Some surprises and delights by the time the Bird Monitoring Walk and Christmas Bird Count rolled around. (We did not actually have quite this much snow, but it’s getting there.)
![Birders on a winter monitoring waslk](http://cpanel3.neonova.net/~wwwbirdsofvt/wpsite2017/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/snow-birders-crop-custom.jpg?w=300)
where natural history meets art
Through October, we continued to have light traffic at our feeders, but plenty of birds deeper in the woods. Great insects, fruits, berries? Could be.
This month’s list includes what we observed at the Big Sit!, one of our favorite birding activities.
Crazily warm day for a walk last Saturday! Birds are singing: there was a tremendous cacophony of competing Black-capped chickadees singing on Thursday the 23rd, which was a delight. Today the Northern Cardinal was singing in the dogwoods. And the Birders left lots of treats in the Museum fridge; I think I gained 10 pounds just nibbling on them as I assembled this post for you… Thanks everyone, for baked goodies, bird observations, and community companionship.
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US Feb 25, 2017 8:05 AM Protocol: Traveling Party Size: 8 Duration: 1 hour(s), 35 minute(s) Distance: 1.609 kilometer(s) Comments: 10 species Canada Goose 12 Flyover Mourning Dove 17 Downy Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 8 American Crow 10 Black-capped Chickadee 12 Tufted Titmouse 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Red-winged Blackbird 1 In the feeder area, 1 male View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34782352 Feb 25, 2017 8:00 AM - 10:35 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Observed from the feeder window during the monitoring walk. Very warm conditions: 50 degrees. 7 species Mourning Dove 2 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 4 Blue Jay 5 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 2 Red-winged Blackbird 3 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34783779 These reports were generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
We’ll be out again on March 25 at 8:00 a.m. for our next Monthly Bird Monitoring Walk. Tell us you’ll be joining us!
Remember: there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.
It’s a quiet week in – oh, wait. Right. We went walking! Also not-walking. Both activities let us record birds.
Thank you, Executive Director Erin Talmage, for leading this month’s walk. Happy New Year! Continue reading “Species List: December 2016 Bird Monitoring”
We were blessed with some unusual observations this month—we suspect these species are usually here in August, but we’re not always in the right place to observe them. Gotta get outdoors! In the meantime, enjoy this month’s list of what we’ve seen through (or near) our Viewing Window.
No male hummingbirds on 8/31.
Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.
For more precise records, you can also see eBird data for recent years at the Museum.
It’s always fun to distinguish the Clear-winged Sphinx Moth and the Ruby-throated Hummingbird as they both hover about the bee balm. And what a month for mammals! We’ve the usuals: Gray squirrels, Red squirrels, Eastern chipmunks.. ;.and we’ve also noticed Eastern cottontail rabbit, a bobcat, and a young porcupine! This last was spotted and photographed by some visitors on August 28 as it came across Bob’s Bridge and up the bath. (Bob’s Bridge is the lower bridge of the two near the Museum entrance; Gale’s Crossing is the new one.)
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.
Michelle Patenaude led the June 26th Early Birders Morning Walk as well. The walks this year have been so well-attended! It’s been wonderful to welcome birders, old and new, to the Museum.
Here’s the report:
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US Jun 26, 2016 7:05 AM - 9:25 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 kilometer(s) Comments: Early Birders Walk led by Michele Patenaude 34 species Mallard 1 Mourning Dove 2 Barred Owl 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 7 observed adult at nest with young in it Downy Woodpecker 2 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 5 Black-capped Chickadee 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 5 Winter Wren 1 Hermit Thrush 2 Wood Thrush 1 American Robin 2 Gray Catbird 1 Ovenbird 11 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 5 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Pine Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Dark-eyed Junco 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 Northern Cardinal 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 2 American Goldfinch 2 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30398032 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Join usnext year, in May and June, for the next series of early morning walks. Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot. Of course, we hope to see you long before then! There’s so much more to see and do here at the Museum, after all.
Michelle Patenaude continues her volunteering, by leading the June 19th Early Birders Morning Walk also. Thank you, Michelle, for your consistent and so-welcome effort!
Here’s the report:
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US Jun 19, 2016 7:10 AM - 10:15 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.5 mile(s) Comments: Early Birders Walk led by Michele Patenaude. 39 species Turkey Vulture 1 Mourning Dove 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 2 males displaying Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 3 observed adult female putting her head into a nesting hole, feeding 2 young Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Blue Jay 7 Black-capped Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 1 House Wren 1 Winter Wren 4 Hermit Thrush 2 Wood Thrush 2 American Robin 3 Gray Catbird 2 Cedar Waxwing 1 Ovenbird 18 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 Blackburnian Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 4 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Song Sparrow 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 heard repeatedly, observed by entire group Northern Cardinal 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Indigo Bunting 1 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Common Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 American Goldfinch 2 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30299602 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. Begin your day with friends, birds, and more. 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
Michelle Patenaude led the June 12th Early Birders Morning Walk also. The walk so so popular today that they split into tow groups, and reunited later at the viewing window for coffee, conversation, and more birdwatching.
Here’s the report:
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US Jun 12, 2016 7:05 AM - 9:05 AM Protocol: Traveling 3.0 kilometer(s) Comments: Early Birders Walk led by Michele Patenaude 31 species Wood Duck 1 Flying over Mourning Dove 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 1 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Tufted Titmouse 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Winter Wren 2 Veery 1 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 1 Cedar Waxwing 2 Ovenbird 14 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 4 Song Sparrow 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Common Grackle 3 American Goldfinch 3 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30189837 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. Begin your day with friends, birds, and more. 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
Drop by the Museum for the Great Backyard Bird Count! We’re open Saturday, February 13 • 10am – 3pm to share the Count with you!
See you here!
More about the GBBC: http://gbbc.birdcount.org/