Birdnotes: {BIRD NOTES} ~ April 20, 2010

Common Teal from Google Images

Bird Notes

This afternoon there were two Osprey on the very top of the northern VY tower at the end of the trail out to the river in Hinsdale. I watched one of them fly down to the river and back to the top of the tower with a stick three times - each time it seemed to put the sticks on a triangular platform/brace next to the red light. A Great Blue Heron was working its way along the edge of the trail.

A Great Black-backed Gull, three Double-crested Cormorants, and several Canada Geese were farther down the river. The Eagle was on the nest down by the dam, but I did not see the mate. On the way back, a Hermit Thrush flew across the trail, and I heard a Ruffed Grouse drumming and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. It seemed pretty quiet, but it was afternoon and it is a bit early!

---Nori Howe, W. Brattleboro, VT

I saw a Hermit Thrush near the Daigle Hill Heron rookery in Putney. A really odd thing was a Canada Goose 30-40 feet off the water in a heron nest at the top of a dead tree. Maybe he was just sun bathing there. I had a hard time imagining a goose landing on the pile of sticks. Very strange. Also yesterday (4/14) I heard a Red-eyed Vireo.

---Lani Wright, Brattleboro, VT

A Eurasian or Common Teal was hanging out with several Green-winged Teal at Herrick’s Cove in Rockingham.

---Don Clark, Grafton, VT

Herrick’s Cove

This morning from 8-10:30 a pair of Blue-winged Teal, a pair of Black Ducks, 16 Green-winged Teal, pair of C. Mergansers, 3 Hoodies, a pair of Wood Ducks, Mallards, 14 Double- crested Cormorants, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 Osprey, 1 N. Harrier, and no Eurasian Teal. (However the Eurasian Teal was seen by myself and others on Sunday morning)

---Dave Johnston

Retreat Meadows

1 Osprey,9 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Double-crested

Cormorant, at least 1 Barn Swallow with several Tree Swallows.

---Dave Johnston, W, Brattleboro, VT

Yesterday I noticed a lot of straw on my front step. When I looked up, there was a bird's nest perched on top of the porch light. Today a robin flew from the nest as I opened the door, and she has been in and out several times. I had to figure out a way to detour traffic and to come and go myself without frightening her away. I placed a big plastic lawn chair on the sidewalk and taped on a sign:

HALT! DO NOT ENTER! ROBIN MATERNITY SUITE
QUIET! ROBIN NESTING ON PORCH LIGHT
GO TO BACK DOOR OR CALL ME AT 254-3484

The nest is above where I can see inside, although I COULD reach into it. That would frighten the mother of course. I cannot tell if eggs are there. I hope she'll stay. Meanwhile, I hope everyone respects my maternity suite sign and comes to the back door or leaves me alone.

---Maggie Newton, West Brattleboro, VT

Chipmunk Crossing Birds

A Ruffed Grouse has been coming to our ground feeding station off and on for several days. (In fact it is feeding there now.) This morning I stepped out on the back deck and spotted a Broad-winged Hawk sunning itself in the cottonwood tree in our backyard. It immediately saw me too and flapped off over the treetops bordering Greenleaf Street. A second Broad-wing arose from the wooded area farther to the west and circled several times before disappearing behind the hillside. On Friday, the fruit laden ornamental crab on Greenleaf Street was covered with Cedar Waxwings gorging themselves on the over-ripe fruit. Across the street along Ames Brook, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has been announcing its territory with its recognizable staccato drumming.

EARTH DAY, April 22, 2010

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. Earth Day is celebrated in spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Many communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues.

In the United States, Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22. The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year on the spring equinox, which is often 20 March. This is a tradition which was founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1969. The first governmental recognition of Earth Day, authorized by the city San Francisco, was on the spring equinox in 1970. The United Nations adopted this holiday the next year and celebrated Earth Day for the first time on the spring equinox in 1971.