Feederwatching

Project Feederwatch is a citizen-science activity sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I access their website frequently, mainly to search the All About Birds section, a succinct guide to North American birds, including bird songs from the McCauley lab. But frequently I have spied with a twinge of guilt the link to Project Feederwatch. I could do that, I think. My small contribution to citizen-science.

Last year I made this momentous decision in late March, when the counting period was nearly over. So I opted to postpone my participation until the fall. This year I did better. The count period started on November 14 and I was ready with count book and pencil in hand. My count site is actually quite nice. I have put out feeders for years-a platform feeder and a tube feeder both filled with sunflower hearts. Eventually, I learned how to baffle them to discourage the omnipresent squirrels. A few years ago I added a heated water bath to the mix. With tall cedars on both sides of the lawn and a mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees in back, the feeder birds are well-protected.

I thought that I had a pretty good handle on the birds visiting my feeder and indeed I do. The"usuals" at this time of year include Black-capped Chickadees, Titmice, Dark-eyed Juncos, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Northern Cardinals. Blue Jays pop in periodically and Mourning Doves drop in, as well. I've got some great woodpeckers-a few Downies and a tank of a Hairy. Throw in the occasional House Finch and there you have it. Why watch? Surprises, that's why. The first count day I spotted a Carolina Wren dangling off of my suet feeder. Cool! The next day I identified a Brown Creeper making its way up the oak tree in the back yard. A first for my yard. And during my most recent count a European Starling and a Brown-headed Cowbird showed up, unexciting birds in summer, but unusual feeder birds in wintertime.

Now I am psyched and camera ready, waiting for the next installment of Project Feederwatch. Stay tuned.

Walking in Audubon's Footsteps-Part 2

Once again I have returned to Louisiana to walk in Audubon 's footsteps. This time Pam and I are visiting the Oakley Plantation in St. Francisville, LA, the centerpiece of the Audubon State Historic Site. In 1821 John James Audubon spent a (mostly) pleasant summer at Oakley Plantation, tutoring a lovely, teenaged girl, Eliza Pirrie. Oakley House was built in the late 18th century by Lucretia Pirrie and her first husband, Ruffin Gray. After Gray's death, Lucretia married Scotland-born James Pirrie, a planter and formerly a prominent official in the Spanish government. The Pirrie family occupied the place until 1947, when the site was purchased by the state of Louisiana. During Audubon's tenure at Oakley, the Pirries operated a thriving 1000 acre cotton plantation maintained by over 200 slaves. Oakley is located near the Mississippi River on Bayou Sara some 100 miles north of New Orleans. The favorable conditions for growing cotton and ready access to the Mississippi River fostered the growth of several plantations in the St. Francisville area, which continue to attract tourists to this day. Here Pirrie and his baleful (couldn't resist the pun) wife Lucretia lived peacefully with their small family. Lucretia hired (and later fired) Audubon to tutor Eliza in drawing, music, dancing, and painting, an activity that occupied him during the morning, leaving his afternoons free to roam Oakley's bird-rich habitat. During his short stay at Oakley it is claimed that Audubon painted over 30 of the canvases that ultimately would appear in his magnificent Birds of America folio.

We meet just outside of Audubon's small bedroom to begin the tour. The tour guide, a comely, 30-ish year old woman, beckons us into the room and begins her sing-songy jabber. Bill Mercia lent me his copy of Danny Heitman's tome "A Summer of Birds", so I am well-fortified with questions. An unfinished sketch of a Carolina Wren-or is it a Bewick's Wren-I can't be sure and forget to ask-lies on the bed. The bed itself seems too short for someone of Audubon's stature. We are told that Audubon's assistant, Joseph Mason, occupied the room, too. It must have been crowded.

Ascending a winding staircase to the second floor, we enter the library. A portrait of James Pirrie hangs over the mantle. He is smiling. In the morning room over the door, hangs a portrait of Lucretia. She glares at us. An odd couple, for sure. A table is set as if waiting for the diners and food to arrive. Although Audubon was little more than a servant, he ate with the family and must have been an entertaining guest, given his well-traveled history and voluble, effusive character. I notice that there are several prints of Audubon's birds on the walls. I correctly identify a Canada Warbler (Bonaparte's Flycatcher) and a Pine (Creeping) Warbler, but a so-called Autumnal Warbler has me stumped. A portrait of the lovely Eliza hangs on a side room wall. She looks serene and older than her 15 years. Another couple taking the tour with us finds the tour guide more informative than I am and wanders off with her. No matter. I am ready for birding. The tour ends in the bedrooms on the third floor. After hearing some forgettable commentary by the tour guide followed by a brief walk on the louvered porch, I am off to the Cardinal Trail. Pam goes shopping.

It's birdy. Appropriately enough, there are a half dozen Northern Cardinals pecking at grit at the head of the trail. I spot an Eastern Towhee foraging with them. To my left and up I see a Summer Tanager. Most of the tanagers migrated south weeks ago, but this one stayed put, presumably for my benefit. Overhead I hear the unmistakable cry of a Pileated Woodpecker. Then I watch him fly into a Loblolly Pine, which he proceeds to turn into splinters. Not an Ivory-billed Woodpecker to be sure, but still a handsome bird. A Brown Thrasher, a Carolina Chickadee, and several Tufted Titmice end the parade. After an hour I am satisfied. At the museum I am handed a list of the birds found on the property. Obviously, this list is considerably longer than my own. Regardless, this shortfall provides an incentive for me to return to Oakley at another time to walk in Audubon's footsteps once more.

Photo by Pam MacPherson

Dead Creek Daze

The Dead Creek WMA in Addison is one of Vermont's premier birding spots throughout the year. Raptors such as Northern Harriers, Osprey, Bald Eagles, and American Kestrels are abundant. Waterfowl, including Mallards, Wood Ducks, and Canada Geese nest there. Songbirds from warblers to sparrows are everywhere. And rarities are common, if that makes any sense. So it should not be surprising that I visit Dead Creek fairly often or that the Green Mountain Audubon Society, of which I am currently the President, schedules field trips to Dead Creek on a regular basis.

So it was that members of the GMAS visited Dead Creek during the last week in August, searching for shorebirds. The area accessed by the so-called Brilyea trails often serves as a magnet for shorebirds in migration, but only if the water levels are low, exposing the mud flats. No luck this year. This summer has been especially rainy and water levels at Dead Creek are high. One Spotted Sandpiper, a Wilson's Snipe, and a handful of Killdeer was the best we could manage. Still, we got great looks at two immature Bald Eagles, a small flock of Horned Larks, and a number of songbirds, including Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Kingbirds, Eastern Phoebes, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Herons are always abundant at Dead Creek in late summer and early fall and this year was no exception. Great Blue Herons predominate, but Black-crowned Night Herons and Green Herons are regulars, too. This year a reclusive American Bittern erupted right at our feet as we approached the watery expanse beyond the meadow on the west Brilyea trail.

Of course the big attraction at Dead Creek is the Snow Geese that stop over for a month in the fall. Thousands of Snow Geese fill the fields and skies at Dead Creek then. That migration comes later, though. Needless to say we have scheduled another field trip in early November to take in the show. Pictures to follow.

Put A Dog on your Blog

Last year we lost our beloved Cocker Spaniel, Jasper. Jasper was 14 years old. We had purchased him when he was a puppy as a birthday gift for my son, Andrew, who at the time was 11 years old. But Andrew eventually went off to college and Jasper had long since become the family dog. When he died, at Christmas time no less, it was like losing a family member.

Pam and I waited awhile to get back into the dog business, but eventually the urge to become pet keepers again overwhelmed our better judgment. After a few false starts we found another cocker puppy in Massachusetts-a girl puppy this time. Once again we are adjusting to life with a pet. Pam conducted a naming contest for her and, after sifting through dozens of entries we selected a name submitted by our French friends Allanah and Yaelle-Choupy, which (as I am tired of explaining) is short for Choupinette-a cute little girl.

In a few short weeks Choupy has become accustomed to our daily routine, including some of my birding adventures. For example, I have often envied the people walking their dogs at Technology Park in South Burlington, one of my favorite birding spots. But I seldom brought Jasper there because he was so excitable, and not in a good way, around other dogs. Choupy is certainly very interested in other dogs, but seems to be more mellow around them than Jasper was. So last week I took Choupy birding at Technology Park.

Despite the fact that Technology Park is the business home of Ben and Jerry's and Symquest, among others, the property has a large grassland that provides nesting sites for Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows. There is also some shrubbery on the property that holds catbirds and Song Sparrows and wetlands that serve as nesting sites for Red-winged Blackbirds and Swamp Sparrows. There are several small bodies of water at Technology Park-I hesitate to call them ponds-that attract a variety of waterfowl. Last week, for instance, I spotted a Hooded Merganser, who had taken up residence in one of these water holes. Not surprisingly, small groups of Canada Geese and Mallards routinely visit these spots. During the winter the cherry trees lining Community Drive are a magnet for Bohemian Waxwings and in some years Pine Grosbeaks, a major attraction for birders and photographers alike.

On this particular occasion in late summer I had no idea what to expect nor did Choupy. She bounded off toward the ball field taking no note of the Killdeer or Ring-billed Gulls strutting on the infield. A Red-tailed Hawk soared overhead, but she was oblivious to it. Only a Great Blue Heron wading in the "pond"caught her attention, her tail wagging vigorously. Perhaps she mistook this bird for a Great Blue Dog. I pointed her toward the shrubbery and she immediately flushed a Song Sparrow followed by a Savannah Sparrow, much to her delight. After an hour she and I had had enough birding and we returned to the car. As we left the parking lot Choupy put her paws up on the dashboard to take one last look at that heron, her tail still wagging. I took this gesture to mean that she had enjoyed her first outing and hoped that we would return soon for more birding at Technology Park.

Photo of Choupy at the Famer's Market by Pam MacPherson

Carry Me Back to Old Virginia

Although this blog is concerned mainly with Vermont outdoors, occasionally I have to acknowledge the attraction of other venues. For example, last week I took an extended road trip to the wilds of Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. In the latter two places I was joined by my youngest son, Andrew. I stopped in Pennsylvania on both ends of the trip to do some fly fishing in Big Bushkill Creek. What a great spot. Six miles of the river flows through the Boy Scout Reservation at Ressica Falls. In this section of the river only fly fishing is allowed and the fishing is strictly "catch-and-release". Brown Trout were the order of the day and I met with some success using a #16 tan flymph. These were beautiful 12"-15" fish adorned with large orange and black spots set on a tan-yellow-brown background. I will return.

But the highlight of this escapade was a visit to Chickahominy Lake, 30 miles southeast of Richmond. Andrew and I rented a jon boat for the evening and ventured forth in search of bass, bream ("brim" in Virginian), and whatever. The sun was blazing at the outset of our voyage and the temperature was in the mid-to-upper 80's. But the setting was idyllic and a liberal application of sunscreen and Bud Lite dulled the effects of the sun. The bird life on the lake was distracting to me. Osprey, cardinals, and assorted woodpeckers flitted about in the cypress trees and the marsh at the water's edge. I had left my binoculars behind and I was kicking myself for doing so. But this was supposed to be a fishing trip. And indeed, with effort we caught a few-punkin'seeds, brim, and bluegills-but no bass, a mild disappointment. No matter. Fishing (and birding) is all about the experience-the setting, the companionship, and the wildlife. It's also about the excitement of exploration and discovery. If you have fantastic success without much effort, why go back? With our success, or lack thereof, you can carry me back to old Virginia anytime. I am packed and ready to go.

Photo by Andrew MacPherson

My Blue Heron

My cousin, Suzanne, is not a birder, but she is an excellent, amateur photographer. We are killing time during her visit to Vermont and I offer to take her "birding by car". She is skeptical. I think that she has heard this before. But she is game, or perhaps bored, so she grabs her camera and off we go.

My thought is that we will intercept Muddy Brook at various points along its course where there is easy public access. Muddy Brook flows north out of Shelburne Pond, forming the boundary between South Burlington and Williston. During its five mile run to the Winooski River Muddy Brook can be interdicted at several points. First we turn onto River Cove Road in Williston and stop at Muddy Brook Park. No dice. Usually Common Mergansers, Mallards, and American Black Ducks swimming in the Winooski River can be seen from the road, but today the VELCO trucks are in the field noisily installing new power poles. Suzie sighs.

Next we swing by Technology Park in South Burlington. Muddy Brook flows as a nice freestone river along the eastern border of the property. I am told that American Woodcock can be found along the riverbank, but today we see only Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings, and American Robins. I insist that Red-tailed Hawks are almost always seen here, but Suzie is not impressed. "We see plenty of them on the Cape.", she skoffs.

We stop by the Muddy Brook Reserve on Van Sicklen Road on the off chance that Suzie will want to do some hiking. But no. It's starting to rain and besides it's buggy and I have forgotten to bring the insect repellant (again). Suzie caustically notices that one of the signs marking the road into the housing development across the street is called Blue Heron Drive, which probably means there isn't a blue heron within five miles of here, she says. She's wrong. I pull out my ace.

Turning left on Hinesburg Road I head for the pull off just south of Cheesefactory Road where Muddy Brook meanders under the road and forms a large cattail marsh. Turning slowly into the lot I hear Suzie gasp. "There's a Great Blue Heron standing right by the beaver dam." she exclaims, fumbling for her camera. I roll down the car window on her side and she gets a great shot. Click. A Green Heron takes off. Click. A Black-crowned Night Heron lurks in the bushes at the water's edge. Click. Tree Swallows swoop down picking off insects. Click. A female Wood Duck corrals her brood of ducklings into the reeds. Click. Click. In the field a pair of Canada Geese stand erect, watching us with suspicion. Click. I feel vindicated, but try to stay humble. As we drive off Suzanne is impressed. "What a great spot", she says, "And what dumb luck that you found it.".

Photograph courtesy of Suzanne Dupont.

Marsh Madness

May is my busy season-prime time in Vermont for birds and birding. Hence, my blog has been gathering dust recently while I canvas my favorite birding spots. And highest on my list of favorite spots is the South Hero marsh. The marsh is so good that I have tried to keep it secret with some success. Although I occasionally run into bikers, joggers, and wayward dogs on the trail, I seldom see birders there. Big mistake. From March through September the South Hero marsh is a superb site for finding birds.

Shirley Johnson and Chip Wright introduced me to the marsh a few years ago, though at the time neither of them had explored its full potential. I liked its accessibility and the variety of habitats it offered. Since then, I have visited the marsh dozens of times recording over 100 bird species on my eBird list. Mallards, Wood Ducks, and Canada Geese nest there regularly. Last year I spotted a pair of Northern Shovelers that visited the marsh throughout the breeding season. And this year I practically tripped over a female Hooded Merganser leading her newly-hatched brood of four out of harm's way. This year,too, a pair of Blue-winged Teal that has turned up regularly on my visits to the marsh. I am looking forward to meeting their offspring. Likewise, a pair of Gadwall has been acting suspiciously of late. Stay tuned for future birth announcements.

With all this waterfowl activity it would be easy to overlook the other birds that turn up regularly in the marsh. But no-Great Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons, Green Herons, and American bitterns will not be ignored. Likewise, nesting Osprey, hunting Harriers, and soaring Red-tails will make their presence known. Topping off the menu is a nice selection of warblers enhanced by the occasional Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark. There's more, but you will have to make the discoveries yourself. Last week Shirley Johnson and I birded the marsh together and she discovered a bird that I had not seen there before-a handsome male Scarlet Tanager.Wow!

The birding at the South Hero marsh is tremendous until it ends abruptly during the first week of October. Bang! Duck season. End of casual birding for the year. Baseball fans know the feeling. In October the season is over. Wait until next year.

Falcon's Nest

Driving on the Bolton Notch Road in April is hazardous at best. It's mud season, you know. Still, Shirley Johnson seems to be in control of the vehicle and besides, I'm not looking. Finally, we reach the spot we've been searching for. Chip Wright and Larry Haugh are there already. And a few minutes later Margaret Fowle drives up. We are gathered at the foot of one of the many cliffs visible from the Bolton Notch Road. But this one is special. It has been the site of a Peregrine Falcon nest for the past several years. We are here to receive training from Margaret for the Peregrine Falcon Monitoring Project, the follow up to the Peregrine Falcon Recovery Program that concluded a few years ago.

Peregrine Falcons are amazing birds. They can dive through the air at a speed of more than 200 miles per hour to catch their prey. But not too many years ago the Peregrine Falcon population was decimated by the pesticide DDT. Peregrine Falcons are perched at the top of the food chain. As a result, when DDT seeped into the food chain, it accumulated over time in the flesh of the falcons. The result was a marked decrease in egg production. DDT caused the eggs to be thin-shelled, fragile, and often non-viable. As time went on the population of Peregrine Falcons dropped precipitously as older birds died and were not replaced by fledged chicks. In fact, the eastern population was entirely extirpated. In the west, fewer than 400 nesting pairs of falcons remained, roughly 10% of the number found in better times.

Enter the U.S. government. In the 1972 the use of DDT was banned and Peregrine Falcons were placed on the Endangered Species list. In the late 1970's the Peregrine Falcon Recovery Program was begun. Over the next 20 years the Peregrine Falcon population increased dramatically. Currently, there are over 1600 nesting pairs in North America, far exceeding the program's goal of 631 nesting pairs. A few years ago Peregrine Falcons were delisted, but until 2013, there is a continuing need to monitor the falcon population to be sure that this increase is sustained.

That's where we come in. Margaret tells us that last year there were 38 Peregrine Falcon nesting spots in Vermont. This is one of them. I stare at the face of the cliff. The cliff stares back. I see nothing. Suddenly, Margaret says, "I saw a feather move." Huh! "Up there. To the right of the bush at 1 o'clock halfway up the cliff." I look through her scope. Sure enough I see the tail of a bird moving up and down. A falcon? Yes! A majestic male falcon flies into view and lands on a snag 25 yards from the nest site. A few minutes later he flies to the nest site. The female immediatey flies off. This is what passes for courtship behavior among falcons. For the next few hours we watch the pair fly back and forth putting on a nice aerial show. Margaret patiently educates us on falcon lore, the recovery project, and our role in the monitoring program. We watch and listen.

By 1:30 P.M. it's over. One of the birds has left the site and the other is hidden in a cranny. Peregrine Falcons spend a lot of time conserving energy, Margaret assures us. No matter. We have learned what we need to know. Next week we will meet at Snake Mountain to begin our own monitoring, watching the falcons nest.

Photograph by Dave Kynor.

Hero's Welcome

I do a lot of my birding in South Hero. Throughout the year there is always something to see and somewhere to go. The South Hero marsh trail is one of my favorite spots from April until October when the duck hunters move in and the birds move out. Round Pond on East Shore Road has nice habitat, including meadows, wetlands, brushy early succession forest, and, after a short walk through the forest, a nice view of Mallett's Bay. And the approach to South Hero passing by the Sandbar WMA is a hot spot for migrating ducks and geese right now. But my favorite spot at this time of year is the Colchester-South Hero Causeway at Allen Point.

Why? For some reason this spot is a magnet for winter waterfowl, especially Greater and Lesser Scaup. Some years the lake side of the Causeway stays open throughout the winter and the ducks are here in huge numbers if you can get out to the Point. This year, though, the lake froze from shore-to-shore. Only in the past few weeks has there been enough open water to attract waterfowl. Stimulated by a recent posting on the VTBird list that reported Scaup, Common Goldeneyes, American Wigeon, Northern Pintails, and a few Tufted Ducks at Allen Point, I made my way out to the Causeway. Sure enough the large raft of Scaup was swimming far off shore-too far to distinguish between Greater and Lesser Scaup or to pick out Tufted Ducks, even with my spotting scope. A smaller flock of Common Goldeneyes and a few Common Mergansers showed up, too, but the big surprise was a group of three Double-crested Cormorants heading north-a dubious distinction at best. Walking the path out to the "cut", I spotted a small flock of Cedar Waxwings eating buckthorn berries-a pleasant surpise.

Despite the meager results, I enjoyed visiting the Causeway for the first time this year and look forward to regular birding visits to South Hero for the next six months. Call it Hero's welcome.

Spring Forward

I've been house-bound for the past week after a nasty episode of persistent vertigo. No driving, no walking, no birding. Ugh! Still I am able to look out my kitchen window and-hurray-I see signs of Spring. Specifically, today I saw my first Brown-headed Cowbird of the season. Some folks might think that the Brown-headed Cowbird is a pest, a problem, a parasite. There is some truth to this point of view. Cowbirds parasitize the nests of other songbirds, competing with their offspring for food, and, in some cases, threatening their very existence. For example, nest parasitism by cowbirds has been implicated in the sharp decline of Kirtland Warbler and Black-capped Vireo populations. In fact, it is likely that brood parasitism by cowbirds is a contributory factor to the decline of many Eastern songbirds, especially the ground-nesters like Ovenbirds and Eastern Meadowlarks. For a description of Brown-headed Cowbirds take a look at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Bird Guide at:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide.

So, I should not be thrilled to see a Brown-headed Cowbird in my yard. But I am. He looks so stylish with his glossy black body and brown head. All dressed up for Spring. And he seems to be alone, though he may be scouting the territory. Whatever. He is the first bird heralding Spring as far as I am concerned and at the moment he is not causing trouble. That comes later.

March Madness!

What's not to like about March? The days are longer, the weather is milder, and the migratory birds are returning. March is an excellent month for ducks. The winter ducks are still with us-Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Common Mergansers, and Scaup-and the migratory ducks are slowly coming back. For example, this week I saw my first Gadwall of the year at Converse Bay, swimming with a large flock of goldeneye. Included in the goldeneye flock was a Barrow's Goldeneye male, one of several that have turned up this winter. To see a photo of a Barrow's Goldeneye compared to a Common Goldeneye go to Julie Water's website at http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/4242.php.

At the moment there is also a nice group of Ring-necked Ducks at the Shelburne Town Beach as well as a small number of Hooded Mergansers at Converse Bay, Charlotte Town Beach, and Shelburne Town Beach. At the Muddy Brook marsh open water is beginning to appear and today I spotted a pair of male Wood Ducks and three handsome Hooded Mergansers (2 males; 1 female). I have seen reports on the VTBird list of Green-winged Teal, Pintail, and Wigeon, though I have seen none of these species myself. That's the duck story.

Otherwise, the South Burlington Snowy Owl is still present and devouring rodents. And an adult Bald Eagle has taken up residence in the Intervale. And I saw my first Brown Creeper of the season at the Intervale today. And Bohemian Waxwings are everywhere. Whew!

And let's not forget about ice fishing. Last Thursday I caught a gigantic Largemouth Bass through the ice at Keeler's Bay-my first ever caught by ice fishing. As I brought this bass through the ice hole, the hook pulled out of its mouth. But the fish was so large that it couldn't turn around. So I reached down and lifted it out by its jaw, took a cell phone photo of the fish, and returned it to its native habitat. I am sure that this fish is still wondering what the hell happened.

I love March!

The Great White Owl

Vermonters have been blessed this winter with an influx of Snowy Owls. From Whiting, Vermont to the south to West Charleston, Vermont in the northeast Snowy Owls have turned up regularly. And here in Chittenden County we have seen Snowies, too. I have spotted them at Delta Park, the Burlington waterfront, and right here in South Burlington, most recently this evening. A Snowy Owl has been a regular visitor to the roof tops of the houses behind the Chittenden Cider Mill on Dorset St. At times a flock of Snow Buntings in the nearby fields has added to the fun.

What gives? First of all, these birds appear to be well fed, unlike the Barred Owls that turned up everywhere last year. Apparently, the lemming season in northern Canada was unusually robust, resulting in a highly successful breeding season for Snowies. Young males, in particular, have been forced to go south to find a productive source of food. No problem. These birds may prefer mice, voles, moles, and lemmings in their diet, but apparently will attack even larger game such as ducks. The persistence of the South Burlington Snowy in one location this winter suggests to me that he (she?) has found a reliable food source, possibly prompted by the new construction in this development. Who-o-o-o knows.

Vermont is not the only beneficiary of the Snowy Owl irruption. In Massachusetts, a large number of Snowies have turned up at Logan Airport, where the terrain in winter apparently resembles the Arctic tundra, the Snowy Owl's breeding grounds. And mice and rats are abundant there. Perfect! Except for the air traffic. Massachusetts Audubon has been busily capturing these birds (17 so far) and transporting them to the more hospitable digs at Plum Island in Newburyport.

This evening, a beautiful Vermont winter evening, I basked in the glow of the sunset with a Snowy Owl in my sights. Does it get any better than this? I doubt it. Here is a photo of the South Burlington Snowy Owl courtesy of Judy Brook.

The Great Backyard Bird Count

Well-the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count is history. Feb. 13-16 were the dates of the count. The GBBC is a low key, effortless activity for me. Simply count the birds and enter the data on the GBBC website. I participated on the first and last days of the count and rested for the weekend. And I only counted my feeder and yard birds through my kitchen window (see my previous post of the same name). But it is always good to pay attention and to take stock. I saw the usual chickadees, titmice, woodpeckers (hairy and downy), doves, cardinals, nuthatches (red-breasted and white-breasted), jays, goldfinches, and juncos. European Starlings were present and unwelcome. On the other hand Pine Siskins showed up in abundance and I was happy to see them, even though they are eating me out of house and home. I have waited years to see siskins and I cherish them now that they are here. The surprise of the count was the appearance of two Common Redpolls at my feeder. I surmise that these redpolls had visited the feeder before and I missed them. Not paying attention as I said.

Nationally, over 85,000 checklists have been submitted to date, counting over 600 species and over 10,000,000 birds. Wow. In Vermont a more modest 693 checklists have been submitted, counting 79 species and 39,313 birds. A respectable showing for a small state. Looking down the list of Vermont birds there was an astonishing number of Wild Turkeys (almost 1000) reported and, not surprisingly, a huge number of Pine Siskins (6359 up from 49 in 2008), reflecting the remarkable Pine Siskin irruption this year. A surprise (to me) was the number of Red-bellied Woodpeckers reported (79). Climate change? And am I gloating over the fact that I was the only birder in Vermont to report a Snowy Owl (at Royal Drive in South Burlington) this year? You bet. You can explore all of the results of the GBBC at their website http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc. See you next year for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Ice is Nice

I've been a fisherman from the time I was 4 years old. Ever since I caught a "calico bass" on a handline while fishing from the Memorial Bridge at Island Grove Pond in Abington, Massachusetts, with my grandfather, I've been an enthusiast. I recall that my grandfather fileted this fish, but I don't recall eating it. No matter. I was hooked. Years later I caught a 4 lb. Largemouth Bass from this exact spot with a ridiculous lure of my own devising. As a teenager, I became a fishing fanatic.

Ice fishing came later. I don't recall ice fishing in Massachusetts (we played hockey on the ice), but when I came to Vermont in 1962, I promptly took up the sport. Ice fishing in Vermont is not for the faint-hearted. These days I have a 20-20-20 rule for ice fishing-more than 20 degrees F., less than 20 mph wind, and more than 20 inches of ice. With 50 degree F. temperatures today and less than 10 mph winds, I was golden.

Maybe I'm getting too old for ice fishing, but cutting holes in the ice is a lot of work. Right now there is 2 feet of ice at Keeler's Bay, one of my favorite ice fishing spots. I have never owned a gas-powered augur, preferring to cut my holes by hand. And I have never owned a shanty. One of the keys to successful ice fishing is mobility and it is hard to move a shanty around the lake. But some days I wonder. Wouldn't it be easier if.....!

Whatever. February and March are dependable ice fishing months in Vermont. Today was a glorious February day and folks who decline to go forth on the ice, flaunting my 20-20-20 rule, do not know what they are missing. The warm sun is a refreshing hint of Spring and the majestic Green Mountains are simply breathtaking. And the fishing is good. Using a simple ice fishing rod and a double hook set up of a Rapala ice fishing lure and a single gold spinner with perch eyes attached, I caught about 30 Yellow Perch in less than an hour. I caught no pike or pickerel this time, my main quarries, but they will come soon. The spawning season is less than a month away. For the moment-the ice is nice!

Walking in Audubon's Footsteps

In 1821-1822 John James Audubon spent several months in New Orleans, perfecting his technique for painting birds in lifelike poses. Audubon was in his mid-thirties at the time and was fully devoted to the task of completing his great enterprise, having been wiped out financially in the depression of 1819 (sound familiar?). This past week Pam and I flew to NOLA to visit my daughter Molly in her new digs, enjoy this wonderful city's unique blend of food, music, and culture, and to follow in Audubon's footsteps.

When Audubon arrived in NOLA he lived on Barracks St. at the eastern edge of the French Quarter. Later, he moved to the Pirrie plantation, Oakley, north of Baton Rouge to teach young Eliza Pirrie the elements of drawing and to continue his pursuit of new specimens for his folio. Today this plantation forms the core of the Audubon National Historic Site. When Audubon returned to NOLA in 1822, he resided at 55 (now 505) Dauphine St. in the Quarter. Unfortunately, I found little evidence of Audubon's presence on Dauphine St. These buildings are now privately owned, though registered as a national historic site, and are called the Audubon Cottages (Audubon lived in cottage #6, I was told.).

Among the many specimens that Audubon collected (i.e. shot) while residing in NOLA were the Brown Pelican (plate #251 in Birds of America)-now the Louisiana state bird-and a Fish Crow (plate #146). I visited Audubon Park and City Park in NOLA precisely with the intent of identifying these two birds. I was not disappointed. Both species were abundantly present. Furthermore, there was no lack of other choice specimens to add to my hypothetical life list. My favorites? A dozen Black-bellied Whistling Ducks resplendent with black bellies, tan heads, a white eye ring, and red bills. Other favorites included a close-up look at a Red-shouldered Hawk, a variety of herons, egrets, and ibises, a Carolina Chickadee, two Common Moorhens, two Brown Thrashers, two Northern Mockingbirds, and an Anhinga or two. In just a few hours I spotted 35 different species of birds. Imagine how many different birds Audubon must have seen during his many forays into the Louisiana countryside.

Perhaps most impressive to me were the swans that I saw. Despite the fact that both species that I encountered are non-natives, the several Mute Swans and the pair of Black Swans that I saw were astonishingly beautiful creatures. I have no doubt that Audubon would have been as impressed as I was by these majestic birds. If only he had had the opportunity to paint them.

A Stupid Gull Trip

A few years ago Bryan Pfeiffer and Ted Murin occasionally embarked on a "Stupid Gull Trip". While amusing, these superb birders had a serious intent. Gulls are endlessly fascinating. Identifying species is challenging, plumages vary considerably between juveniles and adults, and occasionally rare species show up, such as the Ivory Gull reported recently in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

So yesterday I embarked on my own stupid gull trip to Burlington's Intervale. I was not disappointed. I counted 187 gulls feasting on the smoking compost piles at the Intervale Compost Project. As required by the state of Vermont, the Intervale Compost Project has taken steps to reduce the number of gulls feeding at the site. But they still have to turn the stuff over and when they do the gulls feast.

Most of the gulls that I identified, not surprisingly, were Ring-billed Gulls. But handsome Great Black-backed Gulls were very prominent members of the flock, accounting for 27 birds. In addition, I counted 10 Herring Gulls. Of greatest interest to me were the pale gulls-2 small juvenile Iceland Gulls and 1 large Glaucous Gull. These uncommon gulls of the north (Greenland, not Iceland, in the case of Iceland gulls) seem to be reported with increasing frequency in Vermont both at the Intervale and at the Burlington waterfront, the two prime locations for spotting gulls in the winter in this area. Frankly, at times I have difficulty picking out these rare species among the large number of common gulls. In this case it is not the gulls who are stupid. It's me.

The Incredible Shrinking Lake

Lake Champlain is 120 miles long. Right? Wrong! As ice carpets the lake the open water shrinks to a fraction of its former size, concentrating the flocks of waterfowl that refuse to move further south until the open water is reduced to zero. That time may not be far off. The lake is frozen solid from Thompson's Point south and from the Colchester-South Hero Causeway north.

I drove in to the Causeway from the Allen Point (South Hero) end last week. There was ice from shore to shore. Of course, the Grand Isle ferry operates all year and clears a track of ice water from Grand Isle to Cumberland Head. And a few ducks congregate in this slush and in the small patch of water around the outflow from the Ed Weed hatchery. Likewise, in the small pond behind the hatchery maybe 50 Mallards, Black Ducks, and Common Mergansers find sufficient nourishment to ride out the wintry weather. As Spring gets closer the variety of ducks at the hatchery pond will increase, but for now it is quite limited.

Which brings me to Charlotte. This afternoon I visited the Charlotte Town Beach for an hour or so. I estimate that there were over 2000 Common Goldeneyes congregated there. There were a few Bufflehead, Common Mergansers, and the omnipresent Ring-billed Gulls to be sure. But the goldeneyes ruled. Large flocks of goldeneyes flew back and forth 100-500 yards off the beach making a truly accurate count impossible. Were there Barrow's Goldeneyes mixed in with the Commons? Probably. Other less common species? Possibly. But there were so many birds clustered together it was impossible to pick out the odd Barrow's, Canvasback, Scaup, or Redhead. I was awed simply by the number of birds that I saw there. Maybe I'll return to Charlotte tomorrow to look for the rarities. For today I was satisfied to take in the majority of birds still holed up on the incredible shrinking lake.

On The Waterfront

Winter birding is all about waterfowl. To be sure I spend time tramping through the woods or riding the circuit looking for winter songbirds. But ducks are my passion and the Lake Champlain waterfront is where to find them. Shelburne bay is socked in with ice right now and the lake south of Thompson's Point is frozen, too. But the broad lake at Charlotte Town Beach, Shelburne Town Beach, Shelburne Point, and the Burlington waterfront beyond the breakwater is open for business.

So what's there? At Charlotte Town Beach Common Goldeneye by the hundreds-and perhaps a Barrow's or two. At Shelburne Town Beach-Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Common Mergansers. At Shelburne Point-Mallards, Black Ducks, and a lone Hooded Merganser. And in Burlington gulls-including a few Iceland Gulls-Mallards, American Black Ducks, a few hybrids of indeterminant lineage, and today-ta da-a Snowy Owl. No, the excitement is not all about ducks.

I'm anxiously awaiting the annual Long-tailed Duck at Charlotte or perhaps a Harlequin Duck at Shelburne Point. But no matter. Scanning the water for winter ducks, watching them swirl in the north wind, and enjoying the bizarre courtship antics of the goldeneyes while looking closely at each bird for a rarity or-well-an odd duck is entertainment enough for me.

Greetings from the Frozen North

We complain about winter in Vermont, but one of the delights of winter is the appearance of winter birds-owls, ducks, raptors, and songbirds that are far to our north in the warmer months. I've described my sightings of Snowy Owls and the Northern Hawk Owl in Eden in previous posts. Today I'll cover a few songbirds that I've seen recently.

One of the most highly anticipated northern birds that visits Vermont regularly is the Bohemian Waxwing. These handsome birds with a cardinal-like crest, gray-brown body feathers, and striking yellow and red wing and tail markings are a sight to behold. Bohemian Waxwings are slightly larger than their Cedar Waxwing cousins and, unlike Cedars, have reddish-brown undertail coverts. I spotted a mixed flock of Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings feeding on frozen cherries at UVM this past week.

Even more exciting was a report of Common Redpolls and White-winged Crossbills at Deerfield Drive in South Burlington. I went there yesterday and quickly found the redpolls and a flock of Cedar Waxwings. But no crossbills, my main quarry. Luckily for me, my friend Henry Trombley was there to take me by the hand and show me a half dozen crossbills tearing apart cones from a spruce tree near the corner of Overlook Drive and Deerfield Drive. Thomas Ford-Hutchinson has posted some great pictures of these crossbills on his flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/77523243@N00. These birds have a crossed beak adapted specifically for ripping the seeds out of spruce cones. Last year I traveled 90 miles to Moose Bog in Ferdinand to try to find White-winged Crossbills with no success. How satisfying to see them just a few miles from my home. Cold comfort!

Eagles and Owls

This has been a spectacular year for Bald Eagles and Snowy Owls. Shelburne Bay has been a particularly good spot to see eagles in flight. This past weekend I was fortunate to be invited to participate in Audubon Vermont's annual eagle survey-and in prime territory along Lake Champlain starting at McNeil Cove (Charlotte ferry landing) and ending at the Champlain Bridge. Carl Runge, Sean Beckett, and I traveled a route laid out by Mark LaBarr. The weather was chilly, 1 degree F. to start, but thankfully there was no wind to speak of. And there were eagles. Seventeen to be exact. We got a great start when Sean spotted 2 Bald Eagles in flight from the car just before we reached the ferry landing. At the ferry dock I spotted another eagle flying east and Carl spied a fourth eagle flying west. Others turned up on the ice at Thompson's Point (2), Kingsland Bay (2), Sumner Point (5), Button Bay (3), and Arnold Bay (1). We celebrated our success by having lunch at the Bridge Restaurant at the junction of Routes 17 and 125. A good time was had by all.

On Sunday afternoon, spurred to action by reports of a Snowy Owl in South Burlington, I took a ride to the Chittenden Cider Mill on Dorset St. and the development off of Cider Mill Drive. Sure enough, a Snowy Owl was receiving visitors on the roof at 148 Crispin Drive. This was my third Snowy Owl sighting this year-all in Chittenden County. For excellent photos of Snowy Owls take a look at Peter Manship's blog at http://beautifulflyingobjects.blogspot.com. Spectacular.

Owl-less in Peru

This winter we have witnessed an extraordinary influx of boreal owls from the north, especially Snowy Owls. Recently, a report of a Hawk Owl in Peru, New York caught my attention. The photographs of this cooperative owl that appeared on various blogs and websites added to the excitement. So yesterday, my wife, Pam, and I took the plunge, so to speak, and dutifully traveled to Peru. While waiting for the Grand Isle ferry I noted a handsome Red-breasted Merganser swimming with a small contingent of Common Mergansers-surely a good omen for future success.

Alas, this was not the case. We found the spot where the owl had been reported without difficulty-the corner of Mannix Road and Clark Road in Peru. But the owl was nowhere to be seen. We rode up and down Clark Road several times, scanning the fields, orchards, telephone poles, and fence posts without success. I thought that this was supposed to be easy! We expanded our search to include much of the nearby countryside. No luck. After an hour of fruitless meandering we surrendered-owl-less in Peru. We are not disheartened, though. Another Hawk Owl has been reported in Eden, VT. Now where exactly is Eden located. In paradise, no doubt.

On Eagles Wings

The GMAS field trip to Shelburne Bay and Shelburne Town Beach on Saturday was moderately successful despite a wicked wind from the west. Most spectacular was an aerial display by two adult Bald Eagles at Shelburne Bay. Alternately soaring and descending together, these birds danced in the air for a good 5 minutes before heading for Shelburne Point. Altogether 4 Bald Eagles were spotted at Shelburne Bay. Otherwise, the fare consisted of the ducks, grebes, and gulls that I saw on the previous Friday.

For the past few afternoons I have been walking the Intervale road. I enjoy birding in the Intervale in the winter in contrast to other times of year when there is too much human activity for my taste. In winter it's quieter with only the occasional jogger, dog walker, or crosscountry skier to contend with. And there are birds. Starlings, crows, and gulls to be sure, but also songbirds (cardinals, titmice, nuthatches, and chickadees), woodpeckers, and especially Red-tailed Hawks. A few days ago I went eyeball-to-eyeball with a hawk that was perched in the bushes near the compost piles about 10 feet away from me. Yesterday, I encountered Ann and Fred Curran, who bird the Intervale frequently as well. After admiring the songbirds flitting through the scrubby bushes and trees for a moment, Fred spotted an Intervale specialty, a small flock of American Tree Sparrows. These winter sparrows are often found foraging along the Intervale road or in the barren fields nearby.

The Intervale hosts an impressive variety of birds throughout the year including Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, Wood Ducks, Common and Hooded Mergansers, Mallards, Great Blue and Black-crowned Night Herons, Pileated Woodpeckers, and, in summer, Indigo Buntings and many species of warblers. Rick Renaud, a notable local birder who works at Gardener's Supply, compiled an informative brochure a few years ago listing the birds of the Intervale. If I recall correctly, Rick identified at least 50 species that are regularly found there during the year. This brochure may still be available in the store. As the "old perfesser" Casey Stengel used to say-you can look it up!

A New Year in Old Haunts

It's a new year, so naturally I am birding at my old haunts-Shelburne Bay and the Shelburne Town Beach, partly to prepare for tomorrow's GMAS field trip. As usual, the ice shelf at Shelburne Bay follows the whims of the weather. Last week it was nonexistent; today it extends far out into the bay. No matter. Hoards of Common Mergansers are swimming at the edge of the ice and a sizeable flock of Ring-billed Gulls is resting on the ice itself. Hopefully, there will be a greater variety of birds tomorrow, but it's a start.

Shelburne Town Beach is better. In addition to 100 Common Goldeneyes I picked out Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, American Black Ducks, Mallards, Bufflehead, and Horned Grebes. Not to mention a huge flock of Wild Turkeys in the field near Wake Robin. We should be OK tomorrow. Time will tell.