book review: butterfly people

Silver-bordered FritillaryThe benefits of casual browsing struck again when I espied Butterfly People at the Rutland Free Library. A rainbow of multicolored butterflies covered a book set atop the ‘new selections’ case. Like nectar, it drew me in. A quick thumb through revealed many plates of butterflies and moths illustrated with artists’ skillful drawings, saturated with deep oranges, yellows and blues. They evoked a collision of sensuous beauty with scientific detail – wing venation to internal organ systems. Such enticement is the jewel in William Leach’s historic chronicle of nineteenth century America’s infatuation with butterflies.

The Victorian world is often acclaimed as the ‘heyday’ of natural history. Similar to what I related regarding early gatherers of bird eggs in my review of Oology and Ralph’s Talking Eggs, butterfly collection had become a frenzied mania. To capture hundreds of butterflies during a day’s outing was routine. As with bird eggs, butterflies were a marketable commodity, with advertisers searching for distinct species. Henry Edwards amassed 250,000 specimens.

The adventurous and harrowed lives of many ‘butterfly people’ are outlined by Leach, highlighting the curious ways they became enamored of butterflies. One of the chief collectors, Wm. Henry Edwards was a West Virginian coal mining kingpin. Many had another primary day job: Herman Stecker was a stone mason. Very few arose from a professional science background because they were the first ones writing the biological science of butterflies, dissecting and describing morphology, analyzing and comparing species.

American LadyTwo of the main contentions were species distinction and taxonomy. Sexual dimorphism of males and females, and sometimes significant changes in the mature winged adult throughout its lifespan, were the source of much confusion and heated debate. Arguments also arose over taxonomic nomenclatures – should it be Linnaean, alluding to antigenic relations, or should just a common vernacular name be attached? Stecker named one moth “Eudaemonia jehovah.” At this even his religious friends thought he had breached conventional standards of decency. Another source of dispute and rancor (Darwin having lately arrived on the scene) was whether each species was a perfected end in itself or represented evolutionary adaptations over eons. In fact, sixty fossil butterflies were discovered during this time.

An interesting parallel between today and these 19^th century butterfly people, popped out to me. Today many birders saunter out and post their notable findings on eBird or similar websites and listservs for professionals such as the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and etc. to encounter, accumulate, consolidate and arrive at hypotheses on species survival or decline, distribution, etc. Similarly the Victorian ‘butterfly people’ often fell into two groups. The collectors did the field work, catching as much as possible and shipping their harvest off to those like Wm. Henry Edwards who spent most of his hours at his desk in his library, examining specimens and writing the first catalog listings of butterflies and moths.

This is a fascinating story, well written, except that I often had trouble keeping straight Wm. Henry Edwards and Henry Edwards, two separate collectors who were close colleagues. It makes one long for earlier decades when there was such a widespread enthusiasm to get outside and experience and learn more about the natural world. Even further, one hopes mankind harbors a deeper reverence for nature beyond the monetary economies of the ‘collecting bug.’

Be sure to check the RCAS Flickr page for more photos of some of the beautiful butterflies that can be seen in Vermont.

hawk watching at Mt. Philo

Hawk watches might seem a bit strange especially to novices. A group of birders perch on a rocky outcrop staring out into the sky and clouds, seemingly at nothing and sometimes at unidentified specks.

Raptors (hawk, falcons and accipiters) migrate over several weeks in the fall, but the Broad-winged Hawk movement is restricted to a short period in mid-September. However, pinpointing the exact moments raptors will pass over a hawk watch site is an inexact science. So it went with RCAS’s annual visit to Mt. Philo State Park on September 14.

the view from Mt. PhiloFortunately, the breaks in the action, and there were many, were filled with the camaraderie of birders. There was much joking, laughing and the more serious business of sharing birding knowledge and experiences. With the backdrop of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks, the morning went quickly.

One of the early highlights was an immature Broad-winged Hawk sailing beneath the outcrop, its markings clearly visible to even the inexperienced. Bald Eagles caught the attention of non-birding picnickers. In all eight raptor species were identified (Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk).

a kettle of hawkJust before we departed a kettle of broad-wings came from behind Mt. Philo and into our line of vision. A kettle is a group of migrating raptors taking advantage of thermal updrafts to gain altitude and then ‘peeling off’ and moving on, an energy saving measure.

As always there are other things to see in the Champlain Valley. Earlier reports of shorebirds on Lake Road in Charlotte drew us there after leaving Mt. Philo. Although few birds were left, we did manage to scope an American Golden-plover, a Baird’s Sandpiper and two Pectoral Sandpipers along with several Killdeer. A late stop at the Brilyea Access at Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area gave us a hint at the next group of migrants to pass through - waterfowl. There we saw Green-winged Teal, a couple Blue-winged Teal and, overhead, a skein of Canada Geese.

west rutland marsh - september monitoring report

Marsh WrenIt was a spectacular almost fall morning at West Rutland Marsh as 10 birders gathered to tally 40 species. This is above last year’s mark of 38 as well as our 13-year average of 38.

As the fog over the marsh began to lift and the sky turned a cloudless blue, the birds became more active. There is plenty of fruit to help the migrants on their way and those that will remain for the winter. Temperatures started in the mid-40s, but rose to around 70 at the mid-point of the walk.

As always there were several highlights. A very obliging Tennessee Warbler was a first for at least two participants. Other warblers included Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Green warblers. 

Tennessee WarblerTwo Marsh Wrens came in for close observation, one an adult and the other an immature. Swamp Sparrows were numerous and one Lincoln’s Sparrow was in a weedy field singing a weak song. A Blue-headed Vireo, on the other hand, was singing robustly. 

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was seen. Raptor numbers were low – one Sharp-shined Hawk and one Northern Harrier.

The next marsh walk is scheduled for Saturday, October 12, starting at 8 AM.

The complete list:

Wood Duck  1
Turkey Vulture  1
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Rock Pigeon  7
Mourning Dove  11
Belted Kingfisher  2
Downy Woodpecker  10
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Pileated Woodpecker  2
Eastern Phoebe  7
Blue-headed Vireo  1   
Red-eyed Vireo  3
Blue Jay  9
American Crow  6
Common Raven  1
Black-capped Chickadee  18
Tufted Titmouse  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Marsh Wren  2
Carolina Wren  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
American Robin  4
Gray Catbird  17
Brown Thrasher  1
European Starling  10
Cedar Waxwing  4
Tennessee Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  5
Yellow-rumped Warbler  2
Black-throated Green Warbler  1
Song Sparrow  3
Lincoln's Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  13
Northern Cardinal  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
Red-winged Blackbird  129
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  18

see you at the fair

Stop by the Forestry Building at the Vermont State Fair in Rutland! Once again RCAS has a display in honor of the fair’s ‘tree of the year’ – this year’s tree is the oak.

RCAS Board Member Kathleen Guinness worked hard researching the many ways birds utilize oaks. Learn all about it through fun facts and photos.

And if you haven’t signed up to be on our email list for events, programs and website articles, be sure to complete an entry form to win a 40 lb. bag of black oil bird seed at the annual seed sale at Garland’s Agway in November.

west rutland marsh - august monitoring report

a perfect day at the marshRCAS celebrated a new year at West Rutland Marsh this morning and a happy one it was. Twelve participants joined us as we began our 13^th year of monitoring the marsh. It is worth noting that over the years we have counted 145 species and, albeit with many repeats, have had 1,693 participants. And not to mention walking almost 537 miles!

Fifty-one species were tallied today, six more than this time last year and well above our August average of 45. 

Today’s walk couldn’t have been better - a blue-sky day with just a smidgen of fall in the air. Trees and shrubs are showing plenty of fruit. This bodes well for the coming migration. The Cedar Waxwings are already digging in.

A lone Virginia Rail was heard and then put in a very brief appearance. Swamp Sparrows and Marsh Wrens are still being heard. 

Several warblers were about, most notably American Redstarts and Black-and-white Warblers and, of course, Common Yellowthroats. One Chestnut-sided Warbler and one Yellow Warbler were a nice addition.

plenty of fruit for migrantsOne of the surprises today was the number of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 13 in all. Many were seen in pairs with what looked like immatures chasing females. Several immature Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were also observed.

A small group of Bobolinks was in the field near the intersection of Pleasant Street and Whipple Hollow Road.

Next month's walk is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 7 AM.

Today's list:

Mallard  4
Great Blue Heron  2
Turkey Vulture  6
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Virginia Rail  1
Killdeer  1
Mourning Dove  26
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  13    
Belted Kingfisher  3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  4
Downy Woodpecker  7
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Willow Flycatcher  5
Eastern Phoebe  7
Great Crested Flycatcher  2
Eastern Kingbird  8
Warbling Vireo  2
Red-eyed Vireo  11
Blue Jay  5
American Crow  3
Common Raven  1
Tree Swallow  4
Barn Swallow  7
Black-capped Chickadee  14
Tufted Titmouse  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
House Wren  1
Marsh Wren  3
Carolina Wren  2
Eastern Bluebird  1
Veery  1
American Robin  6
Gray Catbird  17
Cedar Waxwing  22
Black-and-white Warbler  4
Common Yellowthroat  11
American Redstart  6
Yellow Warbler  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler  1
Chipping Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  7
Swamp Sparrow  6
Northern Cardinal  7
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  3
Bobolink  7
Red-winged Blackbird  72
Common Grackle  1
Purple Finch  5
House Finch  4
American Goldfinch  18

audubon camp at hog island, maine

Atlantic PuffinMy husband Larry and I attended Audubon Camp on Hog Island, Maine, in June. The session we attended was called The Joy of Birding. Mid-afternoon on Sunday, June 9^th, we boarded a boat along with some of the other campers. It took us the ¼ mile trip to Hog Island. After getting settled in our room, we went down to the main gathering spot, and what was the first thing that happened? A porcupine strolled leisurely around the dining building, oblivious to everyone, climbed an apple tree, ate some leaves, and promptly went to sleep. The next thing that happened was hearing and seeing a very cooperative Northern Parula, a warbler and a life bird for me, which turned out to be the first of many that live on the Island. This was a great beginning to the adventure of the next few days. We then all gathered in a circle in the Fish House and introduced ourselves. There were almost 60 campers from states all over the country (Texas, California, Virginia, New Mexico, Florida and Pennsylvania, to name a few) as well as Canada. We also were introduced to the camp leaders for that week:  Chris Lewey, Rich Eakin, Wayne Petersen, John Pumilio, Sue Schubel, Pete Salmansohn, Clay and Pat Sutton, and Juanita Roushdy, who is also the president of Friends of Hog Island.

At dinner at 6:00 we learned all the procedures for the week. Everyone was responsible for making the dining area run smoothly. If you sat in a particular seat, you were the “hopper” that day and were the one who took all the dirty dishes to the dishwashing crew. Everyone had a cloth napkin that was hung with a personalized clothespin on a line after using and was your napkin for the week.  There was no waste – all uneaten food left in serving dishes was returned and reappeared later in a different guise. There was a compost bin. Each leader sat at the head of a different table so campers were able to chat with them, ask questions, and just get to know them on a more personal basis. I was impressed.

Immediately after dinner, we reconvened in the Fish House. Pete Salmansohn, who is involved with Project Puffin, gave a presentation on the history of Hog Island, and Chris Lewey presented Maine Coastal Ecology. This turned out to be a nightly pattern:  dinner at 6:00 followed by a presentation at 7:15 by one of the leaders or a guest. We were treated to Hawks by Clay Sutton, Island Birds by Rich Eakin, Migration by Scott Weidensaul, and Puffins by Steve Kress, who has directed the Puffin Project since 1973. After the presentations, the schedule for the following day was announced. Each morning there was an early bird walk at 5:45, breakfast at 7:00, and 8:15 the time to meet your group for the daily field trip. The campers had been divided into groups named after birds. On Monday, our first full day of camp, the Loons and the Parulas were going on the boat trip to Eastern Egg Rock to see Puffins. The other two groups (Gulls and Terns, I think) would be going on a mainland birding trip. Since Larry and I were Loons, our first day would be exciting. 

We went back to our cozy, but small, room. Since our accommodations in the Queen Mary building held 18 campers, but only two bathrooms and two showers, getting ready for bed involved some waiting in line. This was something new for me. I had never gone to camp as a kid. But everyone was patient and nice, so it worked out. 

Monday morning, I awoke at 3:30a.m. and couldn’t get back to sleep. I guess I was eager to get going.  Every morning there, I woke up by 4:30. I think it was the sun shining in our east facing window. I literally woke up with the birds. So that first day, I went on the early morning bird walk – heard more Parulas, and Juncos were trilling. Right behind the dining building there was an Osprey sitting on a nest that had two chicks in it (we later got to see this on a birdcam in the dining room).

The weather was absolutely perfect for our boat ride. The sun was shining and the sea was calm. Along the way to Eastern Egg Island, which is about 8 miles from Hog Island, we saw Bald Eagles, Ospreys (sometimes in conflict with each other), Eiders, Black Guillemots, and many gulls. Sue Schubel, another veteran of Project Puffin, provided a running commentary of what we were seeing as well as the history of puffins on Eastern Egg Island. We stopped to look into the water to see how abundant the fish were and why that area in the Gulf of Maine draws so many birds to it. When we finally reached the island, we were not disappointed. There were many puffins, some as close as ten feet from the boat (no need for binoculars). There also were more guillemots, two Razorbills, cormorants, and Roseate, Common, and Arctic terns. 

When we all had had our fill of puffins (if that’s possible!), we sailed to Harbor Island to have lunch and for some afternoon field trips. Since I had trouble getting on and off the boat and into a motorboat to get onto the island, I opted for the easy field trip, a walk in a typical low, shrubby habitat, where we encountered many Common Yellowthroats, Yellow Warblers, Song Sparrows, a few Gray Catbirds, and an Alder Flycatcher, among others. One of the two other groups had gone on a challenging geology walk, and the other walked a moderate trail, the highlight of which was a Great Horned Owl and her owlets nesting behind the property of the one family that had a home on the island.

Back on Hog Island in late afternoon, we then had dinner and a presentation on hawks by Clay Sutton. The schedule for the next day involved a major change to Plan B since the weather report was forecasting a bad storm. The Gulls and Terns would not be able to do the trip to Eastern Egg Island as scheduled.   

Plan B on Tuesday consisted first of a panel discussion with the leaders about how to become a better birder. The discussion was interesting. We spent a good deal of time discussing the use of audio playback when bird watching. After that campers could choose from presentations given by each of the leaders. These ran the gamut of topics from painting birds to the first year of life of a passerine, storytelling, how to spot owls, gardening for birds and birds asleep. One of the two I chose to attend was called Unfamiliar Facts, Familiar Faces given by Wayne Petersen. I learned that, while most birds learn their songs from their dads, tyrant flycatchers, like our Willow, Alder, Phoebe, Kingbird, etc., are genetically programmed and know their song inherently.  I really wanted to see the Birds Asleep presentation, but decided that I needed some sleep myself by that time. Larry had been snoozing most of the day, which had turned out to be pretty stormy, with a lot of rain and a chilly wind. For most of the week it was cool with temperatures in the 60s. I was glad I had packed mostly warm clothing, and most days wore three layers.

Wednesday’s weather was considerably better, but still cloudy and drizzly. The Gulls and Terns groups got to go see puffins, while our group did the mainland birding trip. We stopped at several roadside places where we heard Brown Creeper, Canada Warbler, and Hermit Thrush singing, but they wouldn’t show their faces. At a wonderful place managed by the Damariscotta River Association, we heard a Sora and got good looks at it and a family of Pied-billed Grebes. There were also many swallows and Bobolinks in an adjacent field. Next we visited a blueberry barren, where I got to see another life bird, Vesper Sparrow. An American Kestrel was there also. 

The leaders were excellent. They knew where the birds were, were very judicious in their use of playback, and they all knew so much about the plants, flowers, trees, and ferns that we were seeing. They answered our questions with knowledge and clarity. 

That evening, we had a real treat. Scott Weidensaul was the guest speaker. He gave a passionate talk on bird migration, in which he described some of the amazing things that have been learned about bird migration in the past several years with the use of geolocators. Some birds are traveling much greater distances during migration than had been thought, and their bodies undergo incredible physiological changes that enable them to do this. He ended with a call for people who care about birds to drink shade-grown coffee, plant their gardens with flowers that attract birds, keep their cats indoors, and work toward educating people to do this, and support organizations that advocate for birds. 

The following morning (Thursday, which was our last full day of camp) began bright and early. Several mist nets had been set up around the area, and we watched as Scott Weidensaul banded birds that had been caught including a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. It had an incredibly tiny band placed around its leg. 

After breakfast, the groups split up, half doing a mainland Medomak bird walk, and the others taking a boat to Ross Island to see nesting gulls and chicks. Our group did the Medomak walk first, which was a loop trail around private land whose owners allow Audubon access to it. We heard more parulas, had good looks at a Black-billed Cuckoo, and explored a wetland area that was part of the property. Larry and I passed on the afternoon boat trip to Ross Island because it would involve walking on slippery rocks and I would have had to stay on the boat.  But we heard from others that it was a great trip, and some even got to hold gull chicks in their hands. 

The last evening at Hog Island was a treat. Those who chose were served freshly cooked lobster. Dessert was cream “puffins,” homemade cream puffs embellished to look like puffins! Steve Kress presented a talk on Project Puffin, which he has headed up for forty years. It was amazing to learn of the dedication and perseverance of the people who singlehandedly managed to bring puffins back to Eastern Egg Island.  Afterward, awards were given out for best “hopper” in the dining room and winner of the Mystery Quiz, which involved answering a bird-related question from a different leader, posted each day in the lab. Needless to say, I didn’t win either prize, but I had fun researching the answers to the quiz in the small amount of spare time that we had. Finally, good-byes were said, and everyone scurried back to their rooms to pack for a very early Friday morning boat ride to the mainland and to catch flights or pick up cars to carry us home. All in all, Larry and I had a wonderful time. We were glad we had made the trip to Hog Island. We now have some very happy memories of our time there.   

For more information about Audubon/Hog Island, click here.

west rutland’s 20th annual butterfly count

a single Black Swallowtail egg The RCAS West Rutland Annual Butterfly Count took place as on Saturday, July 6, 2013. That in itself was remarkable in the context of an extraordinary persistent rainy season. In spite of temperatures that ranged from a low of 77°F to a high of 86°F participants made every effort to faithfully record the butterfly occurrence or lack of it on this the twentieth count.

The numbers probably tell the story best! As indicated this was the 20^th annual West Rutland count and that in itself provides twenty years of data. The number of species recorded over the twenty years has ranged from a low of 20, one such data point which was the first year with only one participant, to a high of 47 species. The number of individual butterflies recorded has ranged from a low of 112, this year, to a high of 2,091. Taking a broader or longer term perspective over the 20 years, the average number of species is 32/count and the average number of individual butterflies is 621/count. Doing the math the species count for 2013 is 34% below the running average while the number count of individual butterflies is 81% below the running average.

Common Wood-NymphWhile there is an understandable disappointment from the participants’ view point in not having the satisfaction of seeing and intercepting a larger number or wider array of butterflies, the effort and data collection is important for the record and future analysis.

The data collected on July 6 for the West Rutland count will be a single snap shot in time and place for the US and Canada that marks its 39^th Annual July 4^th Butterfly Count sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association.

rcas annual report and meeting summary

Alan Gregory and Marv ElliottAs we have for the past several years, RCAS members and supporters gathered at the Proctor Library to celebrate another year of birding and bird conservation in Rutland County. The June 26^th gathering included a potluck followed by the annual election of officers and a summary of the year’s accomplishments.

Co-president Marv Elliott thanked longtime supporter Alan Gregory for a generous gift in memory of his late wife Monica, a true nature lover and the founder of the annual West Rutland butterfly count.

Following the delicious meal, election and annual report, Vermont birder Maeve Kim gave a presentation on her birding travels. Maeve shared stories her many experiences and beautiful photos. Her enthusiasm for birds is infectious and no doubt has inspired many in the audience to plan some bird travels of their own.

Click here for the 2012-13 RCAS Annual Report.

west rutland marsh - july monitoring report

Today’s West Rutland Marsh walk marked the completion of 12 years of consecutive monthly monitoring. Fortunately, this summer’s seemingly endless rain held off.

Fifty-two species were either seen or heard. This is above last year’s July total of 48 and also our July average of 48.

Virginia RailThe morning started with an adult Virginia Rail close to the boardwalk much to the delight of all especially the photographers in the group. As we watched one scurry through the vegetation, a second was calling behind us. This is near the site where young were spotted in June. Hopefully, they survived the high water which is just several inches below the boardwalk.

Despite a lack of any early morning wind, two adult Red-tailed Hawks were soaring high above the marsh. An Osprey was seen later in the morning. On our walk in 2002 four American Kestrel were seen. Since that time sightings of kestrel at the marsh on our monitoring walk have declined. Happily, one was spotted today.

A Brown Thrasher was spotted near the boardwalk. Usually it is heard from Pleasant Street well above the marsh. 

Also of interest were two Northern Waterthrush on Marble Street, a new location for them at the marsh. From their behavior it seems possible they nested there. A second pair was heard in the usual spot on Whipple Hollow Road.

As might be expected there was plenty of evidence of nesting. An immature Eastern Bluebird sat in a tree while an adult was bringing food to nestlings in a box nearby. A Gray Catbird, a Song Sparrow and several Red-winged Blackbirds were seen carrying food. An adult Black-and-white Warbler was feeding young in an apple tree on Whipple Hollow Road. An immature Common Raven was testing out his adolescent voice.

There is plenty of ripening fruit which bodes well for the migration season which will soon be upon us. Our next marsh walk is scheduled for Saturday, August 17 at 7 a.m.

Today's list:

Wood Duck  1
Osprey  1
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Virginia Rail  2
Mourning Dove  10
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  5
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  3
Pileated Woodpecker  1
American Kestrel  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Alder Flycatcher  1
Willow Flycatcher  2
Eastern Phoebe  3
Eastern Kingbird  4
Warbling Vireo  2
Red-eyed Vireo  6
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  3
Common Raven  2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1
Barn Swallow  7
Black-capped Chickadee  10
Tufted Titmouse  1
House Wren  2
Marsh Wren  7
Carolina Wren  1
Eastern Bluebird  2     
Veery  11   
American Robin  11
Gray Catbird  12
Brown Thrasher  1
European Starling  7
Cedar Waxwing  18
Ovenbird  4
Northern Waterthrush  4
Black-and-white Warbler  3
Common Yellowthroat  24
Yellow Warbler  3
Chipping Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  11
Swamp Sparrow  14
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
Indigo Bunting  2
Red-winged Blackbird  13
Common Grackle  14
Baltimore Oriole  1
American Goldfinch  15
House Sparrow  7

wetland restoration field trip - july 13

suitable habitat for a variety of birds along Otter CreekOver the last five years, private landowners, federal/state agencies and non-profit groups have been working together to restore wetlands along Otter Creek. Find out what was done and why and see the results firsthand. RCAS and SER-New England will have a joint field trip to Rte 73 in on the Brandon/Sudbury line to visit restored land there. 

Click here to read more about the property.

Rain or shine. Bring boots. 9 AM at the pull-off on the east side of the the Otter Creek bridge on Rte 73 (approximately 3.25 miles west of Brandon).

annual rcas butterfly count - july 6

Great Spangled Fritillary | Photo by Roy PilcherThe RCAS Annual Butterfly Count follows the same protocol as does the annual Christmas Bird Count as to the 15- mile diameter circle and the restriction to a single day of observation. As to timing, the seasons are pretty well reversed, midwinter to midsummer!

The West Rutland count will be the twentieth having been inaugurated in 1994.  The number of species observed has varied from a low of 20 to a high of 47 and individual butterflies from 152 to 2091!  From the first count with only a single observer, participants have varied in number to a high of 15.

Since for some participants this may be their first introduction to the world of butterflies, initially a few butterflies will be netted, placed in a translucent container for identification and then released.

Butterflies tend to start flying when the temperature reaches 60° F so we will delay our meeting until 8:30 a.m. at the West Rutland Price Chopper parking area. Bring a lunch and, if the day is hot, pack plenty of fluids. The day’s results are entered on the North American Butterfly Association [NABA] website with an anticipated donation of $3 per adult.

Sunday will be the rain date if by midmorning Saturday it would appear that the whole day need be cancelled. For further information call Roy at 775-3461.

annual meeting - june 26

White-necked JacobinMark your calendars! Wednesday, June 26, is the date for Rutland County Audubon's annual meeting, potluck and program. This year Vermont birder Maeve Kim will talk about her birding travels. Lots of her photos, such as the one shown here, will highlight her presentation.

A brief annual report and elections will follow supper and the program.

This is a great time to gather for some bird chat. We'd love to hear what you've been seeing.

Bring a dish to share. Beverages and utensils will be provided. 6 PM at the Proctor Library. Contact Roy Pilcher, 775-3461.

west rutland marsh - june monitoring report

What could be more perfect than a morning spent at West Rutland Marsh in June? After the seemingly endless rain, it was a treat to be there to witness all the sights and sounds of this special time of year.

New participants and regular attendees gathered to tally 66 species, 10 more than last year and six above our average for June.

Virginia Rails are always a highlight of a marsh walk especially when they have their fuzzy black chicks with them. Nine were seen or heard including three young. There have been numerous reports of young over the past couple of weeks.

A good bit of time was spent on the boardwalk watching the rails and listening to the differences in vocalizations between the Alder and Willow flycatchers. While there the group was treated to a long, satisfying look at a Least Bittern in flight. This was a life bird for many and a thrill for all.

Raptors were represented by a Broad-winged Hawk, four Red-tailed Hawks, and an American Kestrel.

Two Canada Warblers were singing, one on Pleasant Street and one on Whipple Hollow Road. Other warblers included Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart and, of course, numerous Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats.

As with last month, there was much evidence of nesting activities including a Baltimore Oriole with a nest.

The morning ended with Green Heron flying across the marsh.

Today’s list:

Canada Goose  1
Wood Duck  1
Mallard  2
American Bittern  1
Least Bittern  1
Green Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  3
Broad-winged Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  4
Virginia Rail  9
Killdeer  1
Wilson's Snipe  1
Rock Pigeon  1
Mourning Dove  20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2
Belted Kingfisher  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  6
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
American Kestrel  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Alder Flycatcher  6
Willow Flycatcher  6
Least Flycatcher  3
Eastern Phoebe  10
Great Crested Flycatcher  3
Eastern Kingbird  6
Warbling Vireo  5
Red-eyed Vireo  9
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1
Tree Swallow  10
Barn Swallow  4
Black-capped Chickadee  11
Tufted Titmouse  2
House Wren  2
Marsh Wren  6
Carolina Wren  1
Eastern Bluebird  2
Veery  12
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  8
Gray Catbird  16
European Starling  4
Cedar Waxwing  13
Ovenbird  6
Black-and-white Warbler  3
Common Yellowthroat  12
American Redstart  5
Yellow Warbler  15
Canada Warbler  2
Chipping Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  7
Swamp Sparrow  15
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
Red-winged Blackbird  20
Common Grackle  5
Baltimore Oriole  4
Purple Finch  3
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  9
House Sparrow  1

in the nick of time

My computer is very demanding and, from time to time, we have a serious discussion as to where my loyalty resides. Today was one such occasion. With a steady rain overnight and continuing well in to the morning and temperatures in the mid-fifties, it was surely a day when the computer and I could reestablish our relationship. The urge to go birding was equally strong and so a compromise was entered into. Two hours of birding and no more! 

So here I am a few hours later, together again with my trusty computer and with a story to tell. 

The weather at Kent Pond was no better than that down in the valley. The rain could not make up its mind from which direction to blow! First one window on one side of the car was opened and the rain came in. Then the window on the other side was opened and the rain continued to come in. Not all was lost. Through the curtain of rain drops a single Common Loon was seen in the center of the pond and from time to time a familiar song managed to seep through whenever a window was opened.

It was time to venture to the western side of the pond from which the loon nest could be viewed using a scope or binoculars. The island looked quite diminished. The rising waters had submerged a goodly portion of the limited real estate. My eyes strained to focus through the obscurity of rain, but no loon could be seen in or near the nest. It was difficult to gauge but surely no more than two inches of elevation separated the nest site from the rising waters. Probably a surge or the constant battering of waves from the exposed southwest had done their worst and all was lost! 

Not so! From around the north side in a rocky enclave an adult loon appeared and then a second. Closer and closer together they swam and, joyously, from between them, bobbing in the water a little black chick appeared. It was joined soon after by a second. Together the family group trod water, remaining close until an invitation from one adult enticed one chick on to its back to be followed by its sibling. With the raising of one wing both chicks disappeared into the embrace and warmth of the familiar not to be seen again.

One adult then left the area, mission accomplished! The second with the chicks safely and securely embedded, patrolled the westerly periphery of the island. Strategically, and to this observer, surprisingly, the adult then clambered back on to the nest site now almost completely obscured through the rain and opaqueness of the foliage. In a short while after some further movements and shuffling by the adult loon its head appeared and in its bill an egg shell could be seen only to be ceremoniously and defiantly tossed upon the rising waters. 

It had been in the nick of time!

a lucky turn of events

Western KingbirdFinding a new species here in Vermont, for those of us who have birded a long time, is a rare event. This past Sunday I was scheduled to lead a marsh walk for Otter Creek Audubon (click here to find out how that turned out). I attribute my good luck in finding a rare bird to that event. On Saturday I went to our local ATM to procure lunch money for the following day. There, on a bulletin board, was an ad for a program at Mt. Independence that afternoon. The subject matter was of interest to me so I proceeded over to Orwell.

Driving along the Mt. Independence Road, I was watching for whatever birds are usual there, knowing I would see and hear Purple Martins by the farm. Just about a half mile from Mt. Independence, there sat a bird on the wire. I immediately thought Stop and look at this. Something is different. As soon as I got the bird in my binoculars I knew I really had something special – a Western Kingbird! Putting the four-way flashers on, I jumped out of the car with a camera in hand and took two photos before it flew off across the field.

Had it not been for the pending field trip, I would not have gone to the ATM, learned about the program, made my way to Orwell, and found the kingbird. So thank you OCAS for this most exciting find!

[What to do if you find a rare bird? Click here.]

visitors to the marsh

This morning we had some visitors from the north at the marsh. Not birds this time, but our friends from the Otter Creek Audubon Society in Addison County. Fourteen people got together this morning and made it to West Rutland by 7 a.m. Our Audubon chapter, under the trip leadership of Sue Wetmore, spent the morning taking them through the paces of what we now consider a routine outing. Lucky us to have had them because it was a reminder of the great resource we have here in Rutland County. Over and over we heard what a terrific place it is and how special it is to have the marsh in our backyard.

The walk began on the boardwalk. RCAS members, Connie and Brad Coolidge were already there and had been watching a pair of Virginia Rails with chicks. When we walked on the boardwalk part of the family was under it and soon left for a more solitary location.

Tree Swallow bringing food to youngAs we walked along watching and listening for birds it became apparent that a few of members were new to birding or just returning to it after several years. That made it fun for the more experienced birders because they had the chance to explain their birding techniques. Being a new birder can be an intimidating experience with so many sounds and sights to remember. We helped allay that fear by sharing our experience and telling them how we had learned the birds by sight and sound.

Our walk included sightings of many birds with young. There was a female Mallard with six ducklings on the river, immature Hairy Woodpeckers calling from a nest hole, a Tree Swallow feeding young in a nest box and an Eastern Kingbird sitting on a nest near the boardwalk. Walking around the marsh is always rewarding, but it is the best in the spring!

Thank you, Otter Creek Audubon, for visiting today and reminding us of the importance of West Rutland Marsh. It is this kind of event that reminds us of why we must continue to protect this valuable resource.

century count XVIII

BobolinkFew of us thought we would reach more than 75 species for Century Count XVIII. With perhaps the worst possible Memorial Day weekend weather in several years – rain, wind, cold temperatures – the prospects were not good. Ten participants, however, rose to the challenge and tallied 102 species in a day-long marathon through Rutland County.

Many of the expected species at West Rutland Marsh were found, such as Virginia Rail, Marsh Wren and both Alder and Willow flycatchers, but a good number of the usuals were missed at this location.

In deteriorating weather, the group trudged up the Pleasant Street power line and was pleasantly surprised. Although the Blue-winged Warblers may have been singing ‘bee-brrr’ instead of ‘bee-buzz’ four of them were found. Indigo Buntings, Prairie Warblers, Eastern Towhees and Field Sparrows were singing away.

The Route 4 rest area, although hosting an unpleasant number of ticks, provided several warbler species including Blackburnian, Magnolia and Canada. There was no sign of a Cerulean Warbler as in past years, but that area was inaccessible due to a swollen stream caused by a blocked culvert.

At the north end of Lake Bomoseen an American Coot was a nice find in the heavy vegetation along with a few Wood Ducks including young.

A welcome rest for a picnic lunch at Bomoseen State Park provided the opportunity to find a Yellow-throated Vireo and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher plus a Baltimore Oriole sitting on a nest.

A Bald Eagle was seen from the Kehoe Fishing Access upper lot on Lake Bomoseen along with four Common Loons (two more loons were also seen on Lake Hortonia and six on Chittenden Reservoir, no doubt related to the bad weather).

A Northern Harrier, a Savannah Sparrow and a handful of bubbling Bobolinks were found during a brief stop at Fair Haven Municipal Airport. A good number of Bobolinks were found in Benson as well as a Meadowlark and an American Kestrel.

The highlight of the day was a stop along Route 73 in Brandon along the Otter Creek. A Pied-billed Grebe, two American Bittern, one Least Bittern and three Common Gallinule were observed. Click here to find out why this area is so special.

The day ended at Lefferts Pond as it traditionally does. A Wilson’s Snipe was seen calling atop a phone pole. The day closed out with the songs of a Purple Finch and a White-throated Sparrow.

All sightings have been contributed to eBird (25 checklists).

Despite the conditions, the group remained good humor all day. Everyone contributed to the effort of seeing, hearing and identifying 102 species. Special thanks once again go to Roy Pilcher for planning another successful Century Count.

The day's list:

Canada Goose Wood Duck American Black Duck Mallard Common Merganser Wild Turkey Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe American Bittern Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Virginia Rail Common Gallinule American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Black-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker

American Kestrel Eastern Wood-Pewee Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Veery Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush

Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler 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 Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow

a conservation success story

a Pied-billed Grebe on its nest

There are plenty of stories about how birds and wildlife are negatively impacted by this and that so we’re happy to report a success story right here in Rutland County. This one involves a pair of Pied-billed Grebes, which hopefully will result in more grebes before too long.

According to the recently released Second Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Vermont, Pied-Billed Grebes are the only grebe species to nest in the state. They are kind of picky, preferring a shallow water marshy area. They also need deeper water so they can dive for their prey.

The Pied-billed Grebe is a Species of Special Concern so preserving and managing areas for them is important.

Thanks to the local work by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and its Wetlands Reserve Program, more habitat is now available for grebes.

 Click here to see how this was accomplished locally.

annual meeting - june 26

Scarlet TanagerThe annual meeting of the Rutland County Audubon Society will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 6:30 PM. The program and meeting will immediately follow a potluck supper at the Proctor Library. If you wish you can come to the meeting and skip the meal.

For our program Vermont birder Maeve Kim will talk about her birding travel experiences. Our business meeting will include a review of our projects and accomplishments for last year, some ideas for next year and the election of officers and directors.

If you are interested in having your name placed in nomination, you can contact me at vtbirdhouses@yahoo.com. Nominations for any position will also be taken from the floor.

This information is required by our constitution, but more needs to be said. Our chapter is doing a great job thanks to the efforts of many volunteers. We are monitoring bird populations, protecting habitat and educating adults and kids about birds. However, as you are aware, we are facing an ever increasing challenge to protect the natural world around us. To do more, we need even more volunteers. If you are willing to help in some way please let me know. You may be able to assist someone for an existing project or take on any one of many new ideas (and you may have your own).

I hope you can attend. Bring a dish to share. Beverages and utensils will be provided. Please email me or call me a 775-2415 with any questions.

book review: The Handbook of Bird Photography

The Handbook of Bird Photography by Markus Varesvuo, Jari Peltomäki and Bence Máté is a recently published tome directing dedicated bird photographers through the in-depth information they need to develop their skills, with the goal of producing exceptional bird photos, whether for documentation or artistic purposes. Equipment and techniques are delineated, but the main emphasis is on field work. Digital image processing and computer manipulations have been left out of the book. Indeed, the authors state that their aim is to present a balanced mix of informative reading and enjoyable viewing. Markus Varesvuo, Jari Peltomäki and Bence Máté, the authors, hail from Scandinavia and Hungary, and the photos are skewed toward that region. Ring Ouzel, Red-flanked Bluetail, Siberian Jay, Eurasian Griffin, Dalmatian Pelican and Western Capercaillie are just a few examples of birds they photographed that are unfamiliar in the Americas. Each of these three authors has won various photographer of the year awards.

The professional bird photographer will be the one who finds this book most valuable. At that level, equipment includes a high-end DSLR camera in the $6,000-$8,000 range. (Semi-professional cameras can be had for $1,000-$4,000, whereas amateur DSLRs will only cost you $600-$1,600.) Truly dedicated bird photographers pack two DSLR cameras in their bags: one with a wide-angle lens for bird flocks, and a second with a telephoto lens for close-ups. Additional technical chapters give highly detailed discussions of sensors, lenses, telephoto extenders, continuous high-speed shooting, exposure, light metering, etc.

To the average bird enthusiast, all of this sounds very haughty, but it is essential knowledge to creating breathtaking award-winning photos. Even so, the authors recognize the proper place of precise technical skills, for they repeatedly state that the most aesthetically pleasing bird photos are grounded in following several general rules of thumb which can be practiced by any photographer. Foremost, knowledge of bird behavior and biology will improve your photography; the best photos are the result of spending long stretches of time with one species. Experience in the field, and viewing field conditions, as well as the bird, is prime. Photographers should let birds approach them and not vice versa (birds will move away). In this vein, all three authors strongly suggest using a blind. Although the book illustrates several elaborate settings, their point is that any good coverage is an immense help, as well as subdued or camouflage clothing. Also, it is well to remember that headwinds are better for photographers than birds flying with a tailwind because a headwind forces the birds to fly closer to the earth’s surface.

Reading through the book, as a ‘newbie’ myself in the leap from 35 mm to digital photography, I began to understand that the way to improve your photos is to progress from a reactive “point and shoot” photographer, to one who plans to capture a subject utilizing whatever limited (and hopefully increasing) skills one has to, to proactively create a good shot. And though the book gives insider tips for stunning scenes (migration across the sheen of the aurora borealis, anyone?), there are plenty of practical, simple tips for photographing in mist, fog, falling snow - and that bane of all nature photographers – when your subject is just behind a prominent branch. Getting beyond point and shoot requires looking for new angles and adding a little bit extra: the light of a beautiful evening, dramatic backlighting, or an interesting background. Creating a controlled, simulated setting need not be so involved that it is best left to the professional. Anyone can set out berries or dead rodents as a lure. And there is a way to install a small mirror at a bird bath to give nice backlit features.

Lastly, it is probably the undefinable that results in the greatest photos. It is an inner aesthetic receptiveness to the beautifully enticing: that which the photographer perceives without technical or site manipulation. My favorite photo (page 27) is of Red Phalarope gingerly stepping through a pool or red reflective water. The photographer had been taking various close-ups of the phalarope when he suddenly noticed that his travel partner had moved to a position such that his bright red feathers were making interesting patterns of deep red way reflections right around the bird.

The $50 price for this book (358 pages) is somewhat daunting. But from my amateur’s viewpoint, this is an extremely valuable addition to the professional’s reference shelf. For the amateur, there is still a lot of useful material to start working with to begin moving beyond common frustrations and toward more satisfying photos. And for the rich and famous with no prior bird interest, you could spend $50 on a lot less healthy things to lift your mood. The photos are exquisite, and you’ll spend a few hours transporting your mind through ethereal realms of nature’s beauty.

(In the interest of full disclosure, RCAS was given a free copy of this book provided we would give a public book review. The above represents my honest opinion of the book, and I have not received any personal compensation in preparing this review).

 For a list of other books we’ve reviewed, click here.