where natural history meets art
April sometimes make me think of the distant rumble of a storm, long before it gets here. Instead of a rumble though, it’s the first waves of migratory birds coming north, reminding us spring is about to crash over us.
Yes, yes, some places have spring earlier, say March, or even February (such a thought) . Or September, if that’s your hemisphere!
But that sense of impended gloriousness? That perhaps happens for you too. I hope it does!
April is upon us! You know what that means: hiccuping weather. Winter today, spring tomorrow, and a whole lotta mud, especially on the roads. Drive with care, especially if you’re birding at the same time. (We recommend pulling over. I mean, really.)
What? It also means returning species? You better believe it. What’s your favorite harbinger of spring?
Wow, what a spring! Some unusual species seen and heard this month, for us, down here at the Viewing Window. (Okay, okay, we did record a few birds heard or seen while we were coming into the Museum or running out to check the mail….)
Bold items in this list are those species not recorded last month.
The usual mammals maintained their presence: Red and Gray Squirrels, and Eastern Chipmunks. We didn’t observe the Eastern Cottontail but we did see the Woodchuck. Wood Frogs tadpoles occupied the pon on May 17, 2017, and Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are back by May 23.
Our “summer” hours have arrived! May through October, we are open daily from 10am – 4pm (with a few extra evenings, and sometime closed for part of the July 4 holiday). Click over to our events page. If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter , tumblr, and/or Instagram too, you’ll find more comments, links, and observations. See you soon!
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.
Welcome spring! As often in April, the number of species seen rises dramatically. Boldface in this list are those species not recorded last month.
The usual mammals maintained their presence: Red and Gray Squirrels, Eastern Cottontail rabbit, and Eastern Chipmunks. Wood Frogs made the feeder area mini pond noisy on several rainy days, and Spotted Salmander eggs will remain in the pond for a little while longer.
Our “summer” hours have arrived! May through October, we are open daily from 10am – 4pm (with a few extra evenings, and sometime closed for part of the July 4 holiday). Click over to our events page. If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter , tumblr, and/or Instagram too, you’ll find more comments, links, and observations. See you soon!
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.
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.
June is when almost everyone is busy with nests, eggs, and sometimes already fledglings. We get busy too.
Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month. The surprising gap here is the Black-capped chickadee; it is likely around but the those writing on the board happened to not see it.
For more precise records, you can also see eBird data for recent years at the Museum.
As always, other critters visited. The Hummingbird-mimic, the Clearwing Sphinx Moth, was spotted on June 7. We note again Red Squirrels, Gray Squirrels, and Eastern Chipmunks. The Woodchuck (a.k.a. Groundhog) is still around. Our night-time cam suggests we also have mice and young rabbits, but the image is too indistinct to be sure (the eyes glow and move in delightfully eerie ways, however). We did record a chewed head of a rabbit under a picnic table, so we can be sure of at least one predator species as well.
All observers can add their sightings to our whiteboard list! The viewing window is open daily May 1- October 31, except for the July 4th Holiday. Visit between 10am and 4pm. For extra happenings, check out our events page. You can see that we start with birds but don’t stop there! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too, for even 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 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
Michelle Patenaude led the June 5 Early Birders Morning Walk. 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 5, 2016 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Protocol: Traveling 0.5 kilometer(s) Comments: Early Birders Walk led by Michele Patenaude- split into two groups who walked different directions but covered part of the same area. 30 species Turkey Vulture 2 Mourning Dove 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Veery 2 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 2 Cedar Waxwing 2 Ovenbird 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Song Sparrow 2 Scarlet Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 1 Indigo Bunting 2 Common Grackle 2 Baltimore Oriole 1 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S30084511 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
Twenty-nine species noticed and recorded on our informal Viewing Window white board in May (and can you believe it’s already June?).
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.
Yet more critters: Red Squirrels, Gray Squirrels, and Eastern Chipmunks, as usual. We noted also a Tiger Swallowtail on May 25, and a Woodchuck (a.k.a. Groundhog) on May 31.
Come and see what we see…or write it down in case we didn’t. The viewing window is open as the Museum is: daily May 1- October 31, except for the July 4th Holiday. Visit between 10am and 4pm, or come early on Sundays this month for Early Birder walks. Details are on our events page. You can see from that that we start with birds but don’t stop there. Follow us on Facebook, where we are often more quick to let you know what’s happening. We’ve just started using Instagram too, because more photos are more fun.
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.