Tag: observed at Museum

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Fabulous Fall Festival

Come to our annual Fall Festival!

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:

  • Admire the Art Contest Entries and discover the Winners (Pick up your ribbon and prize if it’s you)
  • Used Books and Other Treasures Sale
  • Explore the Museum (can you find all 535 eggs? Did we count right?)
  • Get a ticket for a Raffle: Kids Raffle (Saturday only) and Decoy Raffle (winner announced October 31)
  • Scavenger Hunts
  • Nature Quests
  • Live birds at our feeders, in the woods, in the meadoews
  • Snacks available for sale
  • Yet more games and crafts
  • Walking trails (have you found the pond? The stone wall? The new bench? All the items on the Unnatural Trail?)

 Looking forward to seeing you!

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Through the Window: September 2012 Bye-bye, (Humming) Birdie

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.

  • American Goldfinch
  • Mourning Dove
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • House Finch (female)
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female last seen 9/15/2012)
  • Blue Jay
  • Northern Cardinal
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Purple Finch
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • American Crow
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Wild Turkey
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Northern Flicker

Some typical (and observed) wee neighbors:

  • Red squirrel
  • Gray Squirrel
  • Chipmunks

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.

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Through the Window: August 2012 : A rainbow of feathers

Did we get every color of the rainbow, Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet?
Here’s the month’s list, more or less in the order observed. You can compare it to last month’s if you like.

  • American Goldfinch
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Mourning Dove
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • House Finch (female)
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Common Grackle
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Blue Jay
  • Northern Goshawk
  • Purple Finch
  • Black-billed Cuckoo (near mailbox)
  • Northern Cardinal
  • White-throated Sparrow (on the ground)
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (male and female)
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Common Yellowthroat (female, at the tiny frog pond in the feeder area)
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk

The Cuckoo and Yellowthroat were a treat to see! Common Yellowthroats are usually on the other side of the Museum or across the road near our meadow.  The Cuckoos are more rarely seen or heard altogether.

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.

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Through the Window: July 2012 is for Fledglings

We list them on our white board in the order we see them (more or less, since the usually the first several are from the first day of the month). We put the ones not seen last month in bold.

  • Common Grackle
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Mourning Dove
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Blue Jay
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • American Crow
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • American Goldfinch
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Northern Goshawk (and on 7/23, observed it taking a Mourning Dove!)
  • Black-billed Cuckoo (by the pond)
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (nest and fledglings in the tree beyond the picnic table, later filmed by Linda Hurd for us)
  • House Finch
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • Indigo Bunting
  • Purple Finch

Some other intriguing and special notes:

  • Red squirrel
  • Gray Squirrel
  • Chipmunks
  • Sphinx Moth (at first mistaken for a Hummingbird!)
  • and a baby Skunk

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.

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Highlights of July 8th Butterfly Walk

We could not have asked for better weather during the July 8th ButterflyWalk. Clear blue skies and comfortable temperatures welcomed the eighteen nature lovers that joined Vermont Entomological Society naturalists and entomologists for an exploratory stroll on the Birds of Vermont Museum grounds.  Make sure to check out the list of the many butterflies, insects, and other miscellaneous critters participants got to experience up close!

To learn more about the Vermont Entomological Society check out their website, where you can find gorgeous photos and information about the society.

Atlantis Fritillary similar to the one above were sighted during the July 8th Butterfly Walk.

Butterflies, Insects, and Misc. Critters viewed on July 8th:

Butterflies:

  • Atlantis Fritillary Butterfly
  • Clouded Sulphurs Butterfly (male)
  • Dun Skipper Butterfly
  • Monarch Butterfly
  • Question Mark Butterfly
  • Azure Butterfly
  • Northern Pearly Eye Butterfly
  • Red Admiral Butterfly

Moths:

  • Sod Grass Veneer Moth
  • Mottled Snout Moth
  • Gypsy Moth (caterpillar)
  • Plume Moth
Misc. Flying Species:
  • Enallagma Skimming Bluet (blue damselfly)
  • Bright Green Damselfly
  • 12-Spotted Skimmer Dragonfly
  • Red Dragon Fly
  • Dragon Fly (exoskeleton)
  • Crane Fly
  • Scorpion Fly (female)
  • Serpent Fly (mimics wasp)

Beetles:

  • Click Beetle
  • Japanese Beetle
  • Whirligig Beetle
  • Case-bearing Leaf Beetle

Other Species:

  • Bush Katydid
  • Grey Grasshopper (gripped and turned a dime – VERY IMPRESSIVE!)
  • Large Tan Spider(male)
  • Crab Spider (3 sighted, 1 was eating another insect)
  • Water Boatman
  • Water Scorpion
  • Frogs & Tadpoles
  • Leeches
  • Salamanders
  • Raven (heard)
  • Black Billed Cuckoo (heard and sighted)
Interested in identifying butterflies in your own backyard? Check out “Gardens With Wings” for help identifying butterflies by their shape, wingspan, opened and closed wing color, common name and family name.
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Highlights of July 8th Butterfly Walk

We could not have asked for better weather during the July 8th ButterflyWalk. Clear blue skies and comfortable temperatures welcomed the eighteen nature lovers that joined Vermont Entomological Society naturalists and entomologists for an exploratory stroll on the Birds of Vermont Museum grounds.  Make sure to check out the list of the many butterflies, insects, and other miscellaneous critters participants got to experience up close!

To learn more about the Vermont Entomological Society check out their website, where you can find gorgeous photos and information about the society.

Atlantis Fritillary similar to the one above were sighted during the July 8th Butterfly Walk.

Butterflies, Insects, and Misc. Critters viewed on July 8th:

Butterflies:

  • Atlantis Fritillary Butterfly
  • Clouded Sulphurs Butterfly (male)
  • Dun Skipper Butterfly
  • Monarch Butterfly
  • Question Mark Butterfly
  • Azure Butterfly
  • Northern Pearly Eye Butterfly
  • Red Admiral Butterfly

Moths:

  • Sod Grass Veneer Moth
  • Mottled Snout Moth
  • Gypsy Moth (caterpillar)
  • Plume Moth
Misc. Flying Species:
  • Enallagma Skimming Bluet (blue damselfly)
  • Bright Green Damselfly
  • 12-Spotted Skimmer Dragonfly
  • Red Dragon Fly
  • Dragon Fly (exoskeleton)
  • Crane Fly
  • Scorpion Fly (female)
  • Serpent Fly (mimics wasp)

Beetles:

  • Click Beetle
  • Japanese Beetle
  • Whirligig Beetle
  • Case-bearing Leaf Beetle

Other Species:

  • Bush Katydid
  • Grey Grasshopper (gripped and turned a dime – VERY IMPRESSIVE!)
  • Large Tan Spider(male)
  • Crab Spider (3 sited, 1 was eating another insect)
  • Water Boatman
  • Water Scorpion
  • Frogs & Tadpoles
  • Leeches
  • Salamanders
  • Raven (heard)
  • Black Billed Cuckoo (heard and sighted)
Interested in identifying butterflies in your own backyard? Check out “Gardens With Wings” for help identifying butterflies by their shape, wingspan, opened and closed wing color, common name and family name.
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Through the Window: June 2012 Goshawks, Sapsuckers, and Skunks Oh My!

Did you know we just list them in the order we see them? Usually the first several are from the first day of the month. We put the ones not seen last month in bold.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (male). Carved by Bob Spear in 1985.
  • American Crow (6/4/12 fly – over, 6/22/12 juveniles under feeder)
  • Blue Jay
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Wild Turkey
  • American Robin
  • Mourning Dove
  • Common Grackle
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Purple Finch
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Downy Woodpecker (6/27/12 downy with young feeding)
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Baltimore Oriole (6/22/12)
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird (5/5/12 FOY male)
  • Northern Cardinal (male & female)
  • Goshawk (6/13/12 chasing 3 crows, 6/21/12 perched in the tree above picnic table)
  • Sapsucker (6/21/12 & 6/22/12 nestlings calling for food, nest hole visible from picnic tables)
  • Black Bear (6/14/12 @ 12:30 pm stayed about 3 minutes until the sound of the door scared it off)
  • Skunk (6/29/12)
  • Gray Squirrels
  • Red Squirrels
  • Chipmunks

*FOY stands for First Of Year.

Skunk visiting bird feeders on June 29, 2012
Skunk visiting bird feeders on June 29, 2012

You can always compare this list to other months, or check out sightings in the area on eBird.

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What’s In An Egg?

We don’t always get time to post about what we’ve been doing in our Programs. But Sundays for Fledglings is up and running again this year (2pm on Sundays for about 45-60 minutes), and this week we got some nice photos from the occasion. I couldn’t resist adding them:

 

We looked at light through eggs, the way hard-boiled and raw eggs spin (or don’t, depending on the surface and the egg), and the anatomy of eggs. We investigated the shell, cracked open both raw and cooked eggs to see how the contents change (or don’t), and peered at parts through a stereoscope. (Memo to self:bring hand lenses too next time). We looked at models of eggs of different sizes, colors, and shapes in order to imagine how a combo of characteristics would be useful for some kinds of birds (but others would need a different combination).  Lastly, we washed our hands, just in case.  Next time, we might try investigating shell strength.

Next week we’ll make some noise: bird calls, chirps, hoots and hollers. Sound off!

Perhaps relatedly (or perhaps not), here’s a post about eggs (in general and in the museum) and taking other things apart…

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Highlights of the June 3rd Early Morning Bird Walk

a guest post by Mae M

After yesterday’s rain it was perfect weather this morning for a leisurely walk along the forest trails behind the museum.  Five birders enjoyed great looks at Ovenbirds, a Hermit thrush, a Blackburnian warbler, a Yellow-rumped warbler and two Yellow-bellied sapsuckers. The Northern flicker nesting near the museum also made several appearances for our delight.

After the walk we enjoyed coffee and cake seated in front of the viewing window while Rose-breasted grosbeaks and Ruby-throated hummingbirds came in to the feeders. What could be better than that?!

Our next Early Morning Bird Walk will take place on Sunday, June 10 at 7:00-8:30. Won’t you join us? Continue reading “Highlights of the June 3rd Early Morning Bird Walk”

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Through the Window: April 2012 Birds in the thick of spring

Did you know we just list them in the order we see them? Usually the first several are from the first day of the month. We put the ones not seen last month in bold. We’ll try to be more consistent with that!

Brown-headed Cowbird (male). Carved by Bob Spear in 1982
Brown-headed Cowbird (male). Carved by Bob Spear in 1982
  • American Goldfinch
  • Red-winged blackbird
  • Black-capped chickadee
  • Blue Jay
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Mourning Dove
  • Common Grackle
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Wild Turkey
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • Pine Siskin
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • American Robin
  • Brown-head Cowbird (FOY* 4/12)
  • American Crow (2 on 4/21)
  • Evening Grosbeaks (male and female)
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Purple Finch
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male, FOY)
  • Spotted Salamander (8 eggs noted March 31, and a headless adult in the small pond)
  • Red squirrel
  • Gray Squirrel
  • Chipmunks

* FOY stands for First of Year.

You can always compare this list to last April, or check out sightings in the area on eBird. The wood frogs eggs seen in March may have gotten a little too dry, but some live frog (moving too fast and hiding too well to be identified) was seen in the small feeder area pond this month as well.

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