Signs of Support: 2019 Annual Appeal
Your Common Ground: 2018 Annual Appeal
For the last six years, the Birds of Vermont Museum has engaged with local artists to present an annual bird-centered community art exhibit. The works are mindfully created; the artists’ visions and voices tell their stories through a variety of expressive media. The 2018 show Common Grounds focused on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918, now in its 100th year. Despite challenges, the MBTA has brought hope, promise, and conservation success to global citizenry, naturalists, and conservationists, and birds. The show became a small-scale reflection of a global purpose.
Great things require creative community backing: physically, financially, and collaboratively. We work together to imagine, investigate, communicate, and protect birds. Artists, educators, legislators, and conservationists unite in their concern and support for the welfare of migratory birds and all wildlife everywhere.
This collaborative effort created and now maintains the Birds of Vermont Museum, an institution with presence in the scientific, cultural arts, and educational communities. Many people, including you, have never wavered in their belief in the Birds of Vermont Museum and our mission. The Museum relies on this generosity for special programs, day-to-day operations, educational activities, and the care and keeping of Museum lands. We hope you will continue to support us by making a year-end donation today.
As an extra thank you, all donors who give at least $200, received by December 31, 2018, will receive a selection of note cards created by artists who contributed to the Common Grounds show.
Annual Appeal 2017
Guest post from Board Member, Ginger Lubkowitz
Vermont has many treasures but one of my absolute favorites is the Birds of Vermont Museum. Each time I visit, I am amazed by the carvings and the setting. I am also amazed by the creative programs and talented staff that carry forward and embody Bob Spear’s legacy every day. We are so fortunate that adults and children have such a special venue to learn about birds, their songs, and their habitats.
All of this is possible thanks to the generosity of you, the Museum’s members and donors. Because of you, 2017 was a pivotal year for the Museum as it celebrated its 30-year anniversary and looked to the future. Here are a few highlights of our activity and progress: Continue reading “Annual Appeal 2017”
Our Annual Appeal for 2016
Thank you and Happy Holiday Season
from the Birds of Vermont Museum
There’s still time to make a tax-deductible donation to the Museum for 2016!
Please consider sending a contribution during our year-end appeal
—whether $1 or $5000— we happily accept donations online through JustGive, NetworkForGood, and PayPal. You can also call (802) 434-2167 with your credit card info, or send a check in any amount at any time to
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Birds of Vermont Museum 900 Sherman Hollow Road Huntington, Vermont 05462
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We welcome your support in any and every form: Continue reading “Our Annual Appeal for 2016”
Progress on the Museum entrance way: cover plants
After laying in rock and grading the slope just-so, the stream bank crew put down netting to reduce erosion, and it was seeded with a one-year “cover crop”. We’ll replant perennials and more next spring.
The cover crop sprouted quite quickly, which encouraged and delighted us.
Yesterday’s and this morning’s light snow doesn’t seem to have bothered the little plants at all!
Protecting the stream bank with netting and plants, October 18. Click to see these larger (it’s worth it!)
Continue reading “Progress on the Museum entrance way: cover plants”
Progress on the Museum entrance way: rock on!
During the past week, we’ve watched a good bit of earthmoving, repairing and preparing the stream, its slopes, and the stream bed between the Museum parking lot and the Museum entrance. The preparation will permit us to install an ADA-compliant and future-flood-resistant path and bridge, as well as a riparian slope “garden”. While this is going on, please use the rear entrance (facing the road). We look forward to seeing you!
This collage of photos was created by Elizabeth Spinney, copyright © 2015 and used by permission.
This work is being funded by donors like you, the Vermont Department of Transportation though a Vermont Better Back Roads grant, and the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Ecosystems Restoration Program. These are both matching grants so we still need your help to fully fund these grants. Donate to help! We happily accept donations online through JustGive, NetworkForGood, and PayPal. You can also call (802) 434-2167 with your credit card info, or send a check in any amount at any time to
Birds of Vermont Museum900 Sherman Hollow Road
Huntington, Vermont 05462
Thank you to Grover Engineering, the State of Vermont (VTRANS and DEC), and John Scott Excavating. Let us thank you!
Bridges to Birds: where we’ve been
How it All Began in July 2013: Flash flooding at the Museum
Plus photos.
Last Year’s Update: Bridges to Birds: Connecting to People
And the Treehouse phase: A New Point of View (from our Treehouse)
A booklet about it: Bridges to Birds (1Mb PDF)
How We Thank You: Recognition, Gifts, and Adventure
All four phases, outlined: A Four-fold Project
And the collected posts (tagged “Bridges to Birds”)
Progress on the Museum entrance way: the road culvert
Last week has seen a lot of changes outdoors at the Birds of Vermont Museum, between our front door and our parking lot, and along that section of Sherman Hollow Road.
On Monday, September 14, the road culvert replacement started. This one is deeper, and has a different profile, thereby protecting the stream hydrology and local wildlife more than a shallower, smaller, round culvert would. This one allows for increased water flow, which prevents erosion and sedimentation of the stream bed. The slight “squashed” shape keeps a better aquatic corridor for critters both in and near the stream.
Since then, the excavation crew has been working both upstream and downstream. They have been installing rock and cement protection to stabilize the banks and installing a yard drain to collect stormwater runoff.
More pictures to come!
So many thank yous to Grover Engineering, the State of Vermont (VTRANS and DEC), and John Scott Excavating.
Let us thank you!
Bridges to Birds: where we’ve been
How it All Began in July 2013: Flash flooding at the Museum
Plus photos.
Last Year’s Update: Bridges to Birds: Connecting to People
And the Treehouse phase: A New Point of View (from our Treehouse)
A booklet about it: Bridges to Birds (1Mb PDF)
How We Thank You: Recognition, Gifts, and Adventure
All four phases, outlined: A Four-fold Project
And the collected posts (tagged “Bridges to Birds”)
Donate to help! We happily accept donations online through JustGive, NetworkForGood, and PayPal. You can also call (802) 434-2167 with your credit card info, or send a check in any amount at any time to
Birds of Vermont Museum900 Sherman Hollow Road
Huntington, Vermont 05462
Museum closed Sept 14-15 for Road Culvert Replacement
The Museum will be closed to visitors on Monday and Tuesday, September 14-15, while the Town replaces a culvert on Sherman Hollow Road.
This is the next step in our Bridges to Birds project! We will begin the stream bank restoration and entrance path/bridge when the culvert is in place.
We can be reached by phone (802 434-2167) or email museum@birdsofvermont.org.
The Board Meeting will still take place on Tuesday evening.
We are very excited about this!
Bridges to Birds: where we’ve been
How it All Began in July 2013: Flash flooding at the Museum
Plus photos.
Last Year’s Update: Bridges to Birds: Connecting to People
And the Treehouse phase: A New Point of View (from our Treehouse)
A booklet about it: Bridges to Birds (1Mb PDF)
And the collected posts (tagged “Bridges to Birds”)
Donate to help! We happily accept donations online through JustGive, NetworkForGood, and PayPal. You can also call (802) 434-2167 with your credit card info, or send a check in any amount at any time to
Birds of Vermont Museum900 Sherman Hollow Road
Huntington, Vermont 05462
The Four Phases of Bridges to Birds
Bridges to Birds incorporates disaster recovery, resilience, and prior long-term plans to make outdoor experiences at the Museum accessible to all visitors, including people with limited abilities and families with small children. This four-phase project also expands conservation and educational opportunities and increases the number of locations available for quiet appreciation and contemplation of the natural world.
Connecting to People:
Bridge and Walkway
$104,000
(still need $56,500)
This phase means
* New wildlife observation areas
* Fully ADA-compliant access from parking to Museum
* Protected riparian areas and stream bank stabilization
* Publicly visible donor acknowledgments
* Improved bird habitat
* Resistance to future flooding and precipitation events
We are working with the State of Vermont, the Town of Huntington, and civil, structural, and hydrological engineers to design and build a bridge and walkway after installation of a larger culvert under the road. Interpretive signs, plantings, and welcome information will follow.
Connecting to Nature:
Interpretative Trails
$17,000
(still need $9,000)
This phase provides
* Outdoor exploration
* Citizen scientist access
* Routes for monitoring and birding walks
* Integration with and protection of woodland, meadow, and near-pond habitats
* Peaceful retreats
* Well-maintained trails
Volunteers, staff, and interns repair trails, footbridges, and handrails. We continue to work routing water away from trails, and providing sturdy footing where needed. New maps, signage, and guide materials will be created.
Connecting to New Perspectives:
The Treehouse
$30,000
(still need $2,500)
This phase showcases
* An accessible (ADA-compliant) treehouse, reached by a gravel ramp
* Opportunites to observe birds in the forest canopy
* An outdoor classroom /exhibit space
* New nature-focused programs and activities
The treehouse is already open! We completed the construction thanks to a generous partnership with Center for Technology Essex, Evergreen Roofing, and dozens of volunteers. A grant from the Vermont Community Foundation helped with treehouse-specific programming. The last donations will fund educational signage and seating.
Connecting to Conservation:
Bird-friendly Gardens
$6,000
(still need $2,000)
This phase includes
* Demonstration gardens
* Native plants
* Quiet contemplation spaces
* Habitat and foraging diversity for native birds
* Inspiring and encouraging Vermont gardeners and would-be gardeners
The Gardens phase integrates previous work by staff, interns, and gardeners on local, bird-friendly plantings, garden layout, and native species. Garden beds, paths, booklets, informative signs, and short education tours all extend the experience.
Bridges to Birds: where we’ve been
How it All Began in July 2013: Flash flooding at the Museum
Plus photos.
Last Year’s Update: Bridges to Birds: Connecting to People
More about the Treehouse: A New Point of View (from our Treehouse)
A booklet about it: Bridges to Birds (1Mb PDF)
And the collected posts (tagged “Bridges to Birds”)
Donate to help! We happily accept donations online through JustGive, NetworkForGood, and PayPal. You can also call (802) 434-2167 with your credit card info, or send a check in any amount at any time to
Birds of Vermont Museum900 Sherman Hollow Road
Huntington, Vermont 05462
Bridges to Birds: Connecting to People
A slightly different version of this post appeared first in our late summer 2014 issue of Chip Notes.
As you may recall, we “took advantage” of the devastating flood, integrated that with several pre-existing hopes and plans, and coordinated an initiative we call Bridges to Birds. This four-fold project will make (and already is making) the Museum more accessible to all, indoors and out, enabling better and more bird conservation, environmental education, and appreciation of Vermont’s natural communities.
One phase of the Bridges to Birds Project, Connecting to New Perspectives (the Treehouse), was completed this summer, and you can read more about it elsewhere in the blog.
Two other phases, Connecting to Nature (with Interpretative Trails) and Connecting to Conservation (with Bird-friendly Gardens) are actively underway, thanks primarily to several dedicated volunteers and interns.
Now we focus our attention on another phase: Connecting to People (the reconstruction of our parking-to-entrance access). This one is perhaps the largest endeavor, and you’ve probably seen and read about the planning, engineering, and design aspects already in previous issues of Chip Notes.
Early in August we heard the great news that in the next few weeks the town of Huntington will replace the culvert that funnels the water from the creek above the Museum, under Sherman Hollow Road, and down to “Bob’s Bridge.” This is an essential prerequisite to our own construction process. Once this culvert and Sherman Hollow Road have been repaired, the Museum can start the physical repairs to create a safe passage for visitors from the parking lot to the Museum doors.
While waiting for this construction to start, we all have been learning and researching ADA laws, erosion prevention techniques, effective interpretation methods, and the ways entrances can shape and enhance Museum-going experiences. We have also been consulting with designers and engineers, writing grants, and working on other fundraising to bring this phase into reality.
So Far, with Gratitude
We are grateful for the support already given for work to date:
- FEMA helped fund some of the emergency work last year: clearing downed trees and debris; removing electric lines ($800)
- Vermont Community Foundation’s Special and Urgent Needs grant helped support initial personnel time (staff and consultant) as we began the planning and design of both temporary and permanent measures to bring people safely to the Museum, and storm water through the property ($5000).
- Museum members and community donors help pay for some of the additional staff time as we continue to plan, apply for new grants, and develop related presentations and literature. Some of these donations will go directly to the initial construction costs ($7000).
We also recently received a grant from the Vermont Better Back Roads program to address stormwater runoff, preventing damage in the future. If you have seen the photos of the parking lot, or stopped in recently, you know from your own experience how essential this is to protect the riparian habitats along the tributary creek and Sherman Hollow Brook.
The Next Steps
We are about to embark on a fundraising campaign for the bulk of entrance-access construction. These costs are great. There will be costs for detailed plans and oversight from structural and civil engineers, the site work, bank stabilization, stream bed restoration, the ADA-compliant bridge and walkway construction, materials, and interpretation. One member has already promised to match all donations!
As space here is limited, look for another mailing with more information about the entire project. It will include detailed goals for each phase, costs, donation information, and a generous list of thank you gifts, from watercolor prints by Libby Davidson, to a very special one donated by Denver Holt, renowned Snowy Owl biologist.
Thank you to all who have donated so far! We will continue to post pictures as progress is made. This is a very exciting time as we not only repair what was damaged but create a fully welcoming space that connects people to the essential and exciting world of birds.
You can help
Make a financial donation
We happily accept donations online through JustGive, NetworkForGood, and PayPal. Or use the phone or address below.
Membership
Renew yours, become a new member, or give a gift membership to a bird-loving friend or family member. Use our online membership form (PDF).
Volunteer with us
Opportunities abound! Our Volunteer page has more info.
Bird Conservation Choices
Use your everyday choices, from the coffee you choose to the laws you enact, to create a world better for birds.
You can also call (802) 434-2167 with your credit card info, or send a check in any amount at any time to
Birds of Vermont Museum900 Sherman Hollow Road
Huntington, Vermont 05462