where the wild things move

Staying Connected studies the corridors where wildlife moves from one forested patch to another and works with landowners and communities to maintain the connections.If you think back to times when you have seen wildlife - not just deer or turkeys, but the more elusive bobcats, black bears, weasels, or coyotes - chances are that you saw these animals in one of two areas: crossing a road or opening, or visiting a place with easy food like a bird feeder or chicken coop. These aren't the areas where the animals spend most of their time; these secretive creatures generally prefer forest cover or wetland shrublands. Our sightings represent the brief flashes of time that these animals appear in the open - when the reward of food outweighs the lack of protection or when the need to cross from one covered area to another is required in order to find food, a mate, or to maintain a home range. These aren't places where they spend their time; they're places where we spend ours.

However, we can learn a lot about wildlife movement patterns by tracking these sightings and identifying the places where animals consistently move between forest patches or leave the protective cover. The Staying Connected Initiative was instigated to do just that: to study wildlife movement patterns and work with landowners and communities to maintain and enhance these natural networks. In particular, Staying Connected works in areas where forested pathways connect large blocks of habitat across a somewhat fragmented landscape. Rutland County is one focus area of the Initiative, where a corridor connects habitat of the Adirondacks to the forests of the Green Mountains.

Larry Miller captured a photo of this bobcat and sent it to Staying Connected.Staying Connected is asking people to report sightings of wildlife - especially large mammals - throughout Rutland County. A website, found here, allows users to report animals they have seen, as well as to see a map of the animals reported by others. Check it out! And the next time you see a black bear, moose, or another animal, let us know!

Click here for additional information about the Staying Connected Initiative.

[This article was contributed by Monica Erhart, the Staying Connected coordinator for the Green Mountains-Adirondacks corridor. She works closely with the Nature Conservancy's ecologist Paul Marangelo. Towns in her area include: Brandon, Pittsford, Sudbury, Hubbardton, Benson, Orwell, West Haven, Wallingford, Tinmouth, Middletown Springs, and Poultney. 

vernal pools: wicked big puddles or critical habitat?

Someone famous once said, "You can't conserve something if you don't know where it is."

Spotted SalamanderAccording to Steve Faccio, Conservation Biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), the goal of the Vermont Vernal Pool Mapping Project is to solve that issue for these small, isolated wetlands that serve as critical habitat for a variety of amphibians and invertebrates. Steve's presentation will begin with a discussion of vernal pool characteristics and their importance to the animals that depend upon them, followed by an introduction to the statewide mapping project and the opportunities it provides for communities and citizens to get involved. The Vermont Vernal Pool Mapping Project will be focusing on Rutland County and adjourning areas this spring and summer. Click here for more information on the project at the VCE website.

Wood FrogThe program is sponsored by Rutland County Audubon and will be held at the Rutland Free Library, on Wednesday, March 23, at 7 PM. The program is free and open to the public. Interested potential "citizen scientists" are encouraged to attend. For further information, call Roy at 775-3461.

Photos provided by VCE.

barred owls in winter

Reports of Barred Owls, Vermont’s mostly common owl, spike in the winter. Perhaps it is because the branches are bare so the bird is more visible especially when in contrast to snow. Also, snow cover may force the bird to move to areas where its prey (small mammals and birds) is more likely to be found such as along plowed roadsides or beneath feeders. Click here to see this past January's reports of Barred Owls. Larger Barred Owl photos are available here and here.

Barred Owl \ Photo by David JenneFortunately the status of Barred Owl is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a species of least concern. The biggest human threats are loss of habitat and cars, which may hit them as they hunt for food along roads. Their natural predator is the Great Horned Owl.

We often receive comments from people claiming to have seen a Snowy Owl, a rare winter visitor to Vermont. More likely the bird is a Barred Owl. There are two clues that it is probably the later. First, the Barred Owl has brown eyes; all the other owl species in Vermont have yellow eyes. Second is habitat; Barred Owls perch in trees (or on power lines), never far from woodlands. While Snowy Owls may perch atop power poles occasionally, their preferred habitat is an open, treeless area.

great backyard bird count

Over Presidents Day weekend, birdwatchers across the U.S. and Canada will watch their feeders and favorite birding spots in what has become one of the biggest citizen scientist projects on the continent. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is open to everyone, young and old, no matter his or her level of experience.

Last year an amazing 97,331 checklists were submitted, consisting 602 species and 11,233,609 individual birds. Here in Vermont we contributed 696 checklists with 75 species. American Goldfinch was top bird in the state, followed closely by, no surprise, Black-capped Chickadee. On the more unusual side, one each of Glaucous Gull, Gray Jay, Mute Swan, and Winter Wren was counted. Forty-six Bohemian Waxwings were reported, a species that is likely to be seen in higher numbers with this year’s irruption of the species.

Downy WoodpeckerSo what do you need? An interest in the birds, a notepad and pencil, an Internet connection, and an email address. A pair of binoculars is handy, but not necessary if your feeders are near your windows. Click here for the details. The GBBC website includes information on last year’s results, downloadable instructions, and last year’s photo contest winners (photographers, have your cameras ready for this year’s contest!).

This year, as we have the past several years, RCAS has scheduled its monthly monitoring walk around West Rutland Marsh to coincide with the Great Backyard Bird Count. The event is free – simply show up at the West Rutland Price Chopper parking lot at 8 a.m. on Saturday, February 19.

So whether you prefer the comfort of your snug, warm home or want to enjoy a little outdoor exercise at your local park or natural area, get ready to count some birds!

the bird quest is on!

In an effort to get more folks reporting their bird sightings to Vermont eBird, RCAS has joined in the Vermont County Quest. This is a friendly competition between counties throughout the state. The competition will run through 2011. There will be prizes!

Long-tailed Duck seen at Northwood Park in 2009There will be a plan implemented to level the birding field so that counties with fewer overall species historically will have a chance to win against those with more. Sue Wetmore and Sue Elliott will be captains for Rutland County and can answer questions. RCAS is our county sponsor. Go to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies website here for details. It is easy to join the fun. Go birding, record what you see, and then enter your data into eBird here.

The data that has been collected on eBird has been of great interest to the scientific and conservation communities. It has allowed us to see movements, trends, and changes in distribution throughout North America (and now expanding throughout the world).

So grab your binoculars and get birding!

winter regulars and rarities in the champlain valley

Despite early morning temperatures hovering around zero and the threat of snow, 18 participants tallied a respectable 39 species during our annual Winter Regulars and Rarities in the Champlain Valley field trip on January 15. A full list of species follows below.

Juniper Island on Lake ChamplainWaterfowl are the highlight of any winter trip along Lake Champlain as frozen portions of the lake help to concentrate numbers. Common Goldeneyes were by far the most numerous, tallied at Shelburne Point, Meach Cove, Charlotte Town Beach, and Tri-Town. At Tri-town, most of the 48 Common Mergansers were on the ice near open water. A handful of Hooded Mergansers were seen at Shelburne Point and Charlotte Town Beach. The Scaup seen at Tri-town were determined by two experienced participants to be Lesser based on the slightly pointed head profile and grayer sides.

Horned Grebes were observed at Shelburne Point and Charlotte Town Beach. A large number of Canada Geese were in a farm field along Rte 22a in Addison.

Sharp eyes spotted a Ruffed Grouse eating buds high in a tree in Ferrisburgh. Two Wild Turkey flocks, of over 40 each, were observed in Shelburne and Leicester.

Bald Eagle at Charlotte Town Beach.Raptors were well-represented with four Rough-legged Hawks (a life bird for one participant), a Northern Harrier in Ferrisburgh, several Red-tailed Hawks, and both Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks. A male American Kestrel was seen huddled on a garden arbor in Addison. Three Bald Eagles were seen, one at Shelburne Farms and two at Charlotte Town Beach, all adults. While one of the eagles at Charlotte Town Beach was far out on the lake, the other was perched near the parking area intently watching a bird carcass on the nearby ice.

A Red-bellied Woodpecker was seen at a feeder in Ferrisburgh. Most of the American Tree Sparrows observed were in a flock of 30.

A large flock of American Robins flew over the group at Shelburne Point. Smaller numbers of robins were seen in Charlotte and Addison.

Despite all the Bohemian Waxwing reports this winter, all the waxwings observed, in Shelburne and Kingsland Bay, were Cedar.

Snow Buntings, a favorite winter visitor, were seen in three locations with one flock of about 100 swirling over a field in Charlotte. Horned Larks, a life bird for a couple participants, were seen in Charlotte and Addison, where a large flock of about 75 was on Gage Road. Three larks were observed at close range in a farmyard on Jersey Street. 

The day closed with Barred Owls, one each in Bridport and Leicester.

Here are the full results for the day:

Canada Goose 147 American Black Duck 60 Mallard 93 Lesser Scaup 5 Bufflehead 32 Common Goldeneye 1,060 Hooded Merganser 5 Common Merganser 83 Ruffed Grouse 1 Wild Turkey 96 Horned Grebe 3 Bald Eagle 3 Northern Harrier 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk 9 Rough-legged Hawk 4 American Kestrel 1 Ring-billed Gull 51 Herring Gull 3 Great Black-backed Gull 10 Rock Pigeon 28 Mourning Dove 1 Barred Owl 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1

Blue Jay 3 American Crow 110 Horned Lark 94 Black-capped Chickadee 5 Tufted Titmouse 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 American Robin 59 European Starling 190 Cedar Waxwing 24 American Tree Sparrow 41 Dark-eyed Junco 11 Snow Bunting 122 Northern Cardinal 4

the results are in!

I set two alarm clocks to 5 A.M., a precaution as sleep the night before the annual Christmas Bird Count is predictably fitful. By that hour I am wide-awake and ready to go! Sounds during the night were particularly ominous; the splattering of water from the roof on my patio confirmed the prediction that a light rain would persist throughout the night into Sunday morning, the day of the count. Birding in the rain is birding at its worst! Cold, snow, wind, heat, and even the annoyance of insects are preferable!

Our field team of five rendezvoused at the College of St. Joseph at 7:00 a.m. It was one of eight field teams designed to cover the eight sectors into which the 15-mile diameter standard count circle had been divided. We consolidated into two cars, equipped with a pair of radios in case we became separated. We were off, enveloped by ground fog and under a light rain.

At our first stop at the Otter Creek, mostly free of ice, we scanned for ducks but with no luck. For the next 45 minutes we confined ourselves to urban side streets, checking local feeders, preferably the ones that the homeowners had remembered to fill. The early birds did not fail us. We noted the usual feeder activity, Black-capped Chickadees, a Tufted Titmouse, an American Goldfinch, a Downy Woodpecker, a pair of Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, and a welcome Red-breasted Nuthatch calling from a Norway Spruce besides a clutch of Mourning Doves. Leaving the city behind, we headed for Boardman Hill where a farm hedgerow yielded a large flock of Wild Turkey and, above in a gnarled maple, a Red-bellied Woodpecker. The heavily wooded Quarterline Road was good for a raucous pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, heard and then seen. It was also good for a flock of well over 100 Bohemian Waxwing and, for some of our group, the first good look at this year’s irruption of northerners. 

Turning east into Walker Mountain Road we made for Clarendon and the Otter Creek floodplain. The ground fog was still intense but lifting, the rain had ceased and above a patch or two of blue, a promise and a stimulus to press on! Press on we did and fortunately in the second car a pair of sharp eyes made out the obscure silhouette of a Great Blue Heron pacing a narrow drainage ditch seeking a morsel on which to sustain it. We would return at noon when the skies cleared to find the bird still there, an extraordinary and memorable scene.Great Blue Heron observed during the count

The day progressed under partly cloudy skies, temperatures were moderate in the 37° F to 46° range, balmy enough in fact for us to take a lunch break at a picnic table adjacent to the local firehouse. Refreshed, we continued, bird by bird, species upon species, 29, 30, 31… would we make 32?  Eyes tired, with light failing once again, it took a sharp-eyed observer to make out the silhouette of a raptor perched across the Otter Creek among the bare limbs of a tree. A quick U-turn and with the aid of a spotting scope, we had species number 32, a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Time to pack it in, freshen up, and make our way to the potluck supper and count down. 

The traditional potluck supper was held at the Proctor Free Library with 35 in attendance, representing all the eight field teams and several feeder watchers. Following an excellent spread, it was time for a provisional countdown of the day’s sightings and highlights. Final numbers revealed that 51 species had been tallied and 9,260 individual birds counted, the combined effort of 31 field observers and 7 feeder watchers. Rutland County’s thirty-seventh Christmas Bird Count was now history and part of the national record that going back one hundred and ten years (this being the one hundred and eleventh national annual count).

Here are the numbers (bold indicates species with numerical highs, along with previous high):

Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 Cooper’s Hawk 5 Red-tailed Hawk 24 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Ruffed Grouse 3 Wild Turkey 206 Rock Pigeon 364 Mourning Dove 474 Barred Owl 7 [6] Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-Bellied Woodpecker 5 [4] Downy Woodpecker 59 Hairy Woodpecker 35 Pileated Woodpecker 16 [12] Horned Lark 4 Blue Jay 261

American Crow 1,345 Common Raven 41 [25] Black-capped Chickadee 1,065 Tufted Titmouse 118 Red-breasted Nuthatch 72 White-breasted Nuthatch 140 Brown Creeper 11 Carolina Wren 15 [6] Golden-crowned Kinglet 14 Eastern Bluebird 36 American Robin 25 Bohemian Waxwing 798 [250] Great blue Heron 1 Canada Goose 571 American Black Duck 61 Mallard 318 Common Merganser 10

Cedar Waxwing 88 European Starling 1,465 Northern Cardinal 116 American Tree Sparrow 228 Song Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 9 Slate-colored Junco 159 Snow Bunting 165 Red-winged Blackbird 6 Rusty Blackbird 4 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Purple Finch 7 House Finch 221 Common Redpoll 87 Pine Siskin 3 American Goldfinch 187 House Sparrow 399

Christmas Bird Count-January 2

Red-breasted NuthatchThe catch phrase "think globally, act locally," may well apply to the annual Christmas Bird Count phenomenon now in its 111th year at the global level and the 37th year at the local level. The numbers are really quite staggering now that the count has expanded beyond the USA and Canada. Last year 2,160 counts involved 60,753 volunteers, who tallied over 56 million birds representing 2,300 species. While dwarfed by all those numbers, Rutland County's contribution amounted to 6,333 individual birds, representing 43 species, tallied by 28 volunteers. Incidentally, those numbers were well below average, something we hope to address this year with your help!

Since the results of this mammoth "citizen science" exercise form the basis of serious research, certain protocols need to be followed throughout. The count circle, 15 miles in diameter, once described, cannot be changed from year to year. The window of opportunity for undertaking the count is standardized to run from December 14 through January 5. Miles traveled by car and by foot are recorded as are the hours spent watching feeders. The high and low temperatures are recorded as are the winter, water, and precipitation conditions. Count compilers and organizers, while independent, tend to follow similar organizational methods of designating field teams to specific areas while feeder watchers may remain in the comfort of their homes.

This year's count is set for Sunday, January 2. The traditional potluck supper follows the day's activities when a tentative list of the sightings is compiled and highlights recounted. Rutland County Audubon participants have enjoyed the hospitality of the Proctor Library over the years and will do so again, gathering in time to kick off proceedings at 6 PM. Bring a dish to share; beverages and utensils will be provided.

For further information and/or express a desire to be part of this 37th Rutland Christmas Bird Count, contact Roy Pilcher at 775-3461 or shamwariVT@aol.com.

notice of special meeting

meeting of Clouded SulphursA special meeting of all members of Rutland County Audubon Society will be held on Sunday evening January 2, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Proctor Library community room in conjunction with the annual Christmas Bird Count potluck supper.

The purpose of the meeting will be to vote on revisions to the chapter’s Constitution and By-laws. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Marv Elliott or Roy Pilcher.

You don’t need to participate in the Christmas Bird Count to attend the supper (although we would love to have you count the birds!). Bring a dish to share. Beverages and utensils will be provided.

looking for a new field guide?

The latest entry into the world of field guides is Don and Lillian Stokes’s The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America. This comprehensive volume may not be one all birders want to carry into the field, as it is just shy of 800 pages. However, many of us didn’t flinch when David Sibley published his massive volume. While it may remain at home for some, others will probably find it useful enough to keep it handy in their cars.

lots of photos in a field guide is helpful when identifying gullsThe guide contains superb photos showing various plumages for each species. Most the photos give additional information such as where it was taken and at what time of year. This is helpful in determining whether feathers are fresh or worn, or if regional variations occur.

Content includes the most up-to-date regional maps, the American Birding Association’s (ABA) rarity rating for each species, and information on wild hybrids. It also includes the most recent additions, deletions, splits and lumps, and changes to common and scientific names. For example, according to Lillian Stokes, the book was updated to include the recent split of Winter Wren (into Pacific Wren and Winter Wren) just before it went to press. 

A bonus of the new field guide is a downloadable CD of 600 calls and songs of 150 common birds, as well as photos.

With the size of the book and all the color photos and the CD, I was surprised that it sells for around $24.99 (less at some online retailers). With the holidays around the corner, this might be something to give to a favorite birder in your life or put on your own wish list. Studying the great photos will be a great way to spend the winter.

Winter Therapy Tip - Feed the Birds

Happy stick season everyone!

Let's face it, winter in Vermont can sometimes be a little hard to endure. At least I used to think that before I discovered the fun of feeding birds. While not the frenzy of color brought by a spring warbler migration, or the ensemble of song on a June morning, the birds that stay with us all winter give more than their share of energy and exuberance when we need it the most.

On some days there may be fewer species than we have fingers on one hand to count (that's okay, you'll probably want to keep them inside your mitten anyway) but instead of counting species, I turn to watching individuals and getting to know "some of the locals".  "Hey there's that cardinal with the two wives again," or "that blue jay with the rusty-gate call is back on the suet feeder" are some of the comments that might be heard around our kitchen table on a winter morning.

Whats on the Menu?
What food for birds you want to offer depends on how much money you want to spend and what types of birds you want to attract. Here are some of the more popular types of winter bird food:

Sunflower - Considered the #1 choice to feed and attract the greatest variety of birds to your feeders. Sunflower seeds come as black oil, striped, hulled or chips. Black oil sunflower seeds give birds the energy they need to live. The thin shell makes it an easy bird seed to open, even for the smaller birds such as chickadees and tufted titmice. The large striped seeds are popular with larger birds such as cardinals and blue jays. Personally, I make a mix of about 1/3 Striped to 2/3 Black Oil and fill all of my feeders with that. The only exception is feeders that are placed in a garden.  Because sunflower hulls contain a chemical that kills plants, I prefer to use the shelled sunflower seed for these feeders. Be sure to periodically rake up the shelled seeds that land at the base of any feeder -- not just to stop the spread of disease to the birds, but also to keep from killing the grass!

Thistle or Nyger - Is very expensive and requires a special feeder -- but if you are partial to birds like Goldfinches and Pine Siskins, this is the way to attract them.

Peanuts - Blue jays, cardinals and nuthatches are some of the birds that enjoy peanuts.

Suet - This high-energy food is a big draw for birds that mostly eat insects. Suet is a fatty substance that is favored by downy and hairy woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and blue jays. Putting this out all winter can be expensive, but it's really appreciated on those sub-zero January days!

Corn - This inexpensive feed is an excellent source of energy for birds during very cold weather and attracts most birds. The drawback is that it can attract less desirable birds such as house sparrows,and starlings.

Millet - Also a relatively inexpensive grain, millet attracts many species, including cardinals, mourning doves, juncos, house sparrows and brown-headed cowbirds.

Rutland County Audubon's annual bird seed sale is a great opportunity to stock up on bird feed for the winter ahead.  The real advantage of buying seed from us, however, is that its a chance to get free advice on what types of bird food work best in our area.  We're also happy to give advice on our favorite bird feeders and almost anything else related to birds in Rutland County! And you'll be doing your part by supporting RCAS. If you're not a member, we would love to have you join!

Related Links:

Project Feederwatch

A Banquet for Birds

Birdfeeding 101

rara aves

Rare bird - now what? You’re out enjoying a day of birding when an unfamiliar bird pops into view. You quickly go through your mental files only to find the bird doesn’t fit anything you know. Or you know the bird, but the season is wrong (a Cape May Warbler in January, for example). Click here for the Official Vermont Checklist to find out what birds are expected and when.

a rare Ivory Gull thrilled birders in New York and Vermont last winterIf possible, take a photo. The advent of digital cameras and cell phones with cameras has been a boon to birders in recording both common and rare species. Photos can be deceptive, however, so take notes while watching the bird or immediately after. Don’t trust your memory! Be as detailed as possible, noting the overall size of the bird, shape of the bill, tail, and wings, leg and bill color, and any other prominent field marks, as well as behavior and habitat.

Don’t consult your field guide while watching the bird and note taking. Use the time instead to observe the bird and jot down all the details. If possible, and the bird hangs around, contact a birding friend to meet you for a second opinion (another advantage of cell phones).

Later, if you use eBird, you’ll get message asking you to confirm your observation when you submit your sighting. That will be a clue you might need to submit your documentation. Also, if a bird does not appear on the Vermont Field Card or is out of season, you should probably follow up to see if it should be reported.

As a member of the Records of Vermont Committee, I have reviewed many reports only to find that the person submitting the data did not include sufficient details. That doesn’t mean the bird wasn’t there. It means there wasn’t enough detail to convince the committee that the bird was not mistaken for another species.

It is important to report all potential rare or unusual species so that ornithologists and conservation biologists can track trends in bird populations. It also alerts the birding community to be on the lookout for any species that may be expanding into the area (and the opportunity to add to life lists.)

Reporting detailed documentation, known as a RSD (Rare Species Documentation), can be done online the Vermont Center of Ecostudies. Click here to find compete instructions for reporting your observation, as well as helpful hints on what makes a good report. You will also find a list of the birds that require documentation and under what circumstances. For example, Yellow-breasted Chat always requires documentation in Vermont while it’s only necessary for Pied-billed Grebes if evidence of breeding is observed.

Annually a report of the year’s rare species is published and can be accessed by clicking here. It's interesting reading. And it's a real thrill to have your report accepted.

So the next time an unusual bird comes into view, watch it like a hawk and get the details. 

broad-winged hawk migration at Mt. Philo

atop Mt. PhiloOn September 18, sixteen RCAS members and friends gathered to travel to Mt. Philo State Park in Charlotte to watch for migrating Broad-winged Hawks. The annual pilgrimage is a hit-or-miss affair, the hawks being very dependent on weather conditions.

Broad-winged Hawks, a common raptor in Vermont, need rising thermals to lift them into the air. The thermals are formed when warming air along ridgelines rises. Broad-winged HawkAs the hawks rise with the thermals, they “peel off” in search of the next rising bubble of warm air and thus make their way south. By doing so they minimize the use of their own energy reserves.

After striking out last year, we were fortunate enough to arrive just has several Broad-winged Hawk groups, known as kettles, flew over the rocky outcrop atop Mt. Philo and then high over the sparkling water of Lake Champlain, finally disappearing into the sky over the Adirondacks.

Red-tailed HawkIn addition to the Broad-winged Hawks, we had the opportunity to study the contrasting shapes of different groups of raptors  as they flew by – buteos (Broad-winged and Red-tailed hawks), accipiters (Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks), and falcons (American Kestrels). Knowing the different shapes is a key part of identifying migrating raptors as other field marks are most often not distinguishable at a great distance. For a view of a Broad-winged Hawk has it sailed by below us, click here.

view from Mt. PhiloAs noon drew near the wind shifted to the south and the action drew to a close. The day’s totals included three Bald Eagles, 15 Sharp-shinned Hawks, three Cooper’s Hawks, and nine American Kestrels. In addition, two Red-tailed Hawks, probably not yet in migration, nine Turkey Vultures, and one Great Blue Heron flew by. A flock of seven Wild Turkeys was seen in the fields below.

And the Broad-winged Hawks? We counted a total of 165. While nowhere near peak migration days of 1,000 at Mt. Philo, everyone was satisfied with the results, the camaraderie of fellow birders, and the beautiful view.

You can read more about Broad-winged Hawks at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds website, by clicking here.

add new species to your life list!

Standing in front of a Brown Pelican constructed of hay and corn stalks, Bruce Hyde, Vermont Commissioner of Tourism, and Marv Elliott, Co-president of Rutland County Audubon, were on hand September 2 to help kick off the Killington Hay Festival. The National Audubon Society has been chosen as beneficiary of the fundraiser to help in their work in response to the Gulf oil disaster. The festival runs from September 4 through October 12.

The commissioner pointed out that Vermont is a green state and our population is well tuned in to green activities. The hay from the festival will be recycled at the Killington ski area to help prevent erosion.

Marv Elliott thanked the organizers and encouraged further donations to the Audubon effort. He spoke of the decline of bird numbers and a recent study showing at least 25% of our species in trouble. Now is a key time to study the spill to devise ways to better deal with environmental catastrophes in the future.

So if you want to add some new birds to your life list, take a ride to Killington. As you can see, they have some unbelievable species!

RCAS at the fair

Yellow-bellied SapsuckerOnce again Rutland County Audubon will have a display at the Forestry Building at the Vermont State Fair. This year’s focus tree is the White Birch. The connection between birch and many bird species is an important one whether it’s the sap that attracts the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker shown here, the seeds that serve as a food source, or the bark used in nest building.

Stop by the Forestry Building and talk to one of the volunteers to find out why birches are an important part of Vermont’s forested landscape. If your timing is right you may even find one of us wearing a beak!

 The fair runs from September 3 through September 12. See you there!

nine years of monthly bird marsh monitoring completed

monitoring walk #108On Saturday, July 22, 2010 Rutland County Audubon members and friends completed the 108^th month of bird monitoring of the West Rutland Marsh. The monitoring consists of walking the 3.7 mile perimeter of the marsh each month and recording all birds seen and/or heard during the walk. Any individual who has participated in all 108 monthly monitoring walks would have covered 399.6 miles and would have seen or heard 139 different species of birds!

While those numbers may be impressive, what is more important is the ever expanding data set that has been faithfully recorded on eBird, a collaborative effort of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon and publicly available to researchers, bird enthusiasts and the curious. During nine years of marsh monitoring, 1,266 individuals participated, constituting a potential community of informed and empathetic advocates willing and ready to ensure the sustainability of the marsh and its diverse inhabitants.

While monitoring is both collegial and fun, many participate in welcoming the opportunity to hone their birding skills, both auditory and visual. It would be difficult to imagine a more dynamic and inviting classroom in which to learn, to exercise and to contribute.

While celebrating this birding milestone, there is more to the marsh than just the birds! The ten-station Bridge to Bridge Interpretive Trail, with the help of a brochure available at the kiosk, can expand the horizons of the curious to the flora, to the landscape and even to the soils characteristic of a wetland as it traverses River Street to the south and Marble Street to the east.

West Rutland Media CampThis summer, among the curious, there were three groups of young people who visited the marsh to experience some of the treasures that it has to offer, a Tapestry class from Rutland, the West Rutland Academy and the West Rutland School Media Camp. Click here to see the video created by the students.

Everyone is welcome to participate in Rutland County Audubon’s field trips and activities. There is no charge. Notice of events may be found in the local press and also on the Events section of this website.

annual butterfly count, west rutland’s seventeenth

White Admirals on animal scat

Rutland County Audubon undertook its seventeenth annual “July 4” West Rutland Butterfly Count on Saturday, July 3.The North American Butterfly Association’s counts, now in their thirty-sixth year, are organized along the lines of the Audubon’s Annual Christmas Bird Counts within circles of 15 miles diameter that once designated, remain constant.  The first West Rutland count was organized by Monica and Alan Gregory in 1994.

Ten participants took to the field at 9:00 a.m. on a clear but humid morning with a temperature reading of 68° F.  By the time the day was over for the last participant about 3:30 p.m. the temperature was hovering around 87° F. 

The 35 species tallied was in fact equal to the average over the past 16 years while the individual tally was some 116 short of the average.  Looking over the species diversity and numbers, the highs and the lows over the past 16 years, it would appear that there is neither constancy nor predictability although the counts were undertaken in the same areas and almost on the same calendar date.  One variable seems to be the maturity and passage of the season and that of supportive plant growth.

It was nice to record two Dion Skippers, a species included in “Vermont’s Sweet Sixteen.”

For the most part no attempt was made to differentiate between Northern Crescent and Pearl Crescent, hence Crescent sp.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1), Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (1), Tiger Swallowtail sp. (2), Cabbage White (33), Clouded Sulphur (101), Bronze Copper (2), Coral Hairstreak (1), Acadian Hairstreak (1), Eastern Tailed-Blue (26), Great Spangled Fritillary (27), Aphrodite Fritillary (14), Atlantis Fritillary (4), Meadow Fritillary (172), Crescent sp. (34), Baltimore Checkerspot (3), Question Mark (2), Eastern Comma (2), Painted Lady (1), Red Admiral (6), White Admiral (2), Viceroy (2), Eyed Brown (13), Common Ringlet (5), Common Wood Nymph (12), Monarch (23), Least Skipper (5), European Skipper (60), Indian Skipper (1), Peck’s Skipper (4), Tawny-edged Skipper (1), Long Dash (3), Northern Broken-Dash (7), Little Glassywing (23), Dun Skipper (4), Dion Skipper (2).  Total individuals, (600).  Total species, (35).

audubon responds to the gulf oil crisis - how you can help

Brown Pelican, one of the species being affected by the oil spillThe gulf oil crisis has been foremost in our minds for over two months now. National Audubon has been responding in every way possible including coordinating 15,000 volunteers in the gulf states and working on ways they can give direct help. Now our national organization has a message on how the rest of us can help: As part of our response to the oil spill, we suggest you contact a local Audubon Center, chapter, or similar nonprofit to volunteer your time and talents to help birds, especially ones that will be migrating south this fall.

We know Rutland County Audubon members want to help. We are concerned with the effects of this disaster on the birds that breed in our area and then fly south either through or to the gulf for winter. We are conducting bird-monitoring efforts (counting birds) in many areas in Rutland County and can always use more help. One good way to start is to participate in our monthly marsh walk. It is both a way to hone your bird identification skills and contribute to the database of bird populations. Another way is to contribute your bird sightings to eBird. To see just one example of how monitoring efforts can make a difference, click on this link at eBird.

We will do our best to get everyone involved in resolving this crisis.

annual meeting - 2010

Cardinal FlowerMembers of Rutland County Audubon gathered on June 30 at the Proctor Library to celebrate another year with its annual meeting. Thirty-six attendees enjoyed delicious dishes at the potluck supper. After the meeting Roy Pilcher presented The Wildflowers of Vermont, which included many beautiful close-up photos of flowers he has photographed over the years.

Roy Pilcher, RCAS Co-PresidentRoy presented the annual report, which highlights the achievements of the past year. These include the preservation of 55 acres at West Rutland Marsh, completing two years of effort in securing a grant and closing the sale of the property. Also, a year of monitoring of the Pomainville Wildlife Management Area in Pittsford was completed and will continue. About 100 species have been tallied there to date. RCAS members individually continue to monitor other areas around Rutland County. Audubon Adventures is being brought to classrooms in the area and we are actively promoting our Bridge-to-Bridge Interpretive Trail at West Rutland Marsh. Marv Elliott talked about the importance of National Audubon especially in light of the Gulf oil spill. Angele Brill presented the treasurer’s report, which shows that RCAS is financially sound.

As always we need more members to take an active role in furthering the mission of Rutland County Audubon: To foster an enjoyment of the birds and the preservation of their habitat. Please contact Marv Elliott at vtbirdhouses@yahoo.com or Roy Pilcher at shamwariVT@aol.com if you want to help!

You can download a copy of the 2009-2010 Annual Report here.

enjoying the potluck

century count XV - a new record!

Rutland County Audubon’s annual Century Count and Christmas Bird Count act as bookends to the year. Although the protocols are different, it is interesting to note that this year’s Century Count produced a record of 114 species, beating 2007’s record of 109. By contrast this past Christmas Bird Count had one of the lowest species count at 43 (the average is about 49).

On May 29, 20 birders gathered at 6 a.m. for Century Count XV. Armed with binoculars, spotting scopes, cameras, and notebooks, we set out to cover the county in our annual attempt to tally 100 species.

A trip around West Rutland Marsh produced Virginia Rail and Sora. A Marsh Wren was seen carrying nesting material. Warblers, mostly along Whipple Hollow Road, were Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, and Canada Warbler. The highlight of the marsh, however, was not the warblers, but a male Orchard Oriole in full song along Marble Street. This was a first Vermont bird or life bird for many of the participants.

The Pleasant St. powerline in West Rutland was a successful stop as usual with Blue-winged Warbler (dressed and singing appropriately) and a feisty Prairie Warbler. An Eastern Towhee and a Field Sparrow were also observed.

One of the highlights of the day was our stop at the Rte 4 rest area, where a Cerulean Warbler looking at the Cerulean Warblerwas singing and observed high in the trees. RCAS Co-president Roy Pilcher first observed this bird May 11 (16 years after he saw it at the same location). Again The Cerulean was a life bird for many. Another Blue-winged Warbler (also appropriately dressed and singing) was seen here as well as a Golden-winged Warbler singing a Blue-winged Warbler song. All the field marks indicated Golden-winged and not a hybrid. A hermit thrush nest was found with two chicks, one possibly a Brown-headed Cowbird, and two blue eggs, one with the egg tooth poking through. A Louisiana Waterthrush was also heard at this location.

The Castleton College Nature Trail produced a Hairy Woodpecker nest with young, the second Canada Warbler of the day, and a Pine Warbler. A Broad-winged Hawk was seen and a Brown Creeper was singing.

The Lake Bomoseen/Hubbardton IBA produced Wood Duck, including a female with eight young, and a Cliff Swallow on its nest under the church eaves.

happy birdersAt our lunch stop at Bomoseen State Park, we observed a Herring Gull and Yellow-throated Vireo.

At the Kehoe Fishing Access at Lake Bomoseen, we heard a Tennessee Warbler singing, quite incessantly, for mid-day. Appropriately a Nashville Warbler was also heard at this spot. A Red-eyed Vireo was observed bringing in birch bark strips for its nest-building efforts.

A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was seen at the Bird Mountain WMA in Castleton. No Peregrine Falcon activity was observed on the cliffs. However, two Red-tailed Hawks were seen soaring.

Wild Turkeys, a Brown Thrasher, a few Bobolinks, and two Eastern Meadowlarks were seen in Benson. Bank Swallows were seen entering and exiting their nests at the town sand supply in Brandon. The day ended at 9:20 p.m. at Lefferts Pond with, most appropriately, Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl.

Notably absent for the day were American Bittern, American Woodcock, Winter Wren, and Black-throated Green Warbler. A total of 28 checklists were submitted to eBird.

 Total Species List:

Canada Goose Wood Duck American Black Duck Mallard Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruffed Grouse Wild Turkey Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Green Heron Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Virginia Rail Sora Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Wilson’s Snipe Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Barred Owl Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-pewee Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher

Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Northern Rough-winged Swallow Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Veery Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing Blue-winged Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Cerulean Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Louisiana Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Canada Warbler Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow