BIRD NOTES ~ November 25, 2009

 

Bird Notes

 

Black Scoter in Newfane

Thanks to JoAnne Russo's posting on VTBird list, and Chris Petrak's blog, I drove to Newfane early this morning(11/22) and was able to get some photos of the Black Scoter on the pond next to the Four Columns Inn. It's a life bird for me. It's a beautiful bird, glossy black with a bright orange knob on its beak. It was much smaller than I imagined. Here are three photos:

http://onejackdawbirding.blogspot.com/2009/11/black-scoter.html

---Hilke Breder, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

The 110^th Annual Christmas Bird Count

The 110th Christmas Bird Count will run from December 14, 2009 through January 5, 2010. Last year, thousands of volunteers counted nearly 60 million birds across the Americas and beyond. Each count occurs in a designated circle, 15 miles in diameter, and is led by an experienced birder, or designated “compiler”. Read more to learn where Vermont CBCs are located, date of counts and compiler contact information...

     The longest running citizen science program in the world, the count originally began on Christmas Day in 1900 when ornithologist and legendary birder Frank Chapman posed an alternative to an earlier traditional holiday "side hunt." Chapman proposed “hunting” birds to record their numbers. Instead of firing a shotgun, now we have an annual snapshot. Decades of data have added up to results envied by other scientists who don’t enjoy such a fleet of volunteer help, or creatures as easily seen and counted as birds.

     While there is a specific methodology to the CBC and you need to count birds within an existing Christmas Bird Count circle, everyone can participate! If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. If your home is within the boundaries of a Christmas Bird Count circle, then you can stay home and report the birds that visit your feeder or join a group of birdwatchers in the field. If you have never been on a CBC before and you want to participate in a count this year, including feeder counting, please contact the count compiler prior to the count. 

*NOTE: Brattleboro Count is Saturday, December 19

Al Merritt (Brattleboro compiler) chpmnkx@sover.net

 

    

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Closed for a Day

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge will be closed on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 for deer culling.  A controlled, white-tailed deer hunt is a part of a comprehensive Refuge Wildlife Management Program.  This program helps maintain the deer population at a level commensurate with foraging habitat.

---Sue McGrath, Newburyport, MA

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

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.