The birds fall into late-autumn routines; the skies get cloudy and light in the early mornings drifts in mist and dreams. OK, and one of the museum bloggers gets either poetic or purple-proseish. Better switch up to our November bird notes, eh?
Through the Window: October 2016
“And the leaves /come tumbling down” — well, ok, a misquote, but nice for this time of year. We have turned our autumn corner, from “open daily” to “open by appointment” — although our bird feeding continues daily also!
In October, we noticed these birds, fluttering, swooping, perching, or interacting with each other. Bold are those not recorded last month.
Through the Window: September 2016
The year comes turning, turning… the daylight shifts, as we roll toward the equinox and away. Birds shifting southward bring changes to our sightings. A few “winter” birds are popping up!
- Black-capped chickadee
- White-throated Sparrow
- Mourning Dove
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Blue Jay
- Downy Woodpecker
- Tufted Titmouse
- American Goldfinch
- Song Sparrow
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird (9/7 female only; 9/20)
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak (of note: a male, juvenile transforming to adult, 9/13; others seen throughout month)
- Northern Cardinal
- Dark-eyed Junco (at Cedar Hedge and under azalea, away from main feeding area, 9/26)
For more precise records, you can also see eBird data for recent years at the Museum.
Plenty of squirrels again: Red Squirrels, Gray Squirrels, and Eastern Chipmunks.
All observers can add their sightings to our whiteboard list! We’re here from 10am to 4pm daily, and earlier if there’s a bird walk. For those, check out our events page. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too, for more comments, links, and observations!
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film covering that helps hide watchers from the birds. We have chairs and binoculars to try, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Through the Window: December 2015
A little drama, as we waited for snow to finally appear:
- Barred Owl (on December 10, the Barred Owl killed a Ruffed Grouse then dragged it down the hill. It was a little bit difficult for the owl!)
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Blue Jay
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Mourning Dove (more than 11 on December 10)
- Downy Woodpecker
- Northern Cardinal
- Dark-eyed Junco
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Robin (on and under the crabapple, December 8)
- Tufted Titmouse
- American Goldfinch
Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.
We also observed Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels—generally about 3-5 of the Red ones and about 6 or so of the Gray. Some small malls were caught on our nightcam, but we couldn’t identify them positively—the resolution was a little low. We suspect they were Eastern Cottontails, based on size, behavior, and overall hazy shape.
You too can watch from our window! Call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org to schedule your visit.
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film covering that helps hide watchers from the birds. We have chairs and binoculars to try, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Through the Window: November 2015
It’s getting quieter around here… but is that due to the owl?
Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.
- Mourning Dove
- Blue Jay
- Tufted Titmouse
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Downy Woodpecker
- Barred Owl (during UVM’s NR1 class field trip, even! Also November 28)
- American Goldfinch
- Ruffed Grouse (2 seen and heard early in November. One was found dead near our viewing window on November 15th—a predator, interrupted? A collision? [Although we have netting over the windows to reduce the chances of that.] A grouse was seen in the crabapple tree November 24. This could be the other member of the pair?)
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Northern Cardinal
- Wild Turkey
- Buteo spp., possible juvenile Red-tailed Hawk (tail not clearly chestnut)
We also observed Eastern Chipmunks, Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels. Didn’t spot the the Raccoons on our nighttime cam. We did hear far-off coyotes while feeding birds or listening to some webcam videos.
Want to watch from our window? Schedule a visit! Call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org. (Other windows let you observe what’s happening around the new boxes on the hedge or admire the growth of cover crops along the restabilized stream bed (part of the stream restoration and bridge phase of #BridgesToBirds).
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film covering that helps hide watchers from the birds. We have chairs and binoculars to try, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Through the Window: October 2015
Wow, in this last month of our open-daily season, we recorded some unusual birds! Are they here for the winter? Just passing through? And for some of the common ones, where were they last month?
Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.
- Golden-crowned Kinglet (10/1 in cedar hedge*)
- Mourning Dove
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet (10/2 in cedar hedge)
- White-throated Sparrow
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Blue Jay
- American Goldfinch
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Tufted Titmouse
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Ruffed Grouse (10/20 in the crabapple tree and 10/26 2 walking along the feeding zone perimeter and in the crabapple)
- Northern Cardinal (10/24 m & f, just male on 10/27)
- Purple finch (10/30)
We also observed Eastern Chipmunks, Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels, as well several visits from Raccoons on our nighttime cam.
* Aside: We’re going to do some extensive trimming and pruning on the cedar hedge. It was deeply damaged by ice and snow earlier this year, and we’re removing much of the dead wood. Other changes include roost, wintering, and nest boxes (for birds and insect pollinators) and new plantings in the spring as well. Thanks to Volunteer EP for his help with this!
Come see for yourself! Call, tweet, email or schedule a visit by phone: (802) 434-2167 or museum@birdsofvermont.org. From museum exhibits to relaxing in our accessible treehouse to observing the long-awaited progress on the stream restoration and bridge phase of #BridgesToBirds, there’s always some wild thing to learn from or about.
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film covering that helps hide watchers from the birds. We have chairs and binoculars to try, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Noticed on the October 2015 Monitoring Walk
We’ve not quite been enough in the habit of linking our monthly Monitoring Walk “results”, but we’ll try to keep up with that a bit more.
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US Oct 31, 2015 8:00 AM - 8:15 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 kilometer(s) Comments: monthly monitoring walk led by Erin Talmage. 13 species
Mourning Dove 6 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Blue Jay 6 American Crow 1 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 16 Tufted Titmouse 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Brown Creeper 1 Dark-eyed Junco 5 American Goldfinch 1
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25639896
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Through the Window: September 2015
Fall approached…and arrived. And off went some birds. Thanks to the critter cam we heard some birds that we couldn’t see. Looking forward to the big list coming up for the Big Sit! in just over a week.
Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.
- Downy Woodpecker
- Blue Jay
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- American Goldfinch
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Mourning Dove
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird (9/14: 2 skirmishing on cedars. Juveniles or females. No adult males recorded this month.)
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Black-throated Blue Warbler (9/6/15 and 9/13/15)
- Eastern Phoebe (at the front of the Museum)
- Song Sparrow (across the road)
- other Sparrow spp.
- White-throated Sparrow
- Wild Turkey
- Barred Owl (heard on the critter cam)
- American Crow (heard from the front doorway)
We saw a few green frogs in our tiny little pond by the feeder. We also delighted in seeing a White-tailed Deer eating some crab apples near the treehouse, as well as Red Squirrels, a Gray Squirrel, and Eastern Chipmunks under the feeders. Nocturnal ones included raccoons, mice, and again a cat (watching that night-time video is what let us notice the Barred Owl).
Come see for yourself! We’re open every day from 10am until 4pm, through October 31. From museum exhibits to relaxing in our accessible treehouse to observing the long-awaited progress on the stream restoration and bridge phase of #BridgesToBirds. There’s always some wild thing to learn from or about. Call, tweet, email or drop by: (802) 434-2167 or museum@birdsofvermont.org.
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film covering that helps hide watchers from the birds. We have chairs and binoculars to try, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Through the Window: December 2014
Happy New Year! Bird sightings are slowing down around here now for various reasons (season, opportunity,…). Bold text indicates the species we did not see last month.
- Blue Jay
- Mourning Dove
- Tufted Titmouse
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Pileated Woodpecker (in various trees nearby)
- Northern Cardinal
- Dark-eyed Junco
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Wild Turkey (22 on 12/2)
- Red-bellied Woodpecker (female 12/6)
I seem to have misplaced the mammal notes. Guess you’ll just have to come look for them yourself!
We’re open by appointment from now until April 30. You are always welcome, just call or email to schedule a visit. Whether you’re working on bird ID skills, want to explore example of the woodcarvers’ art, learning about winter bird feeding, or seeking citizen science opportunities for yourself or kid, we can help! Call or email to set up your time to visit: (802) 434-2167 or museum@birdsofvermont.org.
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film covering that helps hide watchers from the birds. We have chairs and binoculars to try, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Through the Window: November 2014
….
Bold text indicates the species we did not see last month.
- Blue Jay
- Downy Woodpecker
- Dark-eyed Junco
- American Goldfinch
- Tufted Titmouse
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Song Sparrow
- Mourning Dove
- Black-capped Chickadee
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Northern Cardinal
- Fox Sparrow (2 on 11/9)
- White-throated Sparrow
- Wild Turkey (16 in flock, only 1 male)
An Eastern Chipmunk was still awake this month, and of course the Red Squirrels and Gray Squirrels are attempting to scarf up all the seeds and corn on the ground before the turkeys get to it…
We’re open by appointment from now until April 30. You are always welcome, just call or email to schedule a visit. Whether you’re working on bird ID skills, want to explore example of the woodcarvers’ art, learning about winter bird feeding, or seeking citizen science opportunities for yourself or kid, we can help! Call or email to set up your time to visit: (802) 434-2167 or museum@birdsofvermont.org.
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film covering that helps hide watchers from the birds. We have chairs and binoculars to try, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.