Tag Archives: North Branch Nature Center

Bird Banding at North Branch Nature Center

Yesterday morning, Mary and I dropped in at a public bird banding demonstration at North Branch Nature Center led by Director Chip Darmstadt.  Jen and Mac came a bit later and were fortunate to see a rather rare Yellow-billed Cuckoo — not caught but just hanging out in the area.  I had seen banding several times but Mary had not and we both we enthralled by the one bird we saw banded and released.  Here are some shots — a young birder, experienced in banding, handled this one with guidance from Chip.

A young birder retrieves a bird from the bag in which it is held after capture.

A young birder retrieves a bird from the bag in which it is held after capture.

It is a feisty young Grey Catbird

It is a feisty young Grey Catbird

A volunteer records information on each bird as it is examined. The data is sent to the Institute for Bird Populations.

A volunteer records information on each bird as it is examined. The data is sent to the Institute for Bird Populations.

The bird is carefully examined. The brownish fuzz under the tail tells Chip that this is a hatch year bird.

The bird is carefully examined. The brownish fuzz under the tail tells Chip that this is a hatch year bird.

Banding rings and a sizing tool.

Banding rings and a sizing tool.

One of the last steps is to weigh the bird.

One of the last steps is to weigh the bird.

This guy, who watched intently, just found out he's going to get to release the catbird.

This guy, who watched intently, just found out he’s going to get to release the catbird.

Not a great release shot but there goes the young catbird, no worse for wear, and now part of an extensive database. Perhaps we'll trap him next year and read his band - or next week.

Not a great release shot but there goes the young catbird, no worse for wear, and now part of an extensive database. Perhaps we’ll trap him next year and read his band – or next week.

If you have an opportunity to observe banding, I highly recommend it.  You not only learn about the process and how to handle birds, but you also get a better appreciation of all the research work that is being done to track and monitor our avian friends.  Good birding.

It’s 8 PM, Cue the Timberdoodle

Early last evening, I went for a Woodcock Walk sponsored by the North Branch Nature Center.  We were there to observe the aerial displays of the American Wood cock, and our leader, Larry, told us — “They’ll start about ten of eight so we can go over and visit the pond where all the Spring Peepers are first.”  I must say I did not share his certainty but I also had never been on a walk like this before.

In true naturalist fashion, he introduced our small group to some caterpillars, a non-lightning bug, several types of spring ephemeral flowers, and hundreds of randy frogs.  As one who tends to move too fast in the woods, it always amazes me at the sharp-eyed observation of people who notice insects, plants, as well as birds.

Woodcocks are usually very hard to spot on the ground. Our guy was right out in the open. Photo by aecole2010

Woodcocks are usually very hard to spot on the ground. Our guy was right out in the open. Photo by aecole2010

We ambled up into the large field as it darkened and just about 8 PM, we heard the first “pent” call.  The bird makes this call on the ground, and rotates between calls, to send it in different directions.  We heard two males calling and waited to see if they would fly.  They are normally well-hidden in the brush and grass but we noted a dark shape up ahead on the mowed path and through the binoculars, saw a Woodcock.  About then, he took off, climbing crazily in a circular pattern above us, sending out a whistling/twittering call, until he was out of sight, and then came spiraling back down, landing right on the spot he started from.  It reminded me of a slightly out-of-control model airplane with furious flapping wings, and a deft pilot at the controls.  It killed by pinched nerve neck to watch but was worth it.

The other guy seemed to fly less but our Timberdoodle flew about every five minutes for about a half hour.  It was getting very dark and we quit before he did.

It was a wonderful outing — and I learned that this goes on for weeks during the spring, even after the females have started nesting.  We were really impressed with the display of our little flyer.  I hope the females waiting in the wings were as well.

Superbowl of Birding X

The Joppa Flats Education Center is hosting the Superbowl of Birding X on Saturday, January 26, 2013 – 5am to 5pm (Snow date: Sunday, January 27).  Teams will consist of 4-7 individuals and must remain together for the entire contest. No splitting of teams is allowed. Teams must preregister for the contest. Each species on the official contest checklist has a point value of 1-5 based on the perceived difficulty of finding the species at this time of year. The team that amasses the greatest number of points will be declared The Nikon Joppa Cup winner. Each species may only be counted once. Each team must check in at the designated site by 5:30 p.m. of the contest day.

Team Noddies members check out a Townsend’s Warbler. (photo courtesy North Branch Nature Center.

A team, known as the “Noddies,” from the North Branch Nature Center will again participate.  This is the fifth year that young birders and adults from central Vermont have driven down to the Massachusetts coast for this great event.  Here’s an excerpt from last year’s trip report:

Slowly working their way north, by late afternoon the Noddies had reached Plum Island, considered one of the finest birding locales in New England. Here, on the rolling sand dunes and extensive marshes, the Noddies would complete their quest. From a single spot along the main road, two Snowy Owls could be seen sitting upon the barren, snowless landscape. A flock of hundreds of shorebirds chased the breaking waves along the beach. And as the sky became infused with pink and purple at dusk, a Short-eared Owl could be seen cruising the fields, hunting under the shadows of the setting sun. After twelve hours of birdwatching, the Noddies raced to the finish line with a total of 66 species and 124 points.

The Noddies participated in this exciting event, centered around Plum Island in Massachusetts, the past 4 years cumulatively tallying 85 species! This year, the group may extend their trip to be a full weekend, so it’s never too early to start thinking about it!  To be guaranteed a spot on the team, please register by Dec. 21.

Pine Grosbeaks – finally

As I have noted before, a Canadian ornithologist, Ron Pittaway, each year issues a  Winter Finch Forecast.  He notes that there is a “widespread tree seed crop failure in the Northeast” this year.  It looks like a good year for winter birds — we’re already seeing a lot of Purple Finches, Dark-eyed Juncos, and hundreds of Pine Siskins.

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen reports of sightings of gaggles of Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks all over Vermont.  Friends of mine have reported berry trees laden with birds and yet, I’ve yet to come close to one of the visitors.  Until today….

Last night, before a board meeting of the North Branch Nature Center, I was whining to Chip, the ED, about all the reports of Pine Grosbeaks.  He asked, “Have you seen them up at Rumney in the fruit tree?”

A female Pine Grosbeak feeding on fruit at Rumney School, Middlesex, VT.

Rumney School is about a half-mile up the road and so this morning, after an appointment, I drove by the school and noted some birds in the tree in front.  I carefully parked out back and grabbed my camera, aware that school is in session and guys wandering around with binos and cameras may look suspicious.  I got close enough to make out the Pine Grosbeaks and took a few shots and left.  The birds were used to people and just filling their craws with the red berries.

The neat outcome was that when I entered the sighting into eBird, it marked it as a new life bird.  I had not realized that I didn’t have Pine Grosbeaks so it turned out to be not only a year bird, but my #350 life bird.  Thanks Chip.

Kenn & Kim Kaufman’s new book

Kenn Kaufman, originator of the Kaufman Field Guide series, is well-known by birders and naturalists across the country. Many of us remember his first book, Kingbird Highway, a wonderful tale of his long hitch-hiking search for birds as a teenager. He and his wife Kimberly, executive director of Ohio’s Black Swamp Bird Observatory, have just released a new book, Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of New England which has an official publication date next week.  In researching the book, they learned that New England offers astonishing surprises around every corner when they set out to research their new guide to New England natural history.

They will be doing a book tour of New England starting the 16th and visiting Bear Bond Books in Montpelier on October 30th.  The event starts at 7:00 PM and will likely be crowded so get there early.  You can pre-order the book now.

They will be leading a bird walk earlier that day at the North Branch Nature Center, a co-sponsor of their visit.  Space will be limited so stayed tuned for details.

This will be a great chance for Vermont birders to welcome Ken and Kim to Vermont.

Sorting Sparrows

I took the Vizsla on a birding outing this morning to the local North Branch Nature Center –   I wanted to check out the community garden for birds.  I hitched up her leash to my belt and off we went, with her dragging me along the mowed pathway.  I met an acquaintance who I see birding from time to time and he reported that he saw many sparrows, and ticked them off to me, including a couple of juvenile Field Sparrows.

Well, my sparrow expertise is about like my warbler ID skills – not great — but I had already heard a Song Sparrow sing from the top of a bush as I started out.  That seemed pretty unusual for this time of year but it was a good start.

I entered the fenced-off garden and watched dozens of skitterish sparrows scatter here and there.  I could see that many were Song Sparrows but then I started to see a few White-Crowned Sparrows.  Here’s a poor picture of one — I’ll blame it on the morning light.

White Crowned Sparrow

In addition to the many active Black-capped Chickadees were a dozen or more Chipping Sparrows.

Chipping Sparrow

A young Chipping Sparrow posed in the morning sunlight.

I also saw some Lincoln’s Sparrows and was looking for White-throated Sparrows but they were likely back in the woods.  Finally, a gardener, with a dog, showed up and I left her to her fall chores since my dog was very interested in hers.

This afternoon I went for another walk with the Vizsla in our woods and among other birds, saw two very cooperative White-Throated Sparrows.  They flitted around and I was able to grab a couple of photos of them.

I suspect I’ll try to get back to the garden sans dog later this week and check for Field Sparrows.  I have yet to see one this year — about the only one I’m missing from our usual suspects.

White-Throated Sparrow

A handsome White-Throated Sparrow in our woods.

When I watch sparrows I wish that I had started birding decades ago like many my age but hey, we all need challenges.  Sparrows are one of mine.