where natural history meets art
Do you create with fibers? Do you have a thing for birds, science, or conservation? We do too and we hope you’ve sent us something for our show!
This is just a last-call/reminder: Deadline is Sunday, March 1.
We are so looking forward to reviewing all the submissions in the next couple of weeks!
Submission details in our Call to Artists post: https://bovm.wordpress.com/2014/11/25/birds-of-a-fiber-call-to-artists-from-the-birds-of-vermont-museum/
Got cabin fever? Free yourself by looking for birds with us!
Join experienced birders on the monthly bird monitoring walk on the Museum’s property. We go out the last Saturday of every month: the next one is February 28, at 8a.m. AND it’s supposed to be above-zero weather!
Most fun for adults, older children, and somewhat more experienced birders. Please dress for the weather (snowshoes still helpful though not required) and please bring your own binoculars.
Free! • Please pre-register by email or phone: museum@birdsofvermont.org or (802) 434-2167
The next three walks are:
Saturday, February 28 • 8:00 – 9:45am
Saturday, March 28 • 8:00 – 9:45am
Saturday, April 25 • 8:00 – 9:45am
Changes and updates will be posted on our website, at http://birdsofvermont.org/events.php, if needed and when possible.
Carve and paint a Wren with us and David Tuttle of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers on February 28, in a one-day workshop (9a.m. – 3p.m.). All levels — bare beginners to decades of practice — totally welcome.
Do bring tools and gloves if you have them; if you don’t, let us know. Dave often brings some knives, gloves, etc. to sell. Please bring your lunch; we’ll have snacks and coffee.
Great for Scouts, teens and adults. Under 12 must bring Whittling Chip card or parental permission. (Yes, tools are sharp!)
$25 for Museum and GMWC members • $35 for everyone else
Please email museum@birdsofvermont.org or call 802 434-2167 to pre-register.
This post appeared first in our late summer 2014 issue of Chip Notes.
The passenger pigeon, abundant beyond current imagining, is gone. What can we, did we, and will we learn from our relationship to and with this remarkable species?
In recognition of the centenary observance of the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon, the Museum features the bird’s improbable story as our special art/science exhibit for 2014, using a variety of informative and conceptual displays.
Now you can listen for “the echoes of their wings” in a conversation with author Joel Greenberg, a naturalist and author affiliated with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum at the University of Chicago. Through the generosity of the Lucille Greenough lecture series, the Museum is delighted to be able to host Joel for his talk The Echoes of Their Wings: The Life and Legacy of the Passenger Pigeon on Wednesday, October 8th, 2014 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The talk will be presented on the University of Vermont campus, 207 Lafayette Hall.
Greenberg spoke at the Fairbanks Museum in March of this year, where he received high marks for his work and insights into the destruction of one species and the need to protect and promote diversity in nature. This October event, co-sponsored by the Birds of Vermont Museum and Green Mountain Audubon Society, promises to be informative and thought-provoking. We hope to hear some discussions break out well before you’ve left the venue. There is a suggested donation of $15 ($5 for students).
Joel Greenberg played a leading role in creating and launching Project Passenger Pigeon (http://www.passengerpigeon.org), which promotes a deeper awareness of the roles humans play in species’ extinction and in effective conservation. Serving as a research associate of the Field Museum and the Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Greenberg’s keen interest in natural history is evident through his authorship of both A Feathered River Across the Sky and A Natural History of the Chicago Region. As a natural history educator, Greenberg has taught at the Morton Arboretum, the Brookfield Zoo, and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Please enjoy a visit to his blog at http://www.birdzilla.com/blog/.
—Allison Gergely
This post, in a slightly different form, appeared first in our late summer 2014 issue of Chip Notes.
Carving, teaching about carving, and learning about carving continue to be at the forefront of the Museum’s activities.
Soap carving classes were held at local libraries and at the Museum this summer. We are always amazed what some people can do with a piece of soap. If you are online, look at our Pinterest board at http://www. pinterest.com/birdsofvermont/soap-carving/ for ideas.
In the past few months, Dave Tuttle of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers has taught three classes in which beginning and experienced carvers created first Wood Ducks, then Killdeer, and (in September) a black bear.
Dave Tuttle has also carved “comfort birds” out of wood harvested from the flood-damaged area. These small carvings will be used as a thank you gifts to donors to Bridges to Birds.
Bob Spear has slowed down his carving, but on occasion we still hear him puttering about in his shop.
Board member Dick Allen recently finished the female Bufflehead. She joins the male, which he also carved, in the wetland diorama.
Erin Talmage led the June 29, 2014, Early Birders Morning Walk . Last Early Birders walk for the season. (Of course we will have more bird walks under other titles. This series will be back next spring, too. No worries!)
Enjoy our summary:
BBirds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT Jun 29, 2014 7:00 AM - 9:20 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 kilometer(s) Comments: Early Birders Walk led by Shirley Johnson. 37 species Ruffed Grouse 1 heard drumming Northern Goshawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Mourning Dove 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 8 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Blue Jay 8 American Crow 2 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 House Wren 2 Winter Wren 3 Veery 1 Hermit Thrush 2 Wood Thrush 1 American Robin 2 Gray Catbird 1 Cedar Waxwing 2 Ovenbird 9 3 recently fledged, calling incessantly from trees; crowns were dull; exhibited poor motor planning which led to determination they were fledglings. Common Yellowthroat 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 1 Scarlet Tanager 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4 Indigo Bunting 1 singing Red-winged Blackbird 2 Baltimore Oriole 2 American Goldfinch 1 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18942056 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Join this walk series again next spring! We’ll start of the day with birders and birds, not to mention other woodland dwellers. 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
Shirley Johnson led the June 22, 2014, Early Birders Morning Walk . Thirty-eight species this day!
Enjoy our week’s walk’s summary:
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT Jun 22, 2014 7:05 AM - 9:25 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 kilometer(s) Comments: Early morning bird walk led by Shirley Johnson 38 species Ruffed Grouse 1 Mourning Dove 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 6 seen in various areas along the trails Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Blue-headed Vireo 0 monitored nest was unoccupied; perhaps adults are off feeding Red-eyed Vireo 5 Blue Jay 5 American Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee 16 several families seen and heard along the trails Tufted Titmouse 1 House Wren 2 Winter Wren 1 Veery 1 Wood Thrush 1 American Robin 3 Gray Catbird 1 Cedar Waxwing 2 Ovenbird 4 Louisiana Waterthrush 2 Common Yellowthroat 1 American Redstart 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 two adults seen carrying food, both dropped down into brushy area with the food so we assumed it where the nest is! Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Scarlet Tanager 2 Indigo Bunting 1 Baltimore Oriole 1 Purple Finch 1 American Goldfinch 2 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18860273 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Join us for the last one, Sunday the 29th of June. 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
Join experienced birders on the monthly bird monitoring walk on the Museum’s property. We go out the last Saturday of every month. Please bring your own binoculars and dress for the weather. Most fun for adults, older children, and somewhat more experienced birders.
Free! • Please pre-register by email or phone: museum@birdsofvermont.org or (802) 434-2167
The next ones are:
Saturday, June 28 • 7:30am – 9:30am
Saturday, July 26 • 7:30am – 9:30am
Saturday, August 30 • 7:30 – 9:30am
Changes and updates will be posted on our website, at http://birdsofvermont.org/events.php, when possible.
The June 15, 2014, Early Birders Morning Walk split into two groups again. We love how popular this program series has been this year!
Here are their reports (and our apologies for the late posting):
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT Jun 15, 2014 7:00 AM - 9:45 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 kilometer(s) Comments: Group 1 traveled same route, east to west and led by Shirley Johnson 28 species Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 5 Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 House Wren 1 Winter Wren 1 Hermit Thrush 1 Wood Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 1 Ovenbird 5 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Common Yellowthroat 4 American Redstart 5 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 2 Scarlet Tanager 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Indigo Bunting 2 Red-winged Blackbird 2 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18793988
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT Jun 15, 2014 7:00 AM - 9:10 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 kilometer(s) Comments: overcast skies, quiet morning but great sightings of breeding behaviors! Group 2. 35 species Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 heard only Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 The female sitting on nest did not move as we quietly walked around her Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 House Wren 1 Winter Wren 1 Hermit Thrush 2 Wood Thrush 2 American Robin 3 Cedar Waxwing 5 Ovenbird 2 Louisiana Waterthrush 7 There has been LOWA nesting on the property in the past years and there has been discussion about the possibility of them nesting this year since the streams have had water in them consistently since spring. On the western side of the trail, near a stream and above the pond, we came upon four fledged water thrushes actively moving and calling incessantly. They moved consistently from tree to tree and there was no sign of an adult. Later in the morning, on the eastern side of the trail, along a different stream, we found an adult LOWA carrying food. There were at least 2 fledglings there as well, moving on the ground along the edge of the stream. The fact that it was different streams, opposite sides of the property, about 100 yards apart, and behaviors were different, led us to believe there were two families seen. Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Scarlet Tanager 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Indigo Bunting 1 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Common Grackle 2 American Goldfinch 4 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18793729 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. 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
The June 8, 2014, Early Birders Morning Walk enjoyed some extra amphibians that day.
Here’s their report (and our apologies for the late posting):
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT Jun 8, 2014 7:00 AM - 9:05 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 kilometer(s) Comments: Sumo-wrestling bull frogs at the pond... 32 species Mourning Dove 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4 Downy Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Blue Jay 2 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Tufted Titmouse 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 1 House Wren 2 Winter Wren 1 Veery 1 Hermit Thrush 3 Wood Thrush 1 American Robin 2 Ovenbird 3 Black-and-white Warbler 2 American Redstart 4 Blackburnian Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 3 Chipping Sparrow 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Indigo Bunting 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 American Goldfinch 2 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18725725 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. 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