where natural history meets art
Summer is in full swing around here! every day we fill and watch the feeders, learning new bird identifications, or watching behavior subtleties in birds species we know .It’s amazing to start to pick up on tiny differences in the bibs of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, or behaviors of one Blue Jay and another.
![[Great Crested Flycatcher on office window netting. May 2019]](https://cpanel3.neonova.net/~wwwbirdsofvt/wpsite2017/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Great-crested-flycatcher-office-window-kjt-May2109-e1560095402160-188x300.jpg)
It seems to be nesting nearby, as it has returned to the window several times—for nesting material? Territory? Foraging? We don’t know yet…
As for other May birds, seen by more people through the bigger window: read on!
April sometimes make me think of the distant rumble of a storm, long before it gets here. Instead of a rumble though, it’s the first waves of migratory birds coming north, reminding us spring is about to crash over us.
Yes, yes, some places have spring earlier, say March, or even February (such a thought) . Or September, if that’s your hemisphere!
But that sense of impended gloriousness? That perhaps happens for you too. I hope it does!
April is upon us! You know what that means: hiccuping weather. Winter today, spring tomorrow, and a whole lotta mud, especially on the roads. Drive with care, especially if you’re birding at the same time. (We recommend pulling over. I mean, really.)
What? It also means returning species? You better believe it. What’s your favorite harbinger of spring?
October is great, because it’s the month of the Big Sit!. That’s a day when we sit around with Team Loonatics and look for birds. They do all the hard work: cooking, listing, watching, identifying. We host them and are happy. Their list of birds this year doesn’t quite match our viewing window list (below), since we can’t always see from inside what they see from outside. It’s great to see and hear them all.
Some of the more northerly species are returning! Continue reading “Through the Window: October 2018”
A warm and muggy month! Good for raising nestlings? Thanks to the sharp and patient eyes of one of our interns, we saw a few birds that are rarely spotted in our feeder area (although they can be heard in the nearby forest canopy on some of our bird walks).
Early birders continued their weekly walks this month. It’s such fun to go out with them or hear their stories afterward; each month is different. Those lists are generally recorded over on eBird. From the windows, we stick with the more well-recognized feeder and forest edge birds. Even here, there are often stories to be discovered. Continue reading “Through the Window: June 2018”
Mae & Bill M led the May 20, 2018, Early Birders Morning Walk. Despite light rain and wet woods, we had 19 birders and 31 species of birds!
Enjoy our week’s walk’s summary: Continue reading “Early Birders’ Observations for May 20, 2018”
Mae M led the May 13, 2018, Early Birders Morning Walk . Thirty-eight species!
Enjoy our week’s walk’s summary: Continue reading “Early Birders’ Observations for May 13, 2018”
Crazily warm day for a walk last Saturday! Birds are singing: there was a tremendous cacophony of competing Black-capped chickadees singing on Thursday the 23rd, which was a delight. Today the Northern Cardinal was singing in the dogwoods. And the Birders left lots of treats in the Museum fridge; I think I gained 10 pounds just nibbling on them as I assembled this post for you… Thanks everyone, for baked goodies, bird observations, and community companionship.
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
Feb 25, 2017 8:05 AM
Protocol: Traveling
Party Size: 8
Duration: 1 hour(s), 35 minute(s)
Distance: 1.609 kilometer(s)
Comments:
10 species
Canada Goose 12
Flyover
Mourning Dove 17
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 10
Black-capped Chickadee 12
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1
In the feeder area, 1 male
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34782352
Feb 25, 2017 8:00 AM - 10:35 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Observed from the feeder window during the monitoring walk. Very warm conditions: 50 degrees.
7 species
Mourning Dove 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 4
Blue Jay 5
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-winged Blackbird 3
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34783779
These reports were generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
We’ll be out again on March 25 at 8:00 a.m. for our next Monthly Bird Monitoring Walk. Tell us you’ll be joining us!
Remember: there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.