where natural history meets art
So what’s coming up in the last month of our “open” season? Exercise your sense of art, your legs, your mind with our Spark! show. birds identification opportunities, and our annual race!
We’re open Wednesday – Sunday, 10-4, until Halloween. We’re open by appointment other days and after. The trails are open sunrise to sunset, every day. Libraries have passes, and admission is always free for members (https://birdsofvermont.org/membership/).
October is glorious! We started the month with the Dead Creek Wildlife festival, continued birding during the Big Sit!, admired pollinators on fall flowers like asters, explored and documented plants for the phenology project, and welcomed campers visiting through the Harvest Host program. We spent some time working on the Retreat, which we hope to open to overnighters sometime in the next year.
Of course, we have to sit down by the Viewing Window and just watch birds to recover from all of this.
October is one of our favorite months. It’s not that there’s a larger diversity of birds (that’s June), but it’s the month with the Big Sit! For us that means birders, friends (some of course are both!), birding, relaxing, bird-friendly coffee, conversation, and probably too many cider doughnuts.
Continue reading “Through the Window: October 2021 (and Big Sit)”
October is such a rich month. Migration trails off, yes, and the foliage is mostly past by the end of the month. But for us, it’s a month rich with volunteers, birding, and a sense of getting ready for a behind-the-scenes season.
Enjoy the double-list this month, and read on for why!
Nice weather this month. Our list is a bit longer and more amazing ’cause we had some dedicated sitting observers. Admittedly, they were actually on the other side of the window from our usual watching spot. Should we count that as “through the window”? Hmmm. Anyway, if you don’t know about the Big Sit!, go check it out, then come back (We’ll wait).
OK, here’s the combined list: Continue reading “Through the Window: October 2013 with Big Sitters Helping”
Please come to our Snowy Owl program and our awesome Fall Festival. That too exciting? Take a Big Sit break, and watch birds for an hour or 12. Relax while admiring art by 3rd and 5th graders on exhibit all month long. There’s also a Bluebird Brooch Felting Class and a Gift Shop Sale.
Continue reading “October Events! Owls and arts, carvings and crafting, and a Festival!”
The Big Sit!
Sunday, October 14 • Dawn–Dusk
How many birds can we perceive from a 17-foot diameter circle? Can we beat last year’s record? Join Team Loonatics at the Birds of Vermont Museum and find out.
Snacks and coffee provided for sitters. Please bring your own binoculars.
For much more info, see http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/connect/bigsit/about.php or call the Museum at (802) 434-2167.
What people have recorded on our white board by the viewing window.
For even more birds—perceived from more or less the other side of the window and garden—check out our Big Sit! results too!
On Sunday, October 9, the Museum hosted the Loonatics and their Big Sit! circle. Thanks to all the volunteers who Shared the watch! Several people contributed excellent (and warm!) food to keep us going.
We identified 21 species, and recorded them with the Big Sit! website.
On Sunday, October 10, the Museum hosted the Loonatics and their Big Sit! circle. Thanks to Jim O. for coordinating the event and to all the volunteers who joined in. It was a beautiful day, and several people contributed excellent food to keep us warm.
We identified 27 species. The time sheet:
| Time | Common Name |
|---|---|
| 0626 | White-throated Sparrow |
| 0633 | Mourning Dove |
| 0633 | Northern Cardinal |
| 0634 | Dark-eyed Junco |
| 0646 | American Crow |
| 0648 | Blue Jay |
| 0648 | American Goldfinch |
| 0650 | Black-capped Chickadee |
| 0656 | White-breasted Nuthatch |
| 0659 | Red-breated Nuthatch |
| 0703 | Hairy Woodpecker |
| 0709 | Downy Woodpecker |
| 0712 | Common Raven |
| 0721 | Evening Grosbeak |
| 0740 | Tufted Titmouse |
| 0759 | American Robin |
| 0832 | Yellow-rumped Warbler |
| 0836 | Canada Goose |
| 0920 | Blue-headed Vireo |
| 1104 | Turkey Vulture |
| 1154 | Purple Finch |
| 1307 | Sharp-shinned Hawk (Female) |
| 1348 | Golden-crowned Kinglet |
| 1359 | Northern Harrier |
| 1413 | Red-tailed Hawk |
| 1416 | Cooper’s Hawk |
| 1748 | Barred Owl |