Through the Window: April 2014

Huzzah for migratory species! Some of those we saw are birds we have not seen since last year. Others are here most months, even some of the bold-faced birds(we did not see them last month). FOY means “First of Year”.

  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Mourning Dove
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • American Goldfinch
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • European Starling
  • Dark-eyed Junco (at least 35 on 4/19)
  • Common Grackle
  • American Robin
  • Song Sparrow
  • Wild Turkey
  • American Crow
  • Northern Goshawk (4/10/14)
  • Eastern Phoebe (FOY 4/12/14)
  • Brown-headed Cowbird (FOY 4/14/14)
  • Fox Sparrow (FOY 4/16/14)
  • Hermit Thrush (FOY 4/16/14)

 

Additional critters: Woodchuck (4/9/14), Eastern Chipmunk, Red squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Wood Frogs (4/14/14) and eggs (4/15/14)

Come see them for yourself! We’re open daily from 10-4 and we have great art, cool science, and astonishingly detailed woodcarvings, as well as live birds outside. Check out our calendar of events for special things to do and see.

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 (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.

Through the Window: March 2014

This spring thing? Has been taking a long time. But it’s coming, oh, finally, it’s coming. Here’s the evidence—these bold-faced birds are one we did not see last month.

  • American Crow
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Hair Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Purple Finch (male and female)
  • American Goldfinch
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • American Robin
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Evening Grosbeak (male, March 14)
  • European Starling (March 29)

The chipmunks are awake again too! The first of the year was spotted March 9, despite deep snow. This is probably helped by our youngest volunteer, who is as sure as a four-year-old can be that we should spread seed on the ground near the stone wall (at least until April 1).

Come see them for yourself! We’re open by appointment, with a fantastic Volunteer Work Day coming up on April 26th. Check out our calendar of events for details.

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 (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.

Through the Window: February 2014

As written by someone (a visitor? our fabulous intern?) on our Viewing Window Board:

We February!
We birds!
We this Museum!
We’d some big donation$… to build a bridge to see ’em!

(More on the Bridge thing soon. Stay tuned.) Right then. You came here for birds! We gots birds. We can even see some from our Viewing Window! In February, we saw…

  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Northern Cardinal (female and male)
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • American Goldfinch
  • Red-bellied woodpecker
  • Wild Turkey (tracks)
  • Mourning Dove
  • American Robin
  • American Crow

Four-footed friends: Gray Squirrels, Red Squirrels, and a shrew (not sure which kind. This one was actually near the mailbox, not the Viewing Window).

Come see them for yourself! We’re open by appointment, plus all-day on March 23. Check out our calendar of events for details.

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 (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.

Through the Window: January 2014 with a new bird (to some of us)

Red-bellied Woodpecker photo by Zac Cota. Copyright (c) 2014, and used by permission.

Bold-faced text are those birds we did not see last month.  There were three! In writing this, I note that perhaps we are slightly behind on our eBird reporting, so if you have time to volunteer with us and help out recording some of our sightings, please say so. (We can teach you how if you want.) Or just come watch birds with us! Two citizen science projects, Project Feederwatch and the Great Backyard Bird Count, are ongoing, and we will share both at our Open House on February 15. That day, we’re also hosting a Wood Duck one-day carving class taught by David Tuttle of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers.

  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Blue Jay
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Mourning Dove
  • Wild Turkey
  • American Goldfinch
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Brown Creeper Seen by the birders on the monthly monitoring walk
  • American Tree Sparrow
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker Spotted by one of our visitors! Not common at the Museum: only 2 sightings here reported to eBird so far!
  • American Crow
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Ruffed Grouse

“Varmints”: Gray Squirrels, Red Squirrels, Eastern Cottontail

Take a look at our calendar of events. Yes, visiting is by appointment (until April 30), but whether you like to schedule 2 weeks in advance (like today’s visitors from Massachusetts) or that morning (like the ones I mentioned last month), appointments are easy. Well, “that morning” ones can be a little uncertain sometimes… But you are always welcome! Call (802) 434-2167 or email 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 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 (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.

Through the Window: October 2013 with Big Sitters Helping

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”