where natural history meets art
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!
We welcomed an unexpected slew of warblers in the middle of September—something about this year’s migration led to several species appearing in and near our feeder area just when we had extra birders looking out the windows!
Summer is nests and fledglings, flowers and pollinators, greens and golds and more. Young birds come to the feeders, squawk … and sometimes get ignored by their parents! Hummingbirds defend the feeders and the bee balm; some hawk moths get mistaken for hummingbirds. The forest canopy is thick and provides deep cover for the warblers and more. It’s a rich and beautiful time. Who needs a feeder, with so much to eat in the forest?
No one, really, but some come anyway:
By July, the birds get pretty busy with nestlings, fledglings, and juveniles. A few juveniles of one kind of another come to the feeders, and fuss at their parents to keep on feeding them.
Here are the species seen at the feeders over the last month. Sometimes we can even tell when the bird is a juvenile!
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?
Starting Wednesday, January 23, we’ll host the new six-week It’s a Bird’s Life series. Sponsored by a local Community Senior Center and the Birds of Vermont Museum, meet on six consecutive Wednesdays at 1:30 at the Birds of Vermont Museum, and learn more about specific Vermont birds—as well as two sessions connecting coffee and maple to birds!
Continue reading “New “It’s a Bird’s Life” talks starting soon”
Some surprises and delights by the time the Bird Monitoring Walk and Christmas Bird Count rolled around. (We did not actually have quite this much snow, but it’s getting there.)
More light traffic… or should I say continued light traffic? at the feeders this month.
Through October, we continued to have light traffic at our feeders, but plenty of birds deeper in the woods. Great insects, fruits, berries? Could be.
This month’s list includes what we observed at the Big Sit!, one of our favorite birding activities.