Birdnotes: [BIRD NOTES] June 10, 2007

Bird Notes

Black Vulture at Retreat Meadows

Our attention was drawn to the sky above the Retreat Meadow boat launch when we stopped to take a look on Tuesday 6/5. We counted 18 Vultures circling over the water to our right. But, wait a minute one of them was clearly smaller, lacked the dihedral to the wings and had a much shorter squared-off tail. I think we have a Black Vulture I said as we both scrambled out of the car. One by one they were sailing in and disappearing from view behind the trees that line the shore to our right. We walked to waters edge and got a better look at their roost in a leafless tall tree. The bird in question was sitting by itself in a nearby white pine on a limb void of foliage. We could clearly see the dark head and legs that set it apart from the red head and legs of the many TVs in the nearby tree.

If you see vultures circling, look them over closely. Black Vultures are slightly smaller, and have broad wings and a stubby tail. They flap more, and have silver/white tips to their primaries. In flight they do not have the dihedral to the wings that the Turkey Vultures have.

VBBA atop Mt. Snow

This morning I had one of my most delightful times atlassing for the Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas. With Richard Foye, I drove to the top of Mt. Snow (with permission/arrangment with the ski area, on their service road) to cover the "inaccessible" areas of the Mt. Snow block. With frost on the ground and freezing hands, we watched the sun rise and listened to the birds as they awakened:

Bicknell's Thrush (at least four singing males), Blackpoll Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Winter Wren, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (carrying nesting material), Chipping Sparrow (sounding like juncos), Dark-eyed Junco (sounding like juncos), Purple Finch (including flight display and flight songs), Common Raven, American Robin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill (possible possible).

On the way up and down the road we had: Wild Turkey, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, American Crow, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Common Grackle, Blackburnian Warbler, Gray Catbird, Song Sparrow, Blue-headed Vireo, (and probably some more that I can't remember).

... and in the valley, there were: Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Killdeer (with young), and Canada Goose (with young). This was between 5:00 am and 8:00 am. Not a bad way to start a day! ---Chris Petrak, South Newfane, VT

P R O G R A M

Tuesday, June 19

Backpacking in Alaska

Ned Pokras will take us on the trail around Anchorage and Denali National Park in Alaska. He will present a talk and slides showing glaciers, wildlife, and stunning scenery in some of the last true wilderness areas in North America. This program will be held on June 19^th at 7pm in the meeting room of Brattleboro’s Brooks Memorial Library. It is sponsored by Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society and is FREE and open to the public.