Carving Update: Bufflehead

As mentioned in the winter’s Chip Notes, we were eagerly awaiting the debut of Dick Allen’s Bufflehead Duck carvings. They are here!

Bufflehead male, carved by Dick Allen
Bufflehead male, carved by Dick Allen

Bufflehead Ducks are characterized as small, diving ducks that migrate through the region on their way to summer grounds in Canada and Alaska from wintering sites in coastal and southern United States and Central America. Inhabiting ponds and small lakes where they consume crustaceans, mollusks, and insects underwater, Buffleheads nest in aspen and poplar tree cavities created by Northern Flickers. The male Bufflehead’s striking triangular white patch extending from the eyes to the rear of the head inspired the bird’s name. The Bufflehead’s ability to achieve a near-vertical take-off from the water’s surface is another reason we take special notice of this notable species.

Bufflehead female, carved by Dick Allen
Bufflehead female, carved by Dick Allen

The male and female pair will take their places with other waterfowl near Dick’s pair of Lesser Scaups in the Spring Migration scene of the Wetland Diorama.

Blue-winged Teal is our 2011 Raffle Bird

Ready to win?

For this year’s raffle bird, we offer a wood and cork decoy, carved and painted by Leo LaBonte of Essex Junction, Vermont. The bird is about 10.5” from beak to tail, and looks lovely in its temporary home by our guest register. Many visitors have already commented that it would look even nicer in a permanent home (theirs!). Tickets are $1 each, or buy 6 for $5. You can buy tickets by phone, if you like!

Leo LaBonte started carving a little over 12 years ago. He is mostly a self-taught carver with one class under his belt that helped him to overcome a few hurdles and smooth out the process. He mostly focuses on decoy carvings but has also carved ducklings, small songbirds, and a few figurines. He has won numerous awards for his decoys including the Art Knapp Hunting Decoy Contest and the Thousand Islands Museum Decoy and Wildlife Art Show. In more recent years he has also taught his two sons to carve, resulting in 2 more award-winning carvers in the family. In 2009 both sons won awards at the International Wildfowl Carvers Association Young Guns competition!

Although generously donating the Blue-winged Teal to the Museum, Leo usually sells his decoys. He is in the process of putting together a website (under construction as of this writing). If anyone is interested in contacting Leo please call or email the Museum (802) 434-2167 and museum@birdsofvermont.org.

Wood Carving Class: An Eastern Bluebird with David Tuttle

Eastern Bluebird Woodcarving Class, taught by David Tuttle at the Birds of Vermont Museum
Eastern Bluebird Woodcarving Class, taught by David Tuttle at the Birds of Vermont Museum

Beginners and experienced wood carvers are invited to this one-day carving class with David Tuttle of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers. We will carve and paint an Eastern Bluebird. Wood blanks, eyes, paint, snacks and coffee will be provided. Please bring your own lunch (and carving tools if you have them).

Best for teens and adults.

Fee: $25 for members of either the Birds of Vermont Museum or Green Mountain Woodcarvers; $35 for non-members.

Please pre-register (you can pay ahead or at the door) by calling 802 434-2167 or emailing museum@birdsofvermont.org

Go Wild, Go Birding! Free festival on May 21

Go Wild, Go Birding! International Migratory Bird Day Festival
Go Wild, Go Birding! International Migratory Bird Day Festival at the Birds of Vermont Museum

Join us at our annual Bird Day Festival, celebrating migratory birds. This is a free, community-wide event co-sponsored by Audubon Vermont and the Birds of Vermont Museum. Events start at 8 am, and go until 4 pm (trails close at sunset).

There will be a live bird show, bird walks, live music Continue reading “Go Wild, Go Birding! Free festival on May 21”

Early Bird Morning Walks

Early Bird Morning Walks, May 15 - Jun 12, 2011, 7 a.m.
Early Bird Morning Walks, May 15 - Jun 12, 2011, 7 a.m.

Join us for an early morning ramble in the Birds of Vermont Museum forest and meadows. Share your sightings, practice identifying birds by ear, or learn from other birders. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants.

Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly “birds and Beans” coffee inside the Museum.

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

Sundays, May 15 – June 12, 7:00am – 8:15am
Outdoors on Museum property
Appropriate for adults and older children
Free, donations welcome.

Storytime in the Nestlings Nook

Storytime in the Nestlings Nook at the Birds of Vermont Museum
Storytime in the Nestlings Nook, second Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Storytime at the Museum! Join us at 10:30 a.m. on the second Tuesdays of each month (May – October) for stories about birds and more. Stories will be followed by a craft project, music, or nature walk, depending on the topics and weather.

Intended for pre-schoolers, but all ages are welcome.

Got a favorite book about birds? Share it with us! Email museum@birdsofvermont.org.

Free with museum admission. Donations welcome, especially for crafts—and remember, members enter for free!

Sundays for Fledglings

Sundays for Fledglings

Kids are invited to hike, create, explore, carve, act, write, or investigate with us on Sunday afternoons.

We focus on birds, but amphibians, mammals, trees, ferns, forests, insects, and other natural community members may be included. Activity details will be posted at the museum and online each week.

Designed for 1st—4th graders, we welcome beginners of all ages. We are often outdoors, so please dress appropriately. Find out this week’s topic at http://www.birdsofvermont.org/events.php

Free with admission; donations accepted.

Pre-registration strongly encouraged. Call (802) 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org.

Sundays May 8 – October 30, 2011 • 2:00 p.m – 2:45 p.m.

Weekly Wood Carving Demonstrations

Bob Spear finishing a small carving
Bob Spear finishing a small carving

We’re pleased to offer again our Saturday wood carving demonstrations. Stop in (members get unlimited free admission) and find out who’s carving what this week. Ask questions, collect fresh ideas, learn a new technique.

Every Saturday from 1-2, upstairs in the Museum workshop.
Appropriate for all ages.
Free with Museum admission ($6, discounts for children, seniors, members).