Send in the Cranes

I confess-I love cranes. Greaters, lessers, and all sizes in between. Ever since Pam and I met Fred and Terry Wlodarski in San Antonio, New Mexico to celebrate the Festival of the Cranes a few years ago, I have loved cranes. Sandhill Cranes, in particular, are flourishing. Bosque del Apache, the host site for the festival, attracts about 5000 Sandhill Cranes from November through mid-February. On Valentine's Day they depart. Rowe Audubon Sanctuary in Gibbon, Nebraska, attracts 500,000 Sandhill Cranes during the month of March. These birds use the shallows of the Platte River as a staging area before heading north to their breeding grounds. What a sight. This enormous collection of cranes can be viewed in season on the sanctuary's webcam. For access to the webcam as well as lots of crane lore visit Rowe's website at http://www.rowesanctuary.org/.

But Sandhill Cranes are strictly western birds, right? Wrong! For the past 4-5 years a pair of Sandhill Cranes has been living and breeding in the marsh at Bristol (VT) Pond, also known as Lake Winona. I won't get into naming controversies, but when I mentioned Lake Winona to a local Bristolian, he became exercised and assured me in no uncertain terms that the proper name was Bristol Pond. Evidently, a local politician had attempted to link his name to the lake to achieve immortality. Locals will have none of it, so Bristol Pond it is.

I have visited Bristol Pond off and on since the early 1970's, mostly to fish. The lake, pond, whatever, is well known as a good spot for small, but plentiful Northern Pike and occasionally bass. Larger fish are caught on occasion, too. I was impressed early on by the number of ducks at the pond, too-especially Wood Ducks, Mallards, and Hooded Mergansers, not to mention the occasional flocks of Canada Geese that drop in. On the opening day of duck hunting season the usual fusillade takes place and the waterfowl promptly depart. Not the cranes, though. Surprisingly, they hold on until late October or early November before migrating elsewhere.

But cranes in Vermont? Yes indeed. A few years ago I heard rumors of Sandhill Cranes inhabiting Bristol Pond off and on, though my attempts to find them proved futile. Locals kept the information to themselves, apparently, to avoid attracting unwanted attention to the breeding birds. That changed three years ago, when reports of successful breeding appeared on the VTBird list. Suddenly, there were regular reports of sightings of cranes in the marsh and the surrounding fields. With a little bit of help I was fortunate to spot them in both locations.

Last year, though, I saw only a single Sandhill Crane early in the season; then nothing. This year I spotted one crane that arrived in April; then nothing. I checked the marsh periodically in May and June without success until yesterday, August 1. Spurred on by a recent report on the VTBird list of an adult and a juvenile Sandhill Crane, I tried once more. Bingo. Without much difficulty I spotted three Sandhill Crane heads bobbing up and down in the marsh like so many Whack-a-Moles. It is possible that there are more cranes in the marsh beyond the ones that I counted. I'm no expert at crane identification, but I believe that I saw two adults and a juvenile. Breeding success! I visited the pond in the late afternoon, at a time of day when cranes typically feed in the surrounding corn fields. But no-today they were located in the marsh. Hopefully, my VTBird report will stimulate others to check out this magnificent avian species. At a time when many bird species are struggling, it is heartening to follow the success of this little colony of Sandhill Cranes breeding in the unlikely state of Vermont.

Photo by Bill Mayville.

The Amazing Conte

What in the world is a title that sounds like a magician doing on a blog about the outdoors? Well, in this case, the reference is to the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge-Nulhegan Basin Division located in Vermont's beautiful Northeast Kingdom-and indeed the Silvio Conte Refuge is amazing and magical. Here's the scoop.

Silvio O. Conte was an influential Congressman representing Pittsfield, MA, who was also an ardent conservationist. In 1991, recognizing the need for conservation measures to preserve and restore shad and salmon populations in the Connecticut River watershed, Conte sponsored legislation creating the refuge that bears his name and which spans the entire watershed, including parcels of land in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont. This legislation also provided ample federal funds to support the mission of the refuge. In 1999 the timber lands owned by the Champion International Corporation in Vermont became available for sale. The U.S. government purchased 26,000 acres of this land to create the Nulhegan Basin Division of the Silvio Conte Refuge in close proximity to the Wenlock and West Mountain WMA owned and operated by the state of Vermont. Together, these protected areas form a huge block of pristine land that provides habitat for a unique array of birds, mammals, and fish.

I visited the refuge's smart, new headquarters over a year ago in conjunction with an Audubon field trip and recently heard an impressive presentation by the refuge's manager, Mark Manghini. I had to visit the place. And so, last week I did. The Black Branch of the Nulhegan River runs through the refuge. Last Wednesday evening I arrived at the refuge and found an access point to the river along the Stone Dam Road. I quickly strung up my fly rod and entered the stream. The tannin-tinged water looked inviting, though the fishing, I would have to say, was mediocre. Still, in a few hours I caught a few small Brook Trout and one fat "keeper" that measured a little over a foot in length. I'll be back to try the trout fishing again, hopefully with more success.

But my real purpose in visiting the Conte refuge was to explore the birding opportunities. I arrived at the entrance to the Stone Dam Road at 7:30 A.M. on Thursday morning and walked to the power line trail. My first bird of the morning was a male Scarlet Tanager. Nice. Moments later, my second bird was a rich blue Indigo Bunting male. Interesting. In short order I found Song Sparrows, Lincoln Sparrows, Gray Catbirds, and Common Yellowthroat. Moving to the Woodcock Management site, I quickly spotted a Chestnut-sided Warbler. And walking along the Peanut Dam Road, I caught glimpses of a Hermit Thrush, a Blackpoll Warbler, and a Canada Warbler. Northern Flickers were everywhere. Not exotic birds to be sure, but always welcome. I counted nine flickers in my short visit.

The weather was suboptimal at best with intermittent periods of drizzle and sunshine. Still, the birds cooperated and I covered only a small portion of the trails and roads available for birding in the refuge during my five hour visit. One particularly satisfying walk followed the road that parallels the power line next to the Stone Dam Road. This access road seemingly goes on for miles. I was the only person on the road that morning, alone with the birds, the deer, and the bugs. Correction. One large dump truck did come rumbling down the road while I was there-a big surpise to me and to the driver. Beware.

A final aside. If the name "Conte" sounds familiar to college hockey fans, it may be because you have heard of or perhaps visited Conte Arena-Boston College's hockey rink. In addition to his interest in conservation, Silvio Conte was a loyal alumnus of B.C. and an enthusiastic supporter of their athletic programs. Conte Arena represents just one more legacy of the Amazing Conte.

Birding with Bryan

Has it been two months since I've added to this blog? Whew! So many birds; so little time. This spring I've seen Rusty Blackbirds at the Intervale, Golden-winged Warblers at Geprags, a Clay-colored Sparrow in South Burlington, and Northern Shovelers at the South Hero Marsh. Terrific. But the highlight of the season for me was Bryan Pfeiffer's Warbler Weekend.

Birding with Bryan is more than an experience-it's a happening. Bryan's enthusiasm for nature and for people is legendary. Those who haven't bought a copy of Birdwatching in Vermont, Bryan's book coauthored with Ted Murin, lack the most basic tool for discovering and enjoying birds in Vermont. And those who have not attended one or more of Bryan's excursions are missing out on a unique birding experience.

Working with a guide is not always fun as I have learned from bitter experience over the years. I have hired fishing guides in Florida, Massachusetts, Utah, and Wyoming to name a few examples. Somehow the experience often disappoints. Sure I've caught fish and yes, I've visited spots I would otherwise not have found on my own, but usually these outings lack the sizzle that you get from finding success on your own. Quite often the guides are condescending to put it generously, as if they would rather be doing something else entirely.

Birding with Bryan is different. With Bryan I have never felt that I was being "guided". Rather, I have always had the sense that I was in the company of a more experienced birding friend. That was my impression a few years back when Pam and I first went birding with Bryan on the Maine coast. Within ten minutes of the start of the trip I had spotted my target bird-a Long-tailed Duck. Success. And that was exactly what happened on Warbler Weekend.

I had signed up (or was signed up-this was a Christmas gift from Pam) for Memorial Day and dutifully appeared at Highland Lodge in Greensboro, Vermont, on the shores of beautiful Caspian Lake, at the appointed hour of 6 A.M. Bryan was in full throat even at that ungodly hour, cheerily entertaining his guests and signing in the late comers like me. At 7 A.M. after coffee and muffins we were out the door, headed for the Barr Hill Nature Preserve nearby. I rode with my friend Pat Folsom, a superb birder in her own right, and her friend (and my former mentor), Sei Tokuda, an enthusiastic birder from Albuquerque.

As Bryan pointed out, the birds we were about to see had completed their migration and were now on territory, that is ready to breed. Accordingly, they were easy to spot singing in the trees and responded lustily to oral or mechanical bird sounds. And what birds they were. We located Magnolia Warblers as soon as we entered the parking lot. A Chestnut-sided Warbler stood his ground as we entered the first clearing. And my target bird-a Northern Parula-popped up in a conifer at eye level, not 25 feet away, a lifer for me. The list expanded rapidly-Ovenbird, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Mourning Warbler, Canada Warbler, Black-and-White, Northern Waterthrush. And we spotted more than just warblers-Indigo Bunting, Broad-winged Hawk, and a Pileated Woodpecker added variety to our growing list. At the end of the morning we were fully satisfied with birds and sat down to a hearty lunch at the lodge for more camaraderie.

In addition to being an excellent birder, Bryan is a superb photographer. You can read his version of Warbler Weekend on his blog at http://www.dailywing.net. Enjoy some of his excellent bird photos while you are there. In the meantime, I am savoring my experience birding with Bryan and looking forward to the next one in the fall. Monhegan Island-here I (we) come.

Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the air and so are the birds. Since early March the number of birds on my daily list has been steadily increasing. Spring came early to Vermont this year with temperatures reaching record high levels at the beginning of March. When I visited the South Hero marsh for the first time in March, the ice was just beginning to recede with only a small fragment of open water visible. Nonetheless, 16 Mallards had moved in and were ready to nest there. Since this auspicious beginning I have returned to the marsh regularly to observe the reappearance of Canada Geese, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Ducks, Wood Ducks, Hooded Merganser, Osprey, Great Blue Heron, Tree Swallows,Song Sparrows,Red-winged Blackbirds, and Rusty Blackbirds. A nice surprise was a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets that passed through the marsh flashing their bright yellow head feathers at me. My first Golden-crowned Kinglets in the marsh. As I write this blog in mid-April things can only get better.

Last week, I returned to Technology Park for a walk. I was looking for grassland birds without success-too early-but was rewarded by spotting my first Brown Thrasher ever at this location. Red-tailed Hawks and Wild Turkeys made it through the winter and amazingly to me a Great Blue Heron and a pair of Canada Geese have taken up residence in the Park.

I always look forward the ice vanishing from the Muddy Brook Marsh, too. Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Mallards, and Canada Geese promptly moved in. A large group of Tree Swallows fill the air right now and the resident Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk) has returned. Herons and egrets can not be far behind.

Finally, the LaPlatte River Natural Area always provides good sport in the Spring. The armada of kayakers doesn't help, of course, but the ducks, geese, and herons either ignore them or work their way back into the marsh. A Great Blue Heron may have wintered over in the marsh and the usual Wood Ducks and Green-winged Teal have returned. Once again, Golden-crowned Kinglets were present in abundance last week adding to the spirit of the season. Naturally, American Robins, while common, are always a welcome sight at the LaPlatte.

And so it goes. It's like reading a book about birds with every day presenting a new chapter in the evolution of Spring.

Brown Thrasher photo by Bob Johnson.

The Sands of Sanibel

Yes. This blog is supposed to be about Vermont. But let's face it. There are other spots in the world with exceptional birding outside of Vermont. And we just came back from one of them-Sanibel Island, Florida. Sanibel is located across a narrow channel from Fort Myers (the winter home of the Red Sox!). I love Sanibel. Unlike most of Florida, Sanibel Island is relatively non-commercial. No GAP; no Wal-Mart. By rule no man made structure can be built that is higher than 45 feet above the ground. There are no stop lights on the island. Over half the island is conserved land-most of which is included in the Norwood "Ding" Darling NWR. As an aside, Ding Darling conceived the idea of requiring the purchase of federal duck stamps if you must hunt ducks and geese, the proceeds to be used for the purchase and preservation of wetlands. Ding Darling, in addition to being a forward-looking conservationist, was a cartoonist, who designed the very first federal duck stamp in 1938. Since then the federal duck stamp competition among wildlife artists has been intense. If an artist's painting is chosen to appear on the federal duck stamp, it can be worth millions of dollars in print sales; not to mention bragging rights. In 1938 these stamps could be purchased for $1. Today a federal duck stamp costs $15. C'est la vie. I am proud to say that I have a complete collection of federal duck stamps. The money raised by this simple, but effective innovation has been used to purchase millions of acres of wetlands. Thanks, Ding.

But I digress. Back to Sanibel. Prior to our arrival the weather had been exceptionally cold in Florida with temperatures dipping into the 40's. Fish kills were widespread. Unfortunately, the refuge's lone crocodile died, presumably of hypothermia. But birds are made of sturdier stuff. Wading birds, shorebirds, and occasional raptors (Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Red-shouldered Hawks) were found everywhere. Let me list a few of the wading birds I saw-Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret, Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Wood Stork-and that was at the first stop on Wildlife Drive.

Pam and I took a kayak tour through the Tarpon Bay mangrove swamp, as well, my first kayaking experience. The good news is that we didn't capsize. In fact, we cruised effortlessly through the mangrove swamp and emerged relatively unscathed, all the while ogling the local Anhingas and Yellow-crowned Night Herons up close. I may have to pursue this kayaking stuff this summer on Lake Champlain.

Interestingly enough, songbirds get scant attention at the Ding Darling NWR. I participated in a Sanibel Audubon walk (ie, drive) through the refuge and at one point spotted a Northern Cardinal flying into the mangroves. Curious, I spent a few moments searching for the cardinal and-bingo-two Northern Cardinals, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and a Yellow-throated Warbler popped out of the underbrush. The others were examining hundreds of wading birds and shorebirds at the "pond" nearby. At the mention of a songbird or two they came scurrying over for a look. Proudly, I earned my birding bonafides. However, at the next stop I confused a group of Greater Yellowlegs with Willets and was gently, but firmly corrected by the field trip leader, Jim Griffiths. Back to amateur status for me.

I could go on-describing all the shorebirds (Piping Plover, Wilson's Plover) that I saw in Florida. The alligators (20 at one stop at Big Cypress Nature Preserve). The Painted Buntings (Corkscrew Swamp Audubon Sanctuary). But you get the idea. Southwestern Florida is a cornucopia of birds. We spent 7 happy days on Sanibel Island this year. Next year-30! And by the way, I caught a fish.

Little Blue Heron photo by Pam MacPherson.

Indoor Birding

Once in a while the weather in Vermont becomes so forbidding that birding outside is impossible. On these occasions one is forced to pass the time pursuing indoor birding. Curling up with your favorite birding book or the latest issue of Audubon Magazine are possibilities for birding indoors. Thumbing through the big Sibley’s or listening to Birdjam on your i-Pod to hone your birding skills are others. But here is an alternative you may not have thought of. Consider visiting a display of decoys or waterfowl carvings.

Waterfowl decoys represent a uniquely American form of folk art with distinctive regional characteristics. Although the use of decoys to lure ducks, geese, and shorebirds into shooting range dates back hundreds of years to ancient Native American cultures, the “golden age” of decoy manufacturing occurred after the Civil War, when expansion of the railroads opened new, urban markets for commercial hunters and new opportunities for “sports’” to indulge their passion for duck hunting. This era closed just after World War I with the implementation of the North American Migratory Bird Treaty that effectively banned the sale of wild ducks and geese and outlawed the hunting of shorebirds. The rafts of decoys used by commercial hunters became redundant artifacts and disappeared into attics, cellars, and wood stoves.

Seizing this opportunity, an architect from Connecticut, Joel Barber, became the first collector to recognize the artistic merit of hand-carved decoys. In his seminal book, Wild Fowl Decoys, Barber aptly referred to these carvings as “floating sculpture”. Soon Barber and a few other energetic collectors inspired by him were scouring the Atlantic coast, buying decoys and other hunting paraphernalia for pennies from their original owners. Barber and his friends William Mackey and George Ross Starr amassed huge decoy collections, which today would be worth several million dollars. At the same time Barber, Mackey, and Starr collected stories from the original decoy makers and their friends, many of whom were bay men or boat builders, who described a life spent on the water that has long since passed into memory. Mackey summarized his collecting experiences in an influential book, American Bird Decoys. Likewise, George Starr wrote a colorful and beautifully illustrated book, Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway. All three of these books remain available today through on-line booksellers such as Amazon.com.

After Joel Barber’s death in 1948, his collection was acquired by the Shelburne Museum. Today these carvings form the core of the Shelburne Museum’s magnificent decoy collection, which resides in the Dorset House. In contrast, the Mackey and Starr collections were sold at auction by the Richard A. Bourne Co. of Hyannis, MA. in 1970-1971 and 1985 respectively These public auctions set a new standard for decoy prices and provided a robust market for buying and selling these works of folk art. Even today decoy auctions continue to be an important source for acquiring and learning about these artifacts (for example, see the Guyette and Schmidt Auction Company website at http://www.guyetteandschmidt.com/).

Closer to home, how can the indoor birder indulge his or her hobby when the weather precludes birding outdoors? In season, visiting the Shelburne Museum’s Dorset House is one possibility, of course. The museum owns arguably the finest collection of antique decoys on public display on the planet. Though they are not antique decoys, the Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington boasts a fine collection of wooden birds hand-carved by the irrepressible Bob Spear. As an additional benefit, the BOVM includes a large picture window looking out on feeders that attract many local birds and other wild life. The BOVM website can be accessed at http://www.birdsofvermont.org/. Farther afield, if you happen to be traveling on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, there is an outstanding collection of carved birds at the Ward Museum in Salisbury, Maryland (http://www.wardmuseum.org/). Lem and Steve Ward were brothers from Crisfield, Maryland who became carvers in the 1920’s and whose working and decorative decoys command premier prices in today’s market. Every year the Ward Museum sponsors a bird carving competition dedicated to the memory of these two carvers that attracts the world’s finest bird sculptors. If you visit the museum you may want to bring a field guide along. A huge variety of antique and decorative bird carvings are on display at the museum in a bucolic setting.

Waterfowl decoys symbolize a unique chapter in American history and folk art. Visit a few of the websites named in this article to stoke your interest, then visit one or more of the museums that I have described in pursuit of the sport of indoor birding.

Photograph: Stevens Goldeneye, "humpback" style, c. 1890. Photo by Pam MacPherson

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!