where natural history meets art
We particularly loved seeing grouse in the crabapple this month—one day, we saw five! We also were pleased to host a delightful number of people for the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Birds noticed this month at our feeders and just nearby: Continue reading “Through the Window: February 2018”
From polar vortex to thaw to bare ground to new snow and back again. Nice bit of roller coastering weather!
Thank goodness for adaptations.
Some surprises and delights by the time the Bird Monitoring Walk and Christmas Bird Count rolled around. (We did not actually have quite this much snow, but it’s getting there.)
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.
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.”
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.
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.
A quiet, bird-filled, peaceful New Year is what we wish for you. We’ll wrap up 2017 with last month’s Viewing Window record.
Continue reading “Through the Window: December 2016”
It’s a quiet week in – oh, wait. Right. We went walking! Also not-walking. Both activities let us record birds.
Thank you, Executive Director Erin Talmage, for leading this month’s walk. Happy New Year! Continue reading “Species List: December 2016 Bird Monitoring”
While we got busy this March, with animal tracks and gathering art for our 2016 Community Art show (In Layers), birds kept visiting including some returning from points south. Welcome, hints of spring!! Here are our outdoor neighbors of March 2016.
Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.
We also observed Red and Gray Squirrels, and an Eastern Chipmunk—first one on March 6, then several as the month went on.
You too can watch from our window! To schedule a visit call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org ! We’re hosting a volunteer work party on April 16 and sharing a Bird Monitoring walk on April 30. Join us! We’ll be out and about as well, giving programs at local libraries and senior centers.
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.
It’s felt not-very-winterish this year. But looking at previous years, it seems much the same birds have been here (not that our records go back very far in this medium, and they’re much more informal than eBird data by and near the Museum). See for yourself if you are curious— links are below the bird list.
Bold indicates those we didn’t see last month.
We also observed Red and Gray Squirrels, and, mysteriously, blood under the feeder. One of the web cams recorded a raccoon, very briefly, on 2/21.
Previous Februaries:
Feb 2015 | Feb 2014 | Feb 2013 | Feb 2012 | Feb 2011 | Feb 2010
You too can watch from our window! To schedule a visit call, tweet, phone (802) 434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org ! We’ll also be hosting an Animal Tracks & Sign workshop on March 19 and the next Bird Monitoring Walk on March 26.
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.