September 2024 events

Kid in field with mom, investigating something small

September is for transitions: an equinox, return to school, seasons officially change. Yet, it’s also continuous, with ongoing art shows, new chances to learn, and time to just enjoy birds (and possibly coffee).

The Museum is open Wednesday – Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm. The trails are open sunrise to sunset, every day—for now only on the pond side of the property, thanks to flooding in July. Libraries have passes you can check out, and admission is always free for members (https://birdsofvermont.org/membership/).

=== SEPTEMBER EVENTS ===

Continue reading “September 2024 events”

the Big Sit!

A Stanley brand 25' metal measuring tape; a pair of black binoculars; a bag of Birds and Beans coffee (scarlet tanager dark roast). All three item are line d up on a wooden railing, with green foliage behind them.

The most relaxed birding around. And around and around …

How many birds (and birdwatchers) can we identify from a 17-foot diameter circle between sunrise and sunset? Can we beat last year’s record? We’ve seen birds big and small, in night and day: from Kinglets to Great Blue Herons, Barred Owls to Turkey Vultures.

This is a great long-running community science project. Pledges and donations welcome:

We are observing from Dawn to Dusk. The Museum is open from 10am – 4pm.

Call or email to ask about joining the observation team.

For much more info, see https://www.thebigsit.org/ .

Check out the reports from previous years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 (overall), 2021 (ours), 2022 (overall), 2022 (ours), 2023 (overall), 2023 (ours)

several birders standing during a Big Sit event

October Bird Monitoring Walk

White-breasted Nuthatch © copyright Zac Cota-Weaver and used by permission.

All birders (current, experienced, newbie and would-be!) are welcome! Join 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, and dress for the weather. Tick repellent and water bottles are recommended.

Max: 12 people

Suggested donation $10 – $15
Register at https://sevendaystickets.com/organizations/birds-of-vermont-museum

Outdoors

Photo of White-breasted Nuthatch © Zac Cota-Weaver and used by permission.

Green Mountain Woodcarvers October 2024 Carve-In

Several woodcarvers carving, painting, and chatting at tables in the workshop at the Birds of Vermont Museum.

Stop in to watch a wood carver at work, ask a question, or learn about this carving club.

The Green Mountain Woodcarvers will be carving in the workshop. The GMWC is a group of carvers from Vermont with members from around New England. They meet monthly for “Carve-Ins” around the State and host a annual Show and Class (in August). We’re delighted to have them at the Museum for one of their monthly meetings!

At the Carve-In, carvers talk and work on a variety of woodcarving projects. Carvers are always happy to explain how they carve and to share their expertise with others. Ask questions and become a GMWC member!

More info at the Green Mountain Wood carvers website: http://greenmountainwoodcarvers.org/carvein.html

They are on Facebook too, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/486055891784569/

September Bird Monitoring Walk

Sparrow spp. © 2019 E. Talmage 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, and dress for the weather. Tick repellent and water bottles are recommended.

Max: 12 people
Suggested donation $10 – $15
Register at https://sevendaystickets.com/organizations/birds-of-vermont-museum

Outdoors

Photo: Sparrow spp. © 2019 E. Talmage and used by permission.

August 2024 events

Two people gaze at distant forested mountains. One is a child with short brown hair and a blue shirt; the other, hunkered down, is white-haired and wears a gray shirt, and is pointing out something to the younger person. Both have their back to the viewer.

Looking for a new way of noticing? Come visit art, try hand work, listen to music, or look for birds. August is a great month for you and a friend to stretch or swap points of view.

The Museum is open Wednesday – Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm (but we are closed July 4th). The trails are open sunrise to sunset, every day. Libraries have passes, and admission is always free for members (https://birdsofvermont.org/membership/).

=== AUGUST EVENTS ===

Continue reading “August 2024 events”

Flooding, thanks to Hurricane Beryl

We hope you and yours are safe from the recent flooding due to Hurricane Beryl. For those who have experienced loss, our hearts go out to you. Our Treehouse, Bird Blind, and benches in the “garden” offer places to rest and find respite.

The museum and its grounds are resilient. The good news is that the museum building, the entrance bridge, culvert area, and step-pools in the tributary to Sherman Hollow Brook are undamaged and intact. The Treehouse, picnic areas, pond, Story trail, and the Bird Blind all are fine. Come and walk or sit whenever you need to.

This is not the first time we’ve had to deal with flood damage. We thank everyone who was part of the Bridges to Birds reconstruction in 2013-2015 for their amazing generosity and superb work: volunteers, donors, John Scott Excavating, Dean Grover Engineering, Timber and Stone LLC, and Anne Dannenberg. They created the entrance bridge, the rain garden, the step-pools in the tributary to Sherman Hollow Creek, and the pollinator plantings that protect the slopes. All of that handled the heavy flows of water as intended, demonstrating how a resilient design can cope with a changing climate.

Other parts of our property were not so fortunate. Continue reading “Flooding, thanks to Hurricane Beryl”

Over the Hump: Blues for Breakfast

A Flyer for a concert series: Huntington Recreat Committee Presents Over the 'Hump' summer music series. Huntington, VTZ recreation field | It's free 5:30 - 8 pm Wednesdays July 31 / Mama Tried All-gal foot-stompin' bluegrass and country Benefitting Huntington Holiday Boxes Aug. 7 / All Night Boogie Band Vermont Blues Society's 2022 entrant in the Internationsl Blues Challenge, Memphis Tennessee Benefitting Partners in Education Aug. 14 / Mango Jam HOT Zydeco, Reggae, and Ska rhythm dance party Benefitting Edward Heymans Soups On Aug. 21 / Blues for Breakfast Grateful Americana for the head hands and feet Benefitting the Birds of Vermont Museum LOCAL ART VENDORS and FOOD TRUCKS TOO -------------- Logos for Stone Corral Brewery, Beaudry's, Building Heritage, Huntington Valley Arts, Northfield Savings Bank, and others show supporters of the events.

Join us at the fourth of this year’s Over the “Hump” Summer Music Series

Blues for Breakfast plays “Grateful Americana for the head hands and feet”.

Proceeds and donations will benefit the Birds of Vermont Museum. Local art vendors and food trucks too!

Thanks to Mr Charlie Frazier, Huntington Valley Arts,  and the Huntington Recreation Committee for organzing this community-and-beyond festival series!

Other dates for music and community:

July 31: Mama Tried
Aug 7: All Night Boogie Jam
Aug 14: Mango Jam

 

August Bird Monitoring Walk

Yellow Warbler ©copyright Bob Johnson 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, and dress for the weather. Tick repellent and water bottles are recommended.

Max: 12 people

Suggested donation $10 – $15
Register at https://sevendaystickets.com/organizations/birds-of-vermont-museum.

Outdoors

Photo: Photo of Yellow Warbler ©copyright Bob Johnson and used by permission.

July 2024 events

An older person and younger person smile through circular openings in a large painted signboard. The board says 'Having a BEE-utiful Day at the Birds of Vermond Museum'. The openings are the centers of two big yellow flowers; other flowers, a monarch butterfly, and a honeybee are painted on the board.

On beyond birds! Birds are not alone on the world, so take some time to explore other creatures of beauty, purpose, and oddity. Come to a butterfly (and other bugs) walk with the Vermont Entomological Society. Meet artists at the Power of Perspective reception. And of course, end the month with the bird monitoring walk.

The Museum is open Wednesday – Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm (but we are closed July 4th). The trails are open sunrise to sunset, every day. Libraries have passes, and admission is always free for members (https://birdsofvermont.org/membership/).

=== JULY EVENTS ===

Continue reading “July 2024 events”