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.

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.

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.

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/

Through the Window: January 2016

A nice month for accidental sightings of the larger birds as we come into or out of work. Snow depth is paltry (and for some us, that’s depressing, infuriating, or just plain inhospitably dangerous, if, say, you are a grouse). We have both the up-on-a-post feeders and ground feeding areas, one of which is just outside the office windows. It’s such a treat to look over and catch sight of a junco or a chickadee right there, not four feet away.

  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • American Goldfinch
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Purple Finch
  • Mourning Dove
  • Northern Cardinal
  • American Crow
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Wild Turkey  (more than 3 observed walking along the road, southeast across the culvert, into the bird sanctuary field, January 19)
  • Common Raven (flying over Museum and Treehouse, January 31)

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

We also observed Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels. Wow are those Gray Squirrels numerous. We’ve consistently been seeing 6-12 or them, and at least 13 on January 17!

You too can watch from our window! Drop in for the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 13, or call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org to schedule your visit for another day!

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.

Zoo Bird Group Master List from 1945

One of our staff members recently came across this bird list from 1945. Can anyone provide us with some information about this? It most likely belonged to one of her grandparents, a resident of the Bronx in 1945. Do you think it referred to New York resident and/or migrants visible from the Bronx Zoo? Was there a group that met at the zoo and birded from there? Can you spot the birds whose names have been revised since then?

Here’s a scan of the pages (a click will show each larger, or you can download the PDF) and the text is below.

Zoo Bird Group Master List for 1945 Spring Migration (page 1) Zoo Bird Group Master List for 1945 Spring Migration (page 2)

Continue reading “Zoo Bird Group Master List from 1945”

Through the Window: December 2015

A little drama, as we waited for snow to finally appear:

Barred Owl with Ruffed Grouse kill. Photo by Allison Gergely for the Birds of Vermont Museum, 10 December 2015 . The birds are near the small pond visible through a conference room window.
Barred Owl with Ruffed Grouse kill. Photo by Allison Gergely for the Birds of Vermont Museum, 10 December 2015 . The birds are near the small pond in the feeder area, and visible through a conference room window.
  • Barred Owl (on December 10, the Barred Owl killed a Ruffed Grouse then dragged it down the hill. It was a little bit difficult for the owl!)
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Blue Jay
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Mourning Dove (more than 11 on December 10)
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Ruffed Grouse
  • American Robin (on and under the crabapple, December 8)
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • American Goldfinch

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

We also observed Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels—generally about 3-5  of the Red ones and about 6 or so of the Gray. Some small malls were caught on our nightcam, but we couldn’t identify them positively—the resolution was a little low. We suspect they were Eastern Cottontails, based on size, behavior, and overall hazy shape.

You too can watch from our window! Call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org to schedule your visit.

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.

Through the Window: November 2015

It’s getting quieter around here… but is that due to the owl?

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

Barred Owl in Feeder Area, November 20 or so. Taken with an iPhone
Barred Owl in Feeder Area, November 20 or so. Taken with an iPhone through hand-held binoculars.
  • Mourning Dove
  • Blue Jay
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Barred Owl (during UVM’s NR1 class field trip, even! Also November 28)
  • American Goldfinch
  • Ruffed Grouse (2 seen and heard early in November. One was found dead near our viewing window on November 15th—a predator, interrupted? A collision? [Although we have netting over the windows to reduce the chances of that.] A grouse was seen in the crabapple tree November 24. This could be the other member of the pair?)
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Wild Turkey
  • Buteo spp., possible juvenile Red-tailed Hawk (tail not clearly chestnut)

We also observed Eastern Chipmunks, Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels. Didn’t spot the the Raccoons on our nighttime cam. We did hear far-off coyotes while feeding birds or listening to some webcam videos.

Want to watch from our window? Schedule a visit! Call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org. (Other windows let you observe what’s happening around the new boxes on the hedge or admire the growth of cover crops along the restabilized stream bed (part of the stream restoration and bridge phase of #BridgesToBirds).

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.

Through the Window: October 2015

Wow, in this last month of our open-daily season, we recorded some unusual birds! Are they here for the winter? Just passing through? And for some of the common ones, where were they last month?

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

  • Golden-crowned Kinglet (10/1 in cedar hedge*)
  • Mourning Dove
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet (10/2 in cedar hedge)
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Blue Jay
  • American Goldfinch
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Ruffed Grouse (10/20 in the crabapple tree  and 10/26 2 walking along the feeding zone perimeter and in the crabapple)
  • Northern Cardinal (10/24 m & f, just male on 10/27)
  • Purple finch (10/30)

We also observed Eastern Chipmunks, Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels, as well several visits from  Raccoons on our nighttime cam.

* Aside: We’re going to do some extensive trimming and pruning on the cedar hedge. It was deeply damaged by ice and snow earlier this year, and we’re removing much of the dead wood. Other changes include roost, wintering, and nest boxes (for birds and insect pollinators) and new plantings in the spring as well. Thanks to Volunteer EP for his help with this!

Come see for yourself! Call, tweet, email or schedule a visit by phone: (802) 434-2167 or museum@birdsofvermont.org. From museum exhibits to relaxing in our accessible treehouse to observing the long-awaited progress on the stream restoration and bridge phase of #BridgesToBirds, there’s always some wild thing to learn from or about.

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.

Through the Window: September 2015

Fall approached…and arrived. And off went some birds. Thanks to the critter cam we heard some birds that we couldn’t see. Looking forward to the big list coming up for the Big Sit! in just over a week.

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • American Goldfinch
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Mourning Dove
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird (9/14: 2 skirmishing on cedars. Juveniles or females. No adult males recorded this month.)
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Black-throated Blue Warbler (9/6/15 and 9/13/15)
  • Eastern Phoebe (at the front of the Museum)
  • Song Sparrow (across the road)
  • other Sparrow spp.
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Wild Turkey
  • Barred Owl (heard on the critter cam)
  • American Crow (heard from the front doorway)

We saw a few green frogs in our tiny little pond by the feeder. We also delighted in seeing a White-tailed Deer eating some crab apples near the treehouse, as well as Red Squirrels, a Gray Squirrel, and Eastern Chipmunks under the feeders. Nocturnal ones included raccoons, mice, and again a cat (watching that night-time video is what let us notice the Barred Owl).

Come see for yourself! We’re open every day from 10am until 4pm, through October 31. From museum exhibits to relaxing in our accessible treehouse to observing the long-awaited progress on the stream restoration and bridge phase of #BridgesToBirds. There’s always some wild thing to learn from or about. Call, tweet, email or drop by: (802) 434-2167 or museum@birdsofvermont.org.

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.