandparents, neighbors and friends. Oh, and did we mention we have a new bridge! It’s UP! You can walk on it! More details in future blog posts, or follow us on Facebook, where we are often more quick to let you know what’s happening.

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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Through the Window: March 2016

While we got busy this March, with animal tracks and gathering art for our 2016 Community Art show (In Layers), birds kept visiting including some returning from points south. Welcome, hints of spring!!  Here are our outdoor neighbors of March 2016.

  • Blue Jay
  • American Goldfinch (lots of twittering on March 1!)
  • American Crow
  • Purple Finch
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Dark-eyed Junco (a large flock on March 29)
  • Wild Turkey (a large flock, perhaps 30 birds!)
  • Mourning Dove
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Ruffed Grouse
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Ruffed Grouse (March 2)
  • Common Grackle (First of year March 13)
  • Red-tailed Hawk (March 9, over the parking lot)
  • American Robin (flew past the workshop March 14)
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Fox Sparrow (First of year March 15)
  • American Tree Sparrow (March 29)
  • Evening Grosbeaks (both male and female seen March 29)

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

We also observed Red and Gray Squirrels, and an Eastern Chipmunk—first one on March 6, then several as the month went on.

You too can watch from our window! To schedule a visit call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org ! We’re hosting a volunteer work party on April 16 and sharing a Bird Monitoring walk on April 30. Join us! We’ll be out and about as well, giving programs at local libraries and senior centers.

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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Woodcocks and Owls

Guest post by our friend and expert birder, AW.

Sunday evening, following a spring time ritual, I walked from Moody Road to Maple Drive at dusk in hopes of hearing American Woodcocks and seeing their flight display. Mid-March is when they start to come back to their breeding territories. I did not find any evidence of them this time, but I was surprised to hear another bird calling from the woods west of the Huntington River and the Camel’s Hump Alpaca farm fields. In the 10+ years I’ve been walking this route, it was only the second time I’ve heard a Northern Saw Whet tooting persistently from the woods. February 14, 2012 was the other time I heard one in nearly the same place, leaving me to wonder if it is a resident bird! Nice!

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Through the Window: February 2016

BohemianWaxwing-26Feb2016-EKT
Bohemian Waxwing spotted at the Museum

It’s felt not-very-winterish this year. But looking at previous years, it seems much the same birds have been here (not that our records go back very far in this medium, and they’re much more informal than eBird data by and near the Museum). See for yourself if you are curious— links are below the bird list.

  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Blue Jay (0bserved a distinctive Blue Jay: unusual feathers on right wing, missing secondaries; did not fly, only hop. Observed in both early and late February, but not every time Jays were noticed)
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • American Goldfinch
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • American Crow
  • Mourning Dove (heard calling on 2/29 also)
  • Purple Finch
  • Bohemian Waxwing (8 seen on 2/26, which inspired some human visitors too)
  • Wild Turkey  (On 2/18 14 recorded; another 33 seen on 2/28)
  • Ruffed Grouse (2/26)
  • Red-winged Blackbird (solitary male seen 2/29 – First of Year for us!)

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

We also observed Red and Gray Squirrels, and, mysteriously, blood under the feeder. One of the web cams recorded a raccoon, very briefly, on 2/21.

Previous Februaries:
Feb 2015 | Feb 2014 | Feb 2013 | Feb 2012 | Feb 2011 | Feb 2010

You too can watch from our window! To schedule a visit call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org ! We’ll also be hosting an Animal Tracks & Sign workshop on March 19 and the next Bird Monitoring Walk on March 26.

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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Wild Turkey: 33 silly birds

Something’s so delightfully silly about Wild Turkey jumping up for crabapples. Couldn’t catch it on camera though. I could count 33 of them — but I had to sneak photos by peeking out the office window through the netting and the azalea. IMG_6303

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Great Backyard Bird Count, 2016

We were open last Saturday to celebrate and support the Great Backyard Bird Count. Naturally, we counted birds—and a few others—as well. We recorded our results at eBird, and below.  Notice there are two days!  If you have questions about the Great Backyard Bird Count, eBird, or citizen science, ask us!

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 Feb 13, 2016 9:15 AM - 11:15 AM
 Protocol: Stationary
 Comments:     Museum was open for the GBBC and visitors and Museum staff observed and recorded.
 12 species
 
 Ruffed Grouse  1     May have been noticed later in day
 Downy Woodpecker  2
 Hairy Woodpecker  2
 Blue Jay  13
 Black-capped Chickadee  28
 Tufted Titmouse  4
 Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
 White-breasted Nuthatch  2
 Dark-eyed Junco  14
 Northern Cardinal  2
 Purple Finch  4
 American Goldfinch  15
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S27909893
 
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 Feb 14, 2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
 Protocol: Stationary
 Comments:     Museum staff recording during lunch break
 5 species
 
 Hairy Woodpecker  2
 Blue Jay  5
 Black-capped Chickadee  6
 Dark-eyed Junco  5
 Northern Cardinal  1
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S27909940
 
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

 

How did your counts go?

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Brook Trout carving workshop

Carve your ownbrook trout in this one-day class with David TuttleCarve and paint a Brook Trout with David Tuttle of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers. Wood blank, eyes, snacks, and coffee provided.

Saturday, February 20 at the Birds of Vermont Museum (map) • 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

All levels welcome. Do bring your tools and gloves if you have them; if you don’t, let us know. Dave often brings some knives, gloves, etc. to sell. Please bring your lunch.

Great for adults and teens. Younger kids need parental permission and Cub Scouts could show their Whittling Chip.

$30 for Museum and GMWC members • $40 for everyone else

Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org to pre-register.

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Open Museum for the Great Backyard Bird Count 2016

Drop by the Museum for the Great Backyard Bird Count! We’re open Saturday, February 13 • 10am – 3pm to share the Count with you!

Share the Great Backyward Bird Count with friends, family, and the Birds of Vermont Museum

  • New to the count? We can tell you about it and help you participate.
  • Need to warm up from your outdoor excursion with Audubon Vermont? Do so from the comfort of our viewing window chairs.
  • Seen a great bird and want to let us know? Sounds good!
  • Need help identifying a bird? From apps to field guides, we can help. You’ll need to know your fieldmarks, though! (And we can help with that, too)
  • Want to have fun? You bet!

See you here!

More about the GBBC: http://gbbc.birdcount.org/

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