BIRD NOTES ~ April 19, 2009

Bluebird by Paul Miller  and  Bar-headed Goose by Gerry James

 

Bird Notes

 

 

 

Bar-headed Goose

Fellow bird enthusiast Chris Petrak called early Saturday morn to tell us of a Bar-headed Goose near the water pumping station at the Retreat Meadows. We were there within minutes looking at this spectacular bird from central Asia as it paddled along behind a couple of Canada Geese. It could be an escapee from someone’s collection, but maybe not. It was not sporting any bird bands on its legs. At any rate, until the experts say otherwise we have a rare uncommon visitor from the other side of the world mingling with our common Canada Geese at the Meadows.(See attached photo)

 

“The superlative for the highest altitude migrant goes to the Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus), which has been seen at up to 33,382 feet (10175 m). This bird, which breeds in Central Asia, migrates through the Himalayan range. The air at these heights is so thin that helicopters cannot fly there and kerosene cannot burn. The Bar-head has a slightly larger wing area for its weight than other geese, which is believed to help the goose fly so high”.

---Dan Pataki

 

 

 

 

Great Horned Owl and Eastern Bluebird

On Sunday and Monday nights, Paul heard the hoots of a Great Horned Owl coming from farther up Tyler Hill Road. For the view out our dining room window on the 15^th see the attached photo.

--Mary Miller, Vernon, VT

 

 

 

 

 

P  R  O  G  R  A  M     N  O  T  E

 

"How Green Is My Valley?"

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

7 p.m. Brooks Memorial Library meeting room.

 FREE and open to the public.

Nathaniel Tripp will use the Connecticut River to describe the dynamics of a "natural" river, and then discuss hydro and nuclear power, and politics, as well as the impact of green electrical generation system on the river.  He is an author, producer for film and television, and part-time farmer on a hill farm in the Northeast Kingdom.  A recent book is Confluence: A River, the Environment, Politics and the Fate of All Humanity.

Sponsored by Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society

 

 

 

F  I  E  L  D    T  R  I  P

 

Birding Around Brattleboro

7 a.m. Saturday April 25, 2009

Meet Al & Barb Merritt at Living Memorial Park in West Brattleboro for a morning of birding around the Brattleboro area for waterfowl, and early Spring migrants. Wear suitable footwear for wet conditions.  Insect repellant might come in handy and of course binoculars and field guide.

 

Sponsored by Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society

 

Please keep us abreast of what birds you are seeing, whether at home or on a trip in or out of the Windham County area.

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

 

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand

 and touches your heart.