A trip to the summit of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, is always exciting. On June 22nd I joined the Green Mountain Audubon Society for an early evening tour at the top of the mountain with Chris Rimmer of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) as our guide. Chris as been studying the Bicknell's Thrush for 20 years here in Vermont and on its winter grounds in the Dominican Republic.
We travelled up the auto road in a light rain and were soon enveloped in the cloud bank. We arrived at the parking lot only to find rain, wind and more thick cloudy conditions. Such is Vermont's mountain weather. Undeterred, Chris gave us a tour of the area and announced that no mist nets would be deployed that evening due to the weather. With conditions not fit for birds nor birders, we beat a retreat down the mountain to a nearby restaurant.
Bicknell's ThrushThe next morning, the wake-up call was at 4:15 a.m. We again proceeded up the mountain, listening to the bird songs as we passed through changing habitats. The weather, while still foggy, was much better. Chris met us at the parking lot where we soon heard a Bicknell's Thrush calling. The mist nets were in place and in no time a Bick's was ensnared. To have such an up close look at this rare thrush was a special thrill. The bird was already banded and Chris thought it was last year's young due to the wear on the feathers.
We accompanied Chris on his rounds to check the nets where a Blackpoll Warbler was the next bird captured. Down another path to check a net, I spied a thrush landing on a dead stump. A Bick's! Chris commented that "this never happens." The bird sat long enough for all in the group to have wonderful looks.
We learned that the Bicknell's Thrush has enjoyed three years free from red squirrel predation and, as a result, has had good success in producing young. However, this may change next year as the spruces are producing a bumper crop of cones. This has been a cyclical process observed in the 20 years of research.
The weather didn't dampen our enthusiasm for this trip and all agreed on what a special experience it had been. We saw the type of weather conditions these hardy birds (and researchers) have to endure on their summer grounds, which can change in an instant.
While the Bick's is most vocal at dawn and dusk, I have seen and heard them in later morning hours both a Mansfield and Mt. Ellen. Often it is the call note, a distinctive down-slurred "whee-ah" that is heard.
This special trip was made possible by the Green Mountain Audubon Society in cooperation with the Stowe Resort and Chris Rimmer of VCE.
If you go, the Mt. Mansfield auto road hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the cost is $26.00 for up to five people in a car, June 4th through October 16 (call ahead to be sure the road is open and make sure your brakes are in good order!).