where natural history meets art
Nice weather this month. Our list is a bit longer and more amazing ’cause we had some dedicated sitting observers. Admittedly, they were actually on the other side of the window from our usual watching spot. Should we count that as “through the window”? Hmmm. Anyway, if you don’t know about the Big Sit!, go check it out, then come back (We’ll wait).
OK, here’s the combined list: Continue reading “Through the Window: October 2013 with Big Sitters Helping”
We were busy out and about, and had few visitors (a disadvantage of our “by appointment” season), so not so many observations. The female Grosbeak with the damaged wing continues to live nearby! You can find out more about her in October’s entry. Here’s the rest of our December list.
Project Feederwatch started November 10th. We usually do our observations at lunch. This is a great project to do with kids. The Great Backyard Bird Count (in February) is another beginner-friendly (and expert-friendly!) citizen science project. We do that do, and the Museum will be open on February 16 so you can count, learn, and enjoy it with us.
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 to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, 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 other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
If you’re not already following Mary Holland’s blog, do!
Our plucky female Grosbeak friend is still around! You can find out more about her in last month’s entry.
Project Feederwatch started November 10th! We enjoy having our lunch while “standing watch”. When do you take your data?
Of course some Red and Gray squirrels appeared quite pleased to hoover up some of our corn and black oil seed from the ground.
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 to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, 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 other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
The Big Sit! event always boosts the size of the October list. Something about actually sitting around and watching for birds, instead of trying to notice them while you’re talking to other visitors… Bold birds are the ones we didn’t record last month.
We observed several Evening Grosbeaks, male and female. One female seemed to have an injured right wing. Over the course of the month, she continued to make appearances, generally foraging on the ground and hopping back to shelter in the cedar hedge. However, one day she did fly—perhaps flutter is a more accurate verb—up into some shrubs as well. We saw her off and on through the end of October, and we wish her well. Her persistence does raise the question: what, if anything, should we do about her? Catch her? Send her to rehab? Observe her without interference?
Also, Project Feederwatch starts November 10th! Are you ready? We are!
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 to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board and many identification guides, and several feeders outside on a single, bear-resistant pole, as well as a small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Saturday October 27 • 8:00–9:30 a.m.
Join experienced birders on the last Saturday of every month for the monthly bird monitoring walk. Discover more of the Museum’s forest and meadows! Please bring binoculars.
Free • Adults and older children have the most fun
Optional: pre-register by emailing museum@birdsofvermont.org or calling (802) 434-2167.
The Big Sit!
Sunday, October 14 • Dawn–Dusk
How many birds can we perceive from a 17-foot diameter circle? Can we beat last year’s record? Join Team Loonatics at the Birds of Vermont Museum and find out.
Snacks and coffee provided for sitters. Please bring your own binoculars.
For much more info, see http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/connect/bigsit/about.php or call the Museum at (802) 434-2167.
Fabulous Fall Festival
Saturday, October 13 • 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Live birds, music, soap and wood carving, kids’ crafts, face painting, and more!
$2 / Free if you are 3 and under or show your Museum or Green Mountain Woodcarver membership card
Our schedule of events (but check when you get here to be sure):
10:00 Carving Workshop : Spirit faces in bark (2 hours; $10 fee but this includes all-day admission also)
11:00 Soap Carving
11:00 Live Music by Northeast Field (terrific Celtic music)
1:00 Live Bird Talk
2:00 Soap Carving
2:15 Face Painting
3:00 Nature Note cards
3:59 Announcing Winner of the Kids Raffle
All Day / Ongoing:
Last of the Hummingbirds! We’re confident that our feeding of them didn’t slow their departure; rather, feeding seems to supplement migrating birds rather than delay them. If you’re curious about what we saw in high summer, you can see that list too. Bold birds are the ones we didn’t record last month.
Some typical (and observed) wee neighbors:
You can always compare our informal list to other area records on eBird—that’s where we record the observations from our monthly bird monitoring walks (thanks to our wonderful volunteer MM) . We will be part of Project Feederwatch this winter of course, as well as the Great Backyard Bird Count.
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 to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board and many identification guides, and several feeders outside on a single, bear-resistant pole, as well as a small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Sunday, September 16, 8:30am 1:30pm
Seek out songbirds, shorebird, raptors and waterfowl, new back roads and birding hotspots around Orwell, Vermont. This Birding the Basin trip will be led by Jim and Kris Andrews, both long-time birders. This is a beautiful and diverse area that is not heavily visited by birders. Maybe we’ll even find a few reptiles!
We will be birding by car as well as walking along a few back roads. Meet at the Gas’n’Go at the intersection of Rte 22a and 73 and carpool from there.
Best for adults and older children.
$20 for members of the Birds of Vermont Museum; $25 for non-members.
Please pre-register (you can pay ahead or at the door) by calling 802 434-2167 or emailing museum@birdsofvermont.org.