Tag: monitoring

the Big Sit! 2026

A Stanley brand 25' metal measuring tape; a pair of black binoculars; a bag of Birds and Beans coffee (scarlet tanager dark roast). All three item are line d up on a wooden railing, with green foliage behind them.

The most relaxed birding around. And around and around …

How many birds (and birdwatchers) can we identify from a 17-foot diameter circle between sunrise and sunset? Can we beat last year’s record? We’ve seen birds big and small, in night and day: from Kinglets to Great Blue Herons, Barred Owls to Turkey Vultures.

This is a great long-running community science project. Pledges and donations welcome:

We are observing from Dawn to Dusk. The Museum is open from 10am – 4pm.

Call or email to ask about joining the observation team.

For much more info, see https://www.thebigsit.org/ .

Check out the reports from previous years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 (overall), 2021 (ours), 2022 (overall), 2022 (ours), 2023 (overall), 2023 (ours), 2024 (overall)

several birders standing during a Big Sit event

December Bird Monitoring Walk

Photo of Northern Cardinal (male)

All birders — current, experienced, newbie and would-be — welcome!
Join our monthly monitoring walk to record birds at the Museum’s trails, forest, and meadow. Learn something new, share what you know, or both! Most fun for adults, older children.

Please bring your own binoculars and dress for the weather. We recommend bringing tick repellent and a water bottle.

Free, suggested donation $10 – $15
Max: 12 people

Register at https://sevendaystickets.com/organizations/birds-of-vermont-museumor call 802 434-2167.

Outdoors

Photo of Northern Cardinal.

November Bird Monitoring Walk

Ruffed Grouse in fall Crabapple tree

All birders — current, experienced, newbie, and would-be — welcome!
Join our monthly monitoring walk to record birds at the Museum’s trails, forest, and meadow. Learn something new, share what you know, or both! Most fun for adults, older children.

Please bring your own binoculars and dress for the weather. We recommend bringing tick repellent and a water bottle.

Free, suggested donation $10 – $15
Max: 12 people

Register at https://sevendaystickets.com/organizations/birds-of-vermont-museumor call 802 434-2167.

Outdoors

Photo of Ruffed Grouse in Crabapple. Photographed at the Museum by Museum staff.

October Bird Monitoring Walk

White-breasted Nuthatch © copyright Zac Cota-Weaver and used by permission.

All birders — current, experienced, newbie and would-be — welcome!
Join our monthly monitoring walk to record birds at the Museum’s trails, forest, and meadow. Learn something new, share what you know, or both! Most fun for adults, older children.

Please bring your own binoculars and dress for the weather. We recommend bringing tick repellent and a water bottle.

Free, suggested donation $10 – $15
Max: 12 people

Register at https://sevendaystickets.com/organizations/birds-of-vermont-museumor call 802 434-2167.

Outdoors

Photo of White-breasted Nuthatch © Zac Cota-Weaver and used by permission.

September Bird Monitoring Walk

Sparrow spp. © 2019 E. Talmage and used by permission

All birders — current, experienced, newbie and would-be — welcome!
Join our monthly monitoring walk to record birds at the Museum’s trails, forest, and meadow. Learn something new, share what you know, or both! Most fun for adults, older children.

Please bring your own binoculars and dress for the weather. We recommend bringing tick repellent and a water bottle.

Free, suggested donation $10 – $15
Max: 12 people

Register here or call 802 434-2167.

Outdoors

Photo: Sparrow spp. © 2019 E. Talmage and used by permission.

August Bird Monitoring Walk

Yellow Warbler ©copyright Bob Johnson and used by permission

All birders — current, experienced, newbie and would-be — welcome!
Join our monthly monitoring walk to record birds at the Museum’s trails, forest, and meadow. Learn something new, share what you know, or both! Most fun for adults, older children.

Please bring your own binoculars and dress for the weather. We recommend bringing tick repellent and a water bottle.

Free, suggested donation $10 – $15
Max: 12 people

Register online or call 802 434-2167.

Outdoors

Photo: Photo of Yellow Warbler ©copyright Bob Johnson and used by permission.

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Through the Window: May 2026

Rose-breasted Grosbeak male: a chunky songbird with a black head, a pinkish-read "bib-and-tie" and a white chest and belly. Her his perched on a branch facing the viewer, although his head is turned to his right. Other thin branches are visible, and a bright blue sky is behind him.
A Veery stands adjacent to a nest with pale blue eggs. The life-like woodcarving is a small mostly brown bird carved and painted by Bob Spear, as are the eggs. The nest is real. The green fern behind the bird is made of painted metal, but also looks real.
Veery, carved by Bob Spear, overlooking eggs

May is such a bursting month! Birds, birds, buds, buds. We’ve held our regular monthly monitoring walk, and our weekly Early Birder Morning walks, and of course been amazed but what we see and hear. Next year, we might hold the first two Early Birder walks at 7:30 or 8 am (it can be a little slow and chilly at 7); let us know what you think about that!

May Bird List

Continue reading “Through the Window: May 2026”

July Bird Monitoring Walk

Unidentified hawk overhead against a brilliantly blue sky. Photo copyright Erin Talmage and used by permission.

All birders — current, experienced, newbie and would-be — welcome!
Join our monthly monitoring walk to record birds at the Museum’s trails, forest, and meadow. Learn something new, share what you know, or both! Most fun for adults, older children.

Please bring your own binoculars and dress for the weather. We recommend bringing tick repellent and a water bottle.

Free, suggested donation $10 – $15
Max: 12 people

Register at https://sevendaystickets.com/organizations/birds-of-vermont-museum or call 802 434-2167.

Outdoors

Photo: Unidentified hawk overhead against a brilliantly blue sky. Photo copyright Erin Talmage and used by permission.

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