Through the Window: February 2014

As written by someone (a visitor? our fabulous intern?) on our Viewing Window Board:

We February!
We birds!
We this Museum!
We’d some big donation$… to build a bridge to see ’em!

(More on the Bridge thing soon. Stay tuned.) Right then. You came here for birds! We gots birds. We can even see some from our Viewing Window! In February, we saw…

  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Northern Cardinal (female and male)
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • American Goldfinch
  • Red-bellied woodpecker
  • Wild Turkey (tracks)
  • Mourning Dove
  • American Robin
  • American Crow

Four-footed friends: Gray Squirrels, Red Squirrels, and a shrew (not sure which kind. This one was actually near the mailbox, not the Viewing Window).

Come see them for yourself! We’re open by appointment, plus all-day on March 23. Check out our calendar of events for details.

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. 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.

Through the Window: January 2014 with a new bird (to some of us)

Red-bellied Woodpecker photo by Zac Cota. Copyright (c) 2014, and used by permission.

Bold-faced text are those birds we did not see last month.  There were three! In writing this, I note that perhaps we are slightly behind on our eBird reporting, so if you have time to volunteer with us and help out recording some of our sightings, please say so. (We can teach you how if you want.) Or just come watch birds with us! Two citizen science projects, Project Feederwatch and the Great Backyard Bird Count, are ongoing, and we will share both at our Open House on February 15. That day, we’re also hosting a Wood Duck one-day carving class taught by David Tuttle of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers.

  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Blue Jay
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Mourning Dove
  • Wild Turkey
  • American Goldfinch
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Brown Creeper Seen by the birders on the monthly monitoring walk
  • American Tree Sparrow
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker Spotted by one of our visitors! Not common at the Museum: only 2 sightings here reported to eBird so far!
  • American Crow
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Ruffed Grouse

“Varmints”: Gray Squirrels, Red Squirrels, Eastern Cottontail

Take a look at our calendar of events. Yes, visiting is by appointment (until April 30), but whether you like to schedule 2 weeks in advance (like today’s visitors from Massachusetts) or that morning (like the ones I mentioned last month), appointments are easy. Well, “that morning” ones can be a little uncertain sometimes… But you are always welcome! Call (802) 434-2167 or email 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 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. 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.

Through the Window: October 2013 with Big Sitters Helping

Nice weather this month. Our list is a bit longer and more amazing ’cause we had some dedicated sitting observers. Admittedly, they were actually on the other side of the window from our usual watching spot. Should we count that as “through the window”? Hmmm. Anyway, if you don’t know about the Big Sit!, go check it out, then come back (We’ll wait).

OK, here’s the combined list: Continue reading “Through the Window: October 2013 with Big Sitters Helping”

Through the Window: June 2013 with length

Happy summer. Goodness what a lot of rain this year. Saw some birds anyway. Bold ones are those we didn’t see last month!

  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Common Yellowthroat
  • Blue Jay
  • Hair Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Common Grackle
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Northern Oriole  (Ed. note: this is an old name for Baltimore Oriole; it hybridizes with the Bullock’s in some places in its range, and for a time, both species were called Northern Oriole. See http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/baltimore_oriole/lifehistory)
  • Starling
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Mourning Dove
  • Northern Cardinal
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Wild Turkey
  • American Goldfinch
  • Song Sparrow
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Purple Finch
  • American Crow (3 on 6/11)
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Indigo Bunting

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. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.

Through the Window: May 2013 gets exciting

Nesting time! And the list grows on. Bold ones are those we didn’t see last month!

  • Northern Cardinal
  • American Goldfinch
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Mourning Dove
  • Common Grackle
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • Blue Jay
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Song Sparrow
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • American Robin
  • Purple Finch
  • Northern Goshawk
  • Wild Turkey (One male, 3 females on 5/15)
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • White-crowned Sparrow (5/6/13, 5/18/13)
  • Winter Wren (heard)
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird (5/8/13)
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch (5/12/13)
  • American Crow
  • Great-Crested Flycatcher (5/15/13)
  • Gray Catbird (5/17/13)
  • Cooper’s Hawk (5/20/13)
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Tufted Titmouse

If you want to get involved with NestWatch, let us know how we can help you!

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. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.

Early Birders’ Observations for May 19

Shirley took us out on another Early Birder Morning Walk on Sunday May 19.  Wow, were there some wonderful birds or what!

  • Mallard Duck
  • Wild Turkey
  • Mourning Dove
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Northern Flicker
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  • Down Woodpecker
  • Hair Woodpecker
  • Great-crested Flycatcher
  • Least Flycatcher
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Tufted Timouse
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Brown Creeper
  • Winter Wren
  • Veery
  • American Robin
  • Blue-headed Vireo
  • Red-eyed Vireo
  • Nashville Warbler
  • Northern Parula
  • Black-and-White Warbler
  • Black-throated Blue Warbler
  • Blackburnian Warbler
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • Black-throated Green Warbler

Birders were out from 7:15 through 9:30 a.m., and traversed about 1.5km. Both new-at-it and experienced birders came along, and there was some strong coffee and delicious muffins (from our local Backdoor Bakery) at the end of the walk.  (Coincidentally, the Burlington Bird-a-thon was also out walking here today, so they too saw and heard amazing birds and enjoyed some post-exploration treats. One of the groups saw a porcupine, too.)

Join us next time, for an early morning ramble in the Birds of Vermont Museum‘s forest and meadows every Sunday from May 12 through June 30. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders! Come to several walks to hear the changes in who calls and when!

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.

Appropriate for: Adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Early Birders: Observations on May 12

Join us Sundays at 7 a.m., May 12 - June 30
Join us Sundays at 7 a.m., May 12 – June 30

We’ve restarted our Early Birder Morning Walks, and Shirley Johnson (Board President and Expert Birder) led the first one. She was kind enough to provide us a list of what the walkers observed on Sunday May 12. How many of these do you recognize by sight or sound? Come on the next walk and practice!

  • Wood Duck
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Mourning Dove
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Great-crested Flycatcher
  • Blue-headed Vireo
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Brown Creeper
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Winter Wren
  • Veery
  • Hermit Thrush
  • Northern Parula
  • Blackburnian Warbler
  • Pine Warbler
  • Black and White Warbler
  • Common Yellowthroat
  • Louisiana Waterthrush
  • Ovenbird
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Song Sparrow
  • Red-winged Blackbird

Join us next time, for an early morning ramble in the Birds of Vermont Museum’s forest and meadows every Sunday from May 12 through June 30. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds. Come to several walks to hear the changes in who calls and when!

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.

Appropriate for: Adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org