Northern Flicker. Carved by Bob Spear; photographed by Museum staff.
Early birders continued their weekly walks this month. It’s such fun to go out with them or hear their stories afterward; each month is different. Those lists are generally recorded over on eBiird. From the windows, we stick with the more well-recognized feeder and forest edge birds. Even here, there are often stories to be discovered. (more…)
Holy mackerel, May is intense! Not to detract from our month-long-we-all-add-to-it Viewing Window list, but did you get to see the eBird lists too, from what has been seen and heard here? Did you see or hear some of the rich migrations? Enjoyed the predictions on Birdcast? What a month!
OK, back to our corner of Vermont:
One Blackbird Egg (by E. Talmage)
(Bold items in this list are those species not recorded in April 2018.)
It’s time for More Than Mammals…Frogs of various kind, Gray and red Squirrels, Eastern Chipmunks, and a Woodchuck. Mike Kessler observed some Fisher tracks later in the month…and since then we have not seen the Woodchuck. Hmmmmm….
Come along with our bird walks or drop by between 10am and 4pm—see the feeder birds yourself (and add to these monthly lists). View our amazing new art exhibit, Common Grounds: art inspired by 100 years of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Volunteers, we have opportunities for you!
We continue to host walks, classes, and more. These are listed on 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.
Mae & Bill M led the May 20, 2018, Early Birders Morning Walk . Despite light rain and wet woods, we had 19 birders and 31 species of birds!
Veery and eggs. Carved by Bob Spear.
Enjoy our week’s walk’s summary:
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US May 20, 2018 6:53 AM - 8:56 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.01 mile(s) Comments: Early Birders walk led by Mae Mayville 31 species Mourning Dove 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Blue Jay 6 Black-capped Chickadee 5 Tufted Titmouse 3 Brown Creeper 1 House Wren 2 Veery 4 Wood Thrush 2 American Robin 1 Gray Catbird 2 Ovenbird 11 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 Magnolia Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 5 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 3 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Scarlet Tanager 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4 Baltimore Oriole 1 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 1 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45852294 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Join us for more early Birders Morning walks, Sundays through June. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome all birders!
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
Mae M led the May 13, 2018, Early Birders Morning Walk . Thirty-eight species!
Enjoy our week’s walk’s summary:
Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, Vermont, US May 13, 2018 6:52 AM - 8:52 AM Protocol: Traveling 0.8 mile(s) Comments: Early Birders Walk led by Mae Mayville 38 species Ruffed Grouse 1 Mourning Dove 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Blue Jay 9 American Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Tufted Titmouse 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 House Wren 2 Veery 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Dull, olive-brown; No rufous on tail; buffy cheeks. Hermit Thrush 1 Wood Thrush 2 American Robin 1 Gray Catbird 2 Ovenbird 8 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 Northern Parula 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Song Sparrow 1 Scarlet Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Baltimore Oriole 1 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 1 Purple Finch 2 American Goldfinch 1 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45619747 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Join us for more early Birders Mornign walks, Sundays in May and June. 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. 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
It’s April! Forget showers (there was a good bit of snow). And flowers? Pshaw, not yet. But birds! Bird list expansion (compared to last month, that is). Huzzah!
Louisiana Waterthrush (photo by E. Talmage)
(Bold items in this list are those species not recorded in March 2018.)
It’s time for More Than Mammals, too! Wood Frogs are having a fine ol’ time in the mini-pond in the bird feeder area (April 13 and for several days after that, whenever it was Not Snowing warm enough!). The Cottontail, Gray Squirrels, Red Squirrels and Chipmunks made their appearances…and their big cousin the Woodchuck woke up and has been noshing on grass and collecting leaves for its (her?) den.
By the time you see this, it’s May! And we have returned to our Open Daily hours. Drop by between 10am and 4pm—see the feeder birds yourself (and add to these monthly lists). View our amazing new art exhibit, Common Grounds: art inspired by 100 years of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Volunteers, we have opportunities for you!
We continue to host walks, classes, and more. These are listed on 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.
Spring is … not yet happening. March birds included the classic winter species… :
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.
Red-breasted Nuthatch, turning to look at photographer K. Talmage
Birds noticed this month at our feeders and just nearby:
(Bold items in this list are those species not recorded in January 2018.)
The usual Squirrels (Gray and Red) scattered themselves across the ground. The Cottontail Rabbit seems to be useing a woodchuck den as an occasional shelter or underground pathway. Eastern Chipmunks woke up briefly.
Although we’re “open by appointment”, we love having people call to visit! From November to April, please call or email to arrange a visit—this lets us adjust the heating to human comfort, among other things. If you are one of last year’s exhibiting artists, please come get your art. Volunteers, we have opportunities for you!
We continue to host walks, carving classes, and moreas we move towards spring. These are listed on 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.
From polar vortex to thaw to bare ground to new snow and back again. Nice bit of roller coastering weather!
Dark-eyed Junco
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.)
Snow Birders
Mourning Dove and Tufted Titmouse on swinging tray feeder.
More light traffic… or should I say continued light traffic? at the feeders this month.
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