The gulch widened this month, and one of our logger neighbors helped remove fallen trees. This does allow us to observe the birds flying across it more easily… although we’re not fond of the erosion, particularly (you probably already know about our flood and have already donated to help us bridge this gap…). Continue reading “Through the Window: September 2013 settles down”
Through the Window: August 2013
Some nice birds this month! You probably already know about our flood; the birds don’t seem to much care. Good for them! Continue reading “Through the Window: August 2013”
Through the Window: July 2013 (In Which Birds Ignore Floods)
Some nice birds this month! You probably already know about our flood; the birds don’t seem to much care. Good for them! Continue reading “Through the Window: July 2013 (In Which Birds Ignore Floods)”
Sharpie and Cooper’s
Guest post by Catherine Griset, Spring 2013 Intern
A small hawk hunts quietly from a perch. Watching for smaller birds, it waits until just the right moment to dive down and attack. As it flies back to its post you notice a charcoal gray back, orange barring below, and a long tail. (Or maybe a brown back, with streaking down the front.)
What kind of hawk is this?
From that description, we could be talking about either a Sharp- shinned Hawk or a Cooper’s Hawk. Regardless of age, both hawks have long, barred tails. Adults of these species are gray and orange, with red eyes; immature birds (1st year) are brown and white, with brown streaking on the chest, and yellow eyes.
Through the Window: June 2013 with length
Happy summer. Goodness what a lot of rain this year. Saw some birds anyway. Bold ones are those we didn’t see last month!
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Common Yellowthroat
- Blue Jay
- Hair Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Common Grackle
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Northern Oriole (Ed. note: this is an old name for Baltimore Oriole; it hybridizes with the Bullock’s in some places in its range, and for a time, both species were called Northern Oriole. See http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/baltimore_oriole/lifehistory)
- Starling
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Cardinal
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Wild Turkey
- American Goldfinch
- Song Sparrow
- Tufted Titmouse
- Purple Finch
- American Crow (3 on 6/11)
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Evening Grosbeak
- Indigo Bunting
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 to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, 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 other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Early Birders’ Observations for June 30
The June 30th Early Birders Morning Walk was the last of the season. Thanks to Shirley Johnson, who led the walk, and Mae Mayville, who eBirded the results.No more walks in this series this year, although our trails are open sunrise to sunset, and we’re working on some additional field trips as well. Check our calendar!
Here’s their report:
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT Jun 30, 2013 7:15 AM - 9:30 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 kilometer(s) Comments: Early morning bird walk led by Shirley Johnson. 34 species Turkey Vulture 1 over museum Mourning Dove 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 6 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 7 American Crow 3 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Tufted Titmouse 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 2 Winter Wren 3 Veery 2 Hermit Thrush 3 Wood Thrush 2 American Robin 2 Cedar Waxwing 4 Ovenbird 5 Common Yellowthroat 2 Blackburnian Warbler 4 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Pine Warbler 4 Song Sparrow 3 Scarlet Tanager 1 Northern Cardinal 1 Indigo Bunting 1 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 4 American Goldfinch 2 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14536890
Early Birders’ Observations for June 23
The June 23rd Early Birders Morning Walk focused on birding by ear a bit more than usual—sometimes the birds (and habitats) are just like that! It was very well attended as well. Once again, our Board President Shirley Johnson led the walk, and Mae Mayville (another great volunteer and Board member) eBirded the results. Thank you!
Here’s their report:
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT Jun 23, 2013 7:20 AM - 9:10 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 kilometer(s) Comments: Early morning bird walk led by Shirley Johnson 37 species Mourning Dove 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 2 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 Winter Wren 2 Veery 2 Hermit Thrush 2 American Robin 1 Gray Catbird 1 Cedar Waxwing X Ovenbird 4 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Indigo Bunting 1 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 2 Baltimore Oriole 1 American Goldfinch 2 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14482501
Join us for one last early morning ramble on June 30! 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.
Appropriate for: Adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org
The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds of Vermont
Guest post by Kir Talmage, Outreach and IT Coordinator for the Birds of Vermont Museum. This article also appeared in the Vermont Great Outdoor Magazine.
The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds of Vermont is out! As you likely know, an Atlas is
a : a bound collection of maps often including illustrations, informative tables, or textual matter b : a bound collection of tables, charts, or plates (Merriam-Webster)
This meager definition masks the huge intention and effort that goes into the creation and revision of an Atlas. This particular Atlas is the product of a state-wide breeding birds research project that has spanned ten years, brought together some 57,000 observations, and drew on 350 volunteers. It epitomizes a successful citizen science project. The data (observations) were pulled together by Vermont Center for Ecostudies into one beautiful reference book, which was published in April of this year. The completed Atlas—with maps, individual species accounts, discussions of Vermont’s habitat and land use changes, and analyses of the data—has already helped scientists and policy makers decide how best to work and plan for avian conservation. Continue reading “The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds of Vermont”
Early Birders’ Observations for June 16
The June 16th Early Birders Morning Walk walk left the Museum about 7 am. led by our amazing Shirley Johnson. A great group of friendly birders! They were out until almost 10, because it was such a lovely day. Here’s their list:
- Mourning Dove
- Barred Owl
- Chimney Swift
- Ruby-throated Hmmingbird
- Yellow-bellied Sapasucker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
- Eastern Wood Pewee
- Least Flycatcher
- Eastern Phoebe
- Great-crested Flycatcher
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Blue Jay
- American Crow
- Black-capped Chickadee
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Brown Creeper
- Winter Wren
- American Robin
- Veery
- Hermit Thrush
- Cedar Waxwing
- Chestnut-sided Warbler
- Blackburnian Warbler
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Pine Warbler
- Common Yellow-throat
- Scarlet Tanager
- Northern Cardinal
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Indigo Bunting
- Song Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Common Grackle
- Baltimore Oriole
- American Goldfinch
Join us next time, for an early morning ramble! We’re out in the Birds of Vermont Museum‘s forest and meadows every Sunday from May 12 through June 30. 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.
Appropriate for: Adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org
Early Birders’ Observations for June 9
The June 9th Early Birders Morning Walk walk left the Museum about 7 am. led by Shirley Johnson. I was out of town, but she left me a lovely long list to share with you. I’m quite envious!
- Wood Duck
- Wild Turkey
- Mourning Dove
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Great-crested Flycatcher
- Eastern Phoebe
- Blue-Headed Vireo
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Blue Jay
- American Crow
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- House Wren
- Winter Wren
- Veery
- American Robin
- Gray Catbird
- Cedar Waxwing
- Chestnut-sided Warbler
- Black-throated Blue Warbler
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Pine Warbler
- American Redstart
- Common Yellowthroat
- Ovenbird
- Scarlet Tanager
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Indigo Bunting
- Song Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Common Grackle
- Brown-headed Cowbird
Her note adds: Really great views of Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos to compare. Great views of Indigo Bunting, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Veery, and Great-crested Flycatcher.
Join us next time, for an early morning ramble! We’re out in the Birds of Vermont Museum‘s forest and meadows every Sunday from May 12 through June 30. 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! Come to several walks to hear the changes in who calls and when!
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.
Appropriate for: Adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org