Bird Notes
Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society
A Red-bellied Woodpecker has been gorging on the suet and is not the least bit afraid of the jays. There are a few purple finches, numerous jays, not so many chickadees, both nuthatches, a small flock of goldfinches, the mourning doves, a few juncos and even a few crows visiting our feeders. Pretty sure it was a Coopers Hawk that got a jay last week. Ravens still fly by and robins have reached Wilmington and are around the beaver digs in the meadow. Will have to be on the lookout for our woodcocks! There have been four Evening Grosbeaks here this week 3/13 as well as the regulars. ---Barbara Cole, Wilmington, VT
Marlboro Birds
I have had first of year Turkeys & Grouse this week. Have also had what I think is John MacArthur's female Cardinal now that he's in Tucson for a few weeks!
---Hollie Bowen, Marlboro, VT
Common Mergs in the Whetstone
Thought I would let you know that when the Whetstone Brook loses a little of its ice, the female Common Merganser is bobbing downstream looking for food. I have seen it several times.
---Eleanor Temple, West Brattleboro, VT
Waterfowl Roost at Vernon Dam is very Active
Sat. eve, March 8, about 800 waterfowl came into the roost above Vernon Dam.
Common Goldeneye. 333
Barrows Goldeneye. 1
Greater Scaup. 2
Ring-necked Duck. 20
Bufflehead. 9
Mallard. 302
Black Duck. 68
Common Merg. 21
Hooded Merg. 3
My impression is that most of these birds have been here all winter and that spring migration is yet to get going. Amazing that there weren't Canada's.
---Hector Galbraith, PhD, Dummerston, VT
Sharp-shinned Hawk
While watching the antics of the many birds visiting our feeding station, they all exploded into the air and a handsome male Sharp-shinned Hawk landed at the base of the willow bush in the crusty snow, with talons extended. Its left foot was clutching what appeared to be a vole, or a reasonable facsimile. It just sat there for about a minute turning its head in all directions before flying off into the nearby white pine branches.
Sharp-shinned Hawk © Cornell
Check out the following program announcement and please contact Tom if you are interested:
Al - This looks like an interesting program. I'm pretty sure I'm going and can carry 5 passengers. (posted with Moderator permission)
Thanks,
Tom Prunier
ledgeroad@gmail.com
On Wednesday March 26th at 7 pm., Andrew Vitz, State Ornithologist will
speak about a new American Kestrel nest box project that he is starting
up in Massachusetts, in partnership with Kestrel Land Trust and Hampshire Bird Club.
The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is one of the most rapidly declining species in
Massachusetts, and this bird has become an uncommon breeder in much of the State.
However, the leading causesfor this decline are unclear. In collaboration, MassWildlife,
MassAudubon, Keeping Company with Kestrels, the Kestrel Land Trust, USFWS, MDOT,
and others have developed a study to monitor kestrel populations and help elucidate
the mechanisms behind their long-term declines. This project was initiated in 2013, and
State Ornithologist Andrew Vitz will be discussing some of the results from the first year
and their goals in the coming years.
This event will take place at Forbes Library in Northampton on
Wednesday, March 26th at 7pm
Come learn about this imperiled species and how you can get involved
in this year's monitoring efforts. Learn how to become a volunteer nest
box monitor or how you can get a nest box on your property!
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PLEASE share your birding news and photos with us.
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Al Merritt
chpmnkx@sover.net
Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society:
www.sevtaudubon.org
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day
