{BIRD NOTES ~ April 01, 2016}

Bird Notes

 

We have had some stopover pond visits from a couple of wood duck and hooded

mergansers. Also some bluebirds and, this week, a small flock of cedar waxwings

working on the high bush cranberry berries. We don't know why they are still on

the bushes as they usually are gone along with the winterberries much earlier in

the year. Must be these weird winters we are having now!

---Barbara Evans, Dummerston, VT

 

A gorgeous Painted Bunting has been seen by many observers in Pittsfield, VT.

 

Photo by Don Clark

 

CT River Waterfowl

On the 26th 3 BLACK SCOTERS were seen on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale.

---New Hampshire RBA

 

West Brattleboro

A lone Fox Sparrow, in gorgeous reddish-brown garb, stopped by at our ground

feeding station for a short visit again today. It only stays long enough for a

brief repast and then hurries on the way to the breeding grounds.

 

Birds Sightings in Marlboro

I saw 2 Pileated Woodpeckers working a tree while having Easter brunch with

our Marlboro neighbors.  When I went into their livingroom to get a different

view of them, the closest tree had both a Red-breaasted Nuthatch & a Brown

Creeper on it!  Even better than seeing the Easter bunny!!  Happy Spring!

---Hollie Bowen, Marlboro, VT

 

Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz 2016

Welcome to Year 3 of the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz!

Although scientists have made huge strides in understanding Rusty Blackbirds

on their breeding and wintering grounds – partly thanks to the original

Rusty Blackbird Winter Blitz  – we know surprisingly little about the migratory

requirements and habits of this species. Are there hot spots where many

individuals congregate during migration?  Are similar migratory stopover areas

used by Rusties each year?  Are stopover areas protected, or might availability

of these areas be limiting Rusty Blackbird survival?

 

To address these questions, the International Rusty Blackbird Working

Group, in partnership with eBird, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and

the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, launched a Spring Migration Blitz in

March 2014.  This Blitz challenges birders to seek out the elusive Rusty

Blackbird throughout its migratory range, from the southern United States,

through the Midwest and along the East Coast, and up into Canada. During

our 2014 inaugural season, 4570 birders submitted 13,400 checklists

reporting Rusty Blackbirds to eBird. The 2015 Blitz built on this impressive

beginning, with 4885 birders submitting 13,919 checklists.  Our third and

final Spring Migration Blitz will kick off on March 1, and we once again

challenge birders to search high and low for Rusty Blackbirds. In addition

to reporting Rusties throughout each state or province, this year we urge

birders to revisit 2016 Areas of Interest, locations that supported large

flocks of Rusties in 2014 and 2015. By exploring areas that supported

large numbers of Rusties last spring, we will be able to evaluate the

consistency of habitat use and migratory timing throughout the Rusties’

migratory habitat.

 

We encourage all experienced birders to participate in the Blitz; submit

your Rusty sightings to eBird!

 

First Roadside Spring Flowers

Have you noticed that the Colt’s Foot is blooming along the roadsides of

the dirt roads around the county. A tough little species that looks like a

dandelion and will grow in the worst soil conditions imaginable.

 

PLEASE share your birding news and photos with us, so we

 can all enjoy reading about your birds and birding experiences.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Al Merritt  chpmnkx@sover.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society:   www.sevtaudubon.org