Tag: citizen science

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Through the Window: March 2022

Fox Sparrow (woodcarving by Bob Spear)
Fox Sparrow, carved by Bob Spear.

March usually see us getting excited about what’s left to do before our drop-in season (May – October) and which migrants are passing by on their way further north (looking at you Fox Sparrow. Also mud. Sherman Hollow Road at the end of March this year was …. remarkable. Yet passable, unlike some other roads around the state. So we could keep feeding the birds.

By the way, Vermont Fish & Wildlife recommends taking in your bird feeders on April 1st, to avoid habituating bears to our spaces. Our feeders are 8′ off the ground on a steel pole set in concrete; it’s both bear resistant and not too much of a temptation. Bears learn quickly what’s out of reach and not worth the effort.

Birds at the Vernal Equinox (and then some)

Continue reading “Through the Window: March 2022”

May Bird Monitoring Walk

Birders in early spring, looking at trees that are not fully leafed out.

All birders (current, experienced, newbie and would-be!) are welcome! Attend our monthly monitoring walk outdoors on the Museum’s trails in forest and meadow.

Most fun for adults, older children. Please bring your own binoculars, dress for weather. Tick repellent and water bottles are recommended.

Max: 10 people
Free, suggested donation $5 – $10
Registration required.

Face masks recommended inside the museum.
We go out the last Saturday of every month. Walks start at 7:30 am April – August; 8am September – March.

Early Birders Morning Walk

Museum members on a bird walk

Spring mornings are terrific for birding. Join us for a walk led by experienced birders.

Who’s singing, calling, nesting, or flying around the Birds of Vermont Museum? Discover birds on an early morning ramble in the Museum’s forest and meadows. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Early mornings are often damp with dew and boots are definitely in order. Don’t forget bug spray/tick repellent!

Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Free (suggested donation: $5)
Pre-registration is required: click/tap the button below and select your preferred date. (If you want to sign up for more than one walk, you’ll need to do this for each date.)


Or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-birder-morning-walks-may-registration-265315705417.

Max: 10 people • waitlist available if walk fills

Masks required if inside the Museum. (We will update this listing with any changed COVID-19 precautions as we get closer to the date.)

5 people (seen from back) birding with binoculars in a ferny clearing in a spring forest

April Bird Monitoring Walk

Photo: Fox Sparrow photographed by Erin Talmage, © 2019 and used by permission.

All birders (current, experienced, newbie and would-be!) are welcome! Attend our monthly monitoring walk outdoors on the Museum’s trails in forest and meadow.

Most fun for adults, older children. Please bring your own binoculars, dress for weather. Tick repellent and water bottles are recommended.

Max: 10 people
Free, suggested donation $5 – $10
Registration required.

Face masks recommended inside the museum.
We go out the last Saturday of every month.. Walks start at 7:30 am April – August; 8am September – March

Photo: Fox Sparrow photographed by Erin Talmage, ©copyright  2019 and used by permission.

Community Science 101 (online)

The Museum is Hotspot in ebird (a citizen - community science project with a global reach)

Beginner? Expert? Great!

You don’t have to be an expert to be part of scientific research. Learn to observe and report on animals and plants you see, hear, or photograph. From eBird to the Zooniverse, discover research projects that fit your interests, and see how your data can be used to benefit ongoing scientific research, including the effects of climate change.

To sign up and receive the Zoom link, please email librarian@thetfordlibrary.org  for this online program.

Citizen science or community science is real scientific research conducted by amateur (or nonprofessional) scientists. There are a huge number of ways to get involved: tracking migratory birds, participating in a bioblitz, studying animal behavior, counting pollinators or plant species, etc.

This program is best suited for adults and teens. It is offered through the Thetford Libraries.

For more info on Citizen Science and Citizen Science Month you can also visit https://scistarter.org/citizensciencemonth-about

Presented by Erin Talmage, Executive Director of the Birds of Vermont Museum.  Erin earned her MS in Wildlife Biology from UVM with a focus on ornithology. She serves on two Vermont Scientific Advisory Groups, Birds and Reptiles-and-Amphibians. When not at the Museum, she can often be found looking for salamanders for the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas, collecting data for iNaturalist and eBird, or volunteering with the Four Winds Nature Institute and Vermont Master Naturalists.

Early Birders Morning Walk

small songbird seen from underneath

Early summer mornings are terrific for birding. Join us for a walk led by experienced birder Ali Wagner.

Who’s singing, calling, nesting, or flying around the Birds of Vermont Museum? Discover birds on an early morning ramble in the Museum’s forest and meadows. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Early mornings are often damp with dew and boots are definitely in order. Don’t forget bug spray/tick repellent!

Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Free (suggested donation: $5)
Pre-registration is required: click/tap the button below and select your preferred date. (If you want to sign up for more than one walk, you’ll need to do this for each date.)


or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-birder-morning-walks-june-registration-268504673707

Max: 10 people • waitlist available if walk fills
Masks required inside the Museum. (We will update this listing with any changed COVID-19 precautions as we get closer to the date.)

Two people stand on a footbridge looking through binoculars; one is pointing at something out of frame. Trees with spring foliage can be seen behind them.

Early Birders Morning Walk

Eastern Phoebe on a bare branch

Late spring mornings are terrific for birding. Join us for a walk led by experienced birder Ali Wagner.

Who’s singing, calling, nesting, or flying around the Birds of Vermont Museum? Discover birds on an early morning ramble in the Museum’s forest and meadows. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Early mornings are often damp with dew and boots are definitely in order. Don’t forget bug spray/tick repellent!

Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Free (suggested donation: $5)
Pre-registration is required: click/tap the button below and select your preferred date. (If you want to sign up for more than one walk, you’ll need to do this for each date.)


or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-birder-morning-walks-june-registration-268504673707

Max: 10 people • waitlist available if walk fills
Masks required inside the Museum. (We will update this listing with any changed COVID-19 precautions as we get closer to the date.)

Two people stand on a footbridge looking through binoculars; one is pointing at something out of frame. Trees with spring foliage can be seen behind them.

Early Birders Morning Walk

chestnut sided warbler by Erin Talmage

Late spring mornings are terrific for birding. Join us for a walk led by experienced birder Tom Jiamachello.

Who’s singing, calling, nesting, or flying around the Birds of Vermont Museum? Discover birds on an early morning ramble in the Museum’s forest and meadows. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Early mornings are often damp with dew and boots are definitely in order. Don’t forget bug spray/tick repellent!

Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Free (suggested donation: $5)
Pre-registration is required: click/tap the button below and select your preferred date. (If you want to sign up for more than one walk, you’ll need to do this for each date.)


or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-birder-morning-walks-june-registration-268504673707

Max: 10 people • waitlist available if walk fills
Masks required inside the Museum. (We will update this listing with any changed COVID-19 precautions as we get closer to the date.)

Two people stand on a footbridge looking through binoculars; one is pointing at something out of frame. Trees with spring foliage can be seen behind them.

Early Birders Morning Walk

Baltimore oriole from below: an orange and black songbird with a white belly, seen from below while perched on small tree branches. Seen from below against a bright blue sky.

Late spring mornings are terrific for birding. Join us for a walk led by experienced birder Tom Jiamachello.

Who’s singing, calling, nesting, or flying around the Birds of Vermont Museum? Discover birds on an early morning ramble in the Museum’s forest and meadows. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Early mornings are often damp with dew and boots are definitely in order. Don’t forget bug spray/tick repellent!

Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Free (suggested donation: $5)
Pre-registration is required: click/tap the button below and select your preferred date. (If you want to sign up for more than one walk, you’ll need to do this for each date.)


or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-birder-morning-walks-june-registration-268504673707

Max: 10 people • waitlist available if walk fills
Masks required inside the Museum. (We will update this listing with any changed COVID-19 precautions as we get closer to the date.)

Two people stand on a footbridge looking through binoculars; one is pointing at something out of frame. Trees with spring foliage can be seen behind them.

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