Tag: white breasted nuthatch

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Through the Window: March 2017

March was a mix, with bare ground and then snowstorm Stella. A small snafu, so we don’t have our white board list from February but we did of course keep track over on eBird. for our monitoring walks and so on.  So bold in this list indicates “not seen in January” instead of “not seen last month.”

  • Wild Turkey
  • Northern Cardinal (male)
  • Black-capped chickadee
  • Blue Jay
  • Red-Winged Blackbird (The First-of-Year Red-winged Blackbird showed up at the end of February, which always seems to surprise us, even though it happens almost every year.) 
  • Mourning Dove
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Common Grackle (F.O.Y. March 25)
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • American Crow (3 on March 27)

The usual suspects: Red and Gray Squirrels, White-tailed Deer, and an Eastern Cottontail rabbit. On th enight came: a Raccoon.

Even though we ask that you call or email to set up a visit (from now through April 30), we have some exceptions for open days, special events, and offsite activities: 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.

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Through the Window: October 2016

“And the leaves /come tumbling down” — well, ok, a misquote, but nice for this time of year. We have turned our autumn corner, from “open daily” to “open by appointment” — although our bird feeding continues daily also!

In October, we noticed these birds, fluttering, swooping, perching, or interacting with each other. Bold are those not recorded last month.

Continue reading “Through the Window: October 2016”

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Through the Window: January 2016

A nice month for accidental sightings of the larger birds as we come into or out of work. Snow depth is paltry (and for some us, that’s depressing, infuriating, or just plain inhospitably dangerous, if, say, you are a grouse). We have both the up-on-a-post feeders and ground feeding areas, one of which is just outside the office windows. It’s such a treat to look over and catch sight of a junco or a chickadee right there, not four feet away.

  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • American Goldfinch
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Purple Finch
  • Mourning Dove
  • Northern Cardinal
  • American Crow
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Wild Turkey  (more than 3 observed walking along the road, southeast across the culvert, into the bird sanctuary field, January 19)
  • Common Raven (flying over Museum and Treehouse, January 31)

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

We also observed Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels. Wow are those Gray Squirrels numerous. We’ve consistently been seeing 6-12 or them, and at least 13 on January 17!

You too can watch from our window! Drop in for the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 13, or call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org to schedule your visit for another day!

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.

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Through the Window: December 2015

A little drama, as we waited for snow to finally appear:

Barred Owl with Ruffed Grouse kill. Photo by Allison Gergely for the Birds of Vermont Museum, 10 December 2015 . The birds are near the small pond visible through a conference room window.
Barred Owl with Ruffed Grouse kill. Photo by Allison Gergely for the Birds of Vermont Museum, 10 December 2015 . The birds are near the small pond in the feeder area, and visible through a conference room window.
  • Barred Owl (on December 10, the Barred Owl killed a Ruffed Grouse then dragged it down the hill. It was a little bit difficult for the owl!)
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Blue Jay
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Mourning Dove (more than 11 on December 10)
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Ruffed Grouse
  • American Robin (on and under the crabapple, December 8)
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • American Goldfinch

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

We also observed Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels—generally about 3-5  of the Red ones and about 6 or so of the Gray. Some small malls were caught on our nightcam, but we couldn’t identify them positively—the resolution was a little low. We suspect they were Eastern Cottontails, based on size, behavior, and overall hazy shape.

You too can watch from our window! Call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org to schedule your visit.

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.

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Through the Window: November 2015

It’s getting quieter around here… but is that due to the owl?

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

Barred Owl in Feeder Area, November 20 or so. Taken with an iPhone
Barred Owl in Feeder Area, November 20 or so. Taken with an iPhone through hand-held binoculars.
  • Mourning Dove
  • Blue Jay
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Barred Owl (during UVM’s NR1 class field trip, even! Also November 28)
  • American Goldfinch
  • Ruffed Grouse (2 seen and heard early in November. One was found dead near our viewing window on November 15th—a predator, interrupted? A collision? [Although we have netting over the windows to reduce the chances of that.] A grouse was seen in the crabapple tree November 24. This could be the other member of the pair?)
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Wild Turkey
  • Buteo spp., possible juvenile Red-tailed Hawk (tail not clearly chestnut)

We also observed Eastern Chipmunks, Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels. Didn’t spot the the Raccoons on our nighttime cam. We did hear far-off coyotes while feeding birds or listening to some webcam videos.

Want to watch from our window? Schedule a visit! Call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org. (Other windows let you observe what’s happening around the new boxes on the hedge or admire the growth of cover crops along the restabilized stream bed (part of the stream restoration and bridge phase of #BridgesToBirds).

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.

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Through the Window: October 2015

Wow, in this last month of our open-daily season, we recorded some unusual birds! Are they here for the winter? Just passing through? And for some of the common ones, where were they last month?

Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.

  • Golden-crowned Kinglet (10/1 in cedar hedge*)
  • Mourning Dove
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet (10/2 in cedar hedge)
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Blue Jay
  • American Goldfinch
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Ruffed Grouse (10/20 in the crabapple tree  and 10/26 2 walking along the feeding zone perimeter and in the crabapple)
  • Northern Cardinal (10/24 m & f, just male on 10/27)
  • Purple finch (10/30)

We also observed Eastern Chipmunks, Red Squirrels, and Gray Squirrels, as well several visits from  Raccoons on our nighttime cam.

* Aside: We’re going to do some extensive trimming and pruning on the cedar hedge. It was deeply damaged by ice and snow earlier this year, and we’re removing much of the dead wood. Other changes include roost, wintering, and nest boxes (for birds and insect pollinators) and new plantings in the spring as well. Thanks to Volunteer EP for his help with this!

Come see for yourself! Call, tweet, email or schedule a visit by phone: (802) 434-2167 or museum@birdsofvermont.org. From museum exhibits to relaxing in our accessible treehouse to observing the long-awaited progress on the stream restoration and bridge phase of #BridgesToBirds, there’s always some wild thing to learn from or about.

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.

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Through the Window: April 2015

New “friends” and old all to be seen! Bold text indicates the species we did not see last month.

  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Mourning Dove
  • Common Redpoll
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Northern Cardinal (males and female)
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • American Crow (3 on 4/14)
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Wild Turkey
  • American Robin
  • Song Sparrow
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • Broad-winged Hawk (parking lot 4/25)
  • Dark-Eyed Junco
  • Chipping Sparrow
  • American Goldfinch
  • Ruffed Grouse (heard from parking lot 4/24)
  • Common Grackle (4/26)

Also of note! Wood frogs! 4/17 and egg masses 4/28
Eastern Cottontail 4/26
Eastern Chipmunk, Gray Squirrel, Red Squirrel
Woodchuck

We’re open daily from May 1 (today!) through October 31. drop in any day between 10am and 4pm! Let us share bird ID skills, woodcarvers’ art, birds in art, and citizen science opportunities with you! If you have questions, call (802) 434-2167, email museum@birdsofvermont.org or post to us on Facebook or Twitter.

 

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.

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Through the Window: March 2015

“The birds are back in town, the birds are back in to-o-o-ow-own!”♪ ♫
Yes, yes, some have been here all along. And there’s still snow. And icy spots. And mud. (O mud! Ah, Vermont in early spring….) (Bold text indicates the species we did not see last month.)

  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Blue Jay
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • American Raven (March 1)
  • Dark-Eyed Junco
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Common Redpoll
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Pine Siskin
  • American Robin (March 10)
  • Mourning Dove
  • Red-winged Blackbird (March 22)
  • Northern Goshawk (March 20, male, 12:20 pm)
  • American Crow (March 24)

Not only the usual Gray and Red squirrels hung around, and the Ermine made another appearance, but the Eastern Chipmunks are awake again!

Isn’t it amazing how even through much the same things happen every year, we feel such celebratory joy when it comes around again?

We’re open by appointment from now until April 30—as well as having a Volunteer Work PArty on April 11, an Eastern Bluebird Felting Class on April 19, and a Bird Monitoring walk on April 25. You are always welcome; just call or email to schedule a visit. Whether you’re working on bird ID skills, want to explore example of the woodcarvers’ art, getting intrigued by birds in art, or seeking citizen science opportunities for yourself or a child, we can help! Call or email to set up your time to visit: (802) 434-2167 or 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 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.

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Through the Window: February 2015

Not quite as quiet as January, and a special mammal neighbor too! (Bold text indicates the species we did not see last month.)

  • Blue Jay
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Mourning Dove
  • Cooper’s Hawk (2/3, flushed from the row of cedars)
  • American Crow
  • Pileated Woodpecker (on a tree)
  • Common Redpoll (2 on 2/11)
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker (2/11, 2/14)
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch (2/17)
  • Dark-eyed Junco

Not only Gray and Red squirrels this month, but an Ermine too!

We’re open by appointment from now until April 30. You are always welcome; just call or email to schedule a visit. Whether you’re working on bird ID skills, want to explore example of the woodcarvers’ art, learning about winter bird feeding, or seeking citizen science opportunities for yourself or a child, we can help! Call or email to set up your time to visit: (802) 434-2167 or 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 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.

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Through the Window: January 2015

It’s pretty quiet around here…  Bold text indicates the species we did not see last month.

  • Blue Jay
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Mourning Dove
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker (1/20 on Suet)
  • Northern Cardinal (female on swinging seed tray)

Just the usual suspects for mammals: Gray and red squirrels

We’re open by appointment from now until April 30. You are always welcome, just call or email to schedule a visit. Whether you’re working on bird ID skills, want to explore example of the woodcarvers’ art, learning about winter bird feeding, or seeking citizen science opportunities for yourself or a child, we can help! Call or email to set up your time to visit: (802) 434-2167 or 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 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.

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