Tag: black capped chickadee

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Through the Window: May 2017

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Female (woodcarving)

Wow, what a spring! Some unusual species seen and heard this month, for us, down here at the Viewing Window. (Okay, okay, we did record a few birds heard or seen while we were coming into the Museum or running out to check the mail….)

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Female (woodcarving)
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Female (carved by Bob Spear)

Bold items in this list are those species not recorded last month.

  • Black-capped chickadee
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Blue Jay
  • Red-Winged Blackbird
  • Mourning Dove
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Wild Turkey
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • American Goldfinch
  • Common Grackle
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak (May 2, 2017 and often thereafter)
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Wood Thrush
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird (First of Year male: May 10, 2017; female: May 13)
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Common Raven
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Baltimore Oriole (FOY 5/15/2017)
  • Ovenbird (heard outside May 16, 2017)
  • Canada Goose (heard outside May 14, 2017)
  • Song Sparrow (heard outside)
  • Scarlet Tanager (Male, seen drinking from stream below the riparian slope pollinator gardens on May 17, 2017)
  • Eastern Phoebe (nesting under Bridge)
  • Cooper’s Hawk (trying to take prey at the feeding area, May 28, 2017; two unsuccessful attempts)
  • Olive-sided Flycatcher (heard and seen Tuesday May 23, 2017)
  • Eastern Towhee

The usual mammals maintained their presence: Red and Gray Squirrels, and Eastern Chipmunks. We didn’t observe the Eastern Cottontail but we did see the Woodchuck. Wood Frogs tadpoles occupied the pon on May 17, 2017, and Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are back by May 23.

Our “summer” hours have arrived! May through October, we are open daily from 10am – 4pm (with a few extra evenings, and sometime closed for part of the July 4 holiday). Click over to our events page.  If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter , tumblr, and/or Instagram too, you’ll find more comments, links, and observations. See you soon!

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.

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Through the Window: April 2017

Welcome spring! As often in April, the number of species seen rises dramatically. Boldface in this list are those species not recorded last month.

  • Wild Turkey
  • Black-capped chickadee
  • Blue Jay
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Mourning Dove
  • Red-Winged Blackbird
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Red-tailed Hawk (seen soaring over Museum 4/4/17)
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • American Tree Sparrow
  • Turkey Vulture (overhead, westward, 4/4/17)
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • American Crow
  • Song Sparrow
  • Fox Sparrow (4/6/17)
  • Eastern Phoebe (talking 4/10, and at bird blind)
  • Purple Finch (First of Year 4/15/17)
  • Pine Siskin (First of Year, 4/15/17)
  • American Goldfinch
  • Common Grackle
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Northern Flicker (4/17/17)
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4/19/17)
  • Barred Owl (heard 4/13/17)
  • Chipping Sparrow (First of year 4/25/17)
  • White-throated Sparrow

The usual mammals maintained their presence: Red and Gray Squirrels, Eastern Cottontail rabbit, and Eastern Chipmunks. Wood Frogs made the feeder area mini pond noisy on several rainy days, and Spotted Salmander eggs will remain in the pond for a little while longer.

Our “summer” hours have arrived! May through October, we are open daily from 10am – 4pm (with a few extra evenings, and sometime closed for part of the July 4 holiday). Click over to our events page.  If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter , tumblr, and/or Instagram too, you’ll find more comments, links, and observations. See you soon!

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.

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Through the Window: March 2017

March was a mix, with bare ground and then snowstorm Stella. A small snafu, so we don’t have our white board list from February but we did of course keep track over on eBird. for our monitoring walks and so on.  So bold in this list indicates “not seen in January” instead of “not seen last month.”

  • Wild Turkey
  • Northern Cardinal (male)
  • Black-capped chickadee
  • Blue Jay
  • Red-Winged Blackbird (The First-of-Year Red-winged Blackbird showed up at the end of February, which always seems to surprise us, even though it happens almost every year.) 
  • Mourning Dove
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Common Grackle (F.O.Y. March 25)
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • American Crow (3 on March 27)

The usual suspects: Red and Gray Squirrels, White-tailed Deer, and an Eastern Cottontail rabbit. On th enight came: a Raccoon.

Even though we ask that you call or email to set up a visit (from now through April 30), we have some exceptions for open days, special events, and offsite activities: Click over to our events page.  If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter , tumblr, and/or Instagram too, you’ll find more comments, links, and observations. See you soon!

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.

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Early Birders’ Observations for May 15, 2016

The Early Birders Morning Walk results are in two parts today, first from the walk  and then from viewing from indoors. Thank you so much to Shirley John and Mae Mayville, for leading today!

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 May 15, 2016 7:10 AM - 9:55 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.5 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early Birders Walk led by Shirley Johnson and Mae Mayville
 31 species

 Red-tailed Hawk  1
 Mourning Dove  3
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  7     2 near parking lot; 
                                 2 as we entered the woods;  
                                 1 along woods trail;  
                                 2 interacting on edge of woods on other side of the pond
 Downy Woodpecker  2
 Eastern Phoebe  2
 Blue-headed Vireo  1
 Red-eyed Vireo  2
 Blue Jay  10
 American Crow  2
 Black-capped Chickadee  8
 Tufted Titmouse  2
 Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
 White-breasted Nuthatch  1
 Veery  1     Heard
 Hermit Thrush  1     Long looks; seen by everyone in the group; singing
 Wood Thrush  1     Long looks; seen by everyone in the group.
 American Robin  5
 Gray Catbird  1
 European Starling  1
 Ovenbird  4
 Louisiana Waterthrush  1     Heard at treehouse
 Common Yellowthroat  2
 Northern Parula  1
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  2
 Pine Warbler  3
 Black-throated Green Warbler  1     Heard
 Song Sparrow  1
 Northern Cardinal  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  5
 Baltimore Oriole  1     Observed by entire group
 American Goldfinch  3

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29673886
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 May 15, 2016 10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
 Protocol: Stationary
 Comments:     Observed at Viewing Window after the Early Birders Walk
 14 species

 Mourning Dove  3
 Downy Woodpecker  2
 Hairy Woodpecker  2
 Blue Jay  6
 Black-capped Chickadee  3
 Tufted Titmouse  2
 European Starling  1 
 Song Sparrow  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  7
 Red-winged Blackbird  2
 Common Grackle  3
 Brown-headed Cowbird  3
 Purple Finch  2
 American Goldfinch  3

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29676426
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for one or more of of our next walks, Sundays in May and June. Welcome the day with birders, 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.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

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Early Birders’ Observations for May 8, 2016

The Early Birders Morning Walk results are in two parts today, first from the walk (thanks to M. Patenaude!) and then from coffee klatch and viewing from indoors. What a delight it is to have so many birds around and about.

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 May 8, 2016 7:00 AM - 8:45 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early Birders Walk led by Michele Patenaude
 23 species
 
 Ruffed Grouse  1
 Cooper's Hawk  1
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  3
 Downy Woodpecker  4
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Northern Flicker  1
 Eastern Phoebe  2
 Red-eyed Vireo  1
 Blue Jay  5
 American Crow  1
 Black-capped Chickadee  11
 Tufted Titmouse  3
 White-breasted Nuthatch  2
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
 American Robin  1
 Ovenbird  6
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  1
 Pine Warbler  2
 White-throated Sparrow  4
 Song Sparrow  3
 Northern Cardinal  2
 Red-winged Blackbird  1
 American Goldfinch  3
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29482149
 
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)


Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 May 8, 2016 8:45 AM - 10:45 AM
 Protocol: Stationary
 Comments:     Feeder window birds following the bird walk
 21 species

 Mourning Dove  3
 Downy Woodpecker  2
 Hairy Woodpecker  2
 Blue Jay  6
 American Crow  2
 Black-capped Chickadee  3
 Tufted Titmouse  2
 American Robin  1
 European Starling  2
 Chipping Sparrow  2
 Dark-eyed Junco  1
 White-crowned Sparrow  1
 White-throated Sparrow  1
 Song Sparrow  1
 Northern Cardinal  2
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  4
 Red-winged Blackbird  8
 Common Grackle  2
 Brown-headed Cowbird  3
 Purple Finch  2
 American Goldfinch  14

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29484299

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for one or more of these, Sundays in May and June. Greet the day with birders, 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.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Through the Window: June 2015

A mellow month, with most of the species busy nesting and feeding nestlings, so not quite as many as last month. A few juveniles by the end of June though!

  • Hairy Woodpecker (feeding young 6/27)
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Mourning Dove
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female, male, juvenile 6/30)
  • Blue Jay
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Common Grackle (feeding young 6/27)
  • Gray Catbird
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • American Robin
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • American Crow
  • Northern Cardinal
  • American Goldfinch
  • House Finch (6/10)
  • Merlin (6/21)
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Black-capped Chickadee

Mammal friends were sometimes even more obvious: Eastern Cottontail rabbit (2 on 6/2), Red Squirrels, Gray Squirrels, Eastern Chipmunks, Woodchucks. Other winged notables included Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly and Clearwing Sphinx Moth (on the azalea).

We’re open daily! Doors open at 10am until 4pm, every day through October 31. Come often for birds (indoors and out, wooden and wild), trails, treehouse, pond … and restfulness, relaxation, inspiration and new things to learn.   Questions? Let us know: (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.

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Early Birders’ Observations for June 21, 2015

The the second-to-last 2015  Early Birders Morning Walk was was rich in rain and then some more rain. Six dedicated birders noticed 28 species from under hoods and umbrellas, braving damp dirt roads and muddy trails to do so. Thank goodness for beverages and tasty baked goods to help us dry out by the viewing window (where we added a few more species). As she’s done this year so many times, we appreciate Mae Mayville for eBirding the results for us.

 Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT
 Sherman Hollow Road, Chittenden, Vermont, US
 Jun 21, 2015 7:00 AM - 8:45 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 0.5 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early Birders walk; raining.
 28 species
 
 Mourning Dove  3
 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2
 Downy Woodpecker  2
 Hairy Woodpecker  2
 Merlin  1
 Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
 Eastern Phoebe  2
 Great Crested Flycatcher  1
 Warbling Vireo  1
 Red-eyed Vireo  1
 Blue Jay  4
 Black-capped Chickadee  2
 House Wren  3
 American Robin  3
 Gray Catbird  3
 European Starling  2
 Cedar Waxwing  4
 Common Yellowthroat  3
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  3
 Song Sparrow  3
 Northern Cardinal  2
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
 Red-winged Blackbird  8
 Common Grackle  3
 Brown-headed Cowbird  2
 Purple Finch  1
 Pine Siskin  1
 American Goldfinch 3

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23991964
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for the last one this year, June 28! 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.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

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