MadBirders » Uncategorized

TIME FOR THE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Jeannie Elias — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:00:52 +0000

IF THERE’S SNOW ON THE GROUND AND WE’RE HANGING UP FEEDERS……it must be time for the Mad Birders Christmas Bird Count! For the sixth year in a row the Mad River Valley’s birding club, the Mad Birders, will be participating in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, creating citizen scientist records that (we hope) will be used for birding generations to come. We will kick off this year’s event with a planning pot luck on Tuesday November 29^th at 6PM to finalize team rosters, reacquaint ourselves with counting protocols and to hone our birding and culinary skills for the Big Day!

We will gather for our planning pot luck at the home of Team Pipit (Fred and Chris Pratt) located at 49 Vermont Route 100, South Duxbury; 1/4 mile south of Harwood School and 1/4 mile north of the intersection of routes 100 and 100B.

Our official Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will occur on Friday December 16^th at various locations around the Mad River Valley. We begin counting birds at 8am and try and stay at it until 4PM. We celebrate our efforts and compete for best bird bragging rights at a CBC pot luck that will begin at 6PM. This year’s CBC pot luck will be held at Two Dog Mountain, the home of Jeannie Elias and Craig Goss, located at 2738 Center Fayston Road in Fayston; 2.738 miles up Center Fayston Road from Route 100.

The Mad Birders welcomes interested people to participate in any of our activities including the Christmas Bird Count. If you would like to be a part of our day, whether you are an experienced birder or brand new to the fun, send us an email or call us and we will be happy to give you details on how you join us. Email us at info@madbirders.org or call 496-4730.

Mad Birder list from walk on West Greenway 7/7/11

Pat Folsom — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:09:46 +0000

Hi Mad Birders -
Twenty Mad Birders and birder visitors to the Valley were very happy to find lots of birds singing and moving around this morning on the Greenway, west side. Some of us were quite surprised at the level of bird activity in high summer. Thanks to Patti Haynes for being the lister and posting to ebird.

Mad River Greenway, Washington, US-VT
Jul 7, 2011 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Comments: A beautiful July morning for a Mad Birder walk led by Pat
Folsom and Jeannie Elias along the west side of the river.
30 species

Broad-winged Hawk 1 Heard it first, and it flew right over our heads.
American Kestrel 1 A very fast flyover.
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Least Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 5
Warbling Vireo 5
Red-eyed Vireo 2
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Veery 5
American Robin 7
Gray Catbird 5
European Starling 20
Cedar Waxwing 30
Yellow Warbler 6
American Redstart 3
Common Yellowthroat 4
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 8
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Common Grackle 6
American Goldfinch 3

BERND ON BIRDS – A talk about birds, biology and life. Saturday June 11th at 4PM at the Warren Library

Jeannie Elias — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:43:07 +0000

The Mad Birders are very pleased to invite the Mad River Valley community to join us for a talk by UVM Biology Professor Emeritus and renowned author Bernd Heinrich. Professor Heinrich will speak at the Warren Library on Saturday, June 11 at 4 PM. The title of the program is “Bernd on Birds”.

Author of over fifteen books on diverse subjects including bird behavior; Mind of the Raven, The Geese of Beaver Bog, One Man’s Owl; and long distance running: Why We Run and Racing the Antelope: What Animals Can Teach Us about Running and Life; Professor Heinrich has made and continues to make major contributions to our understanding of biology and natural systems.

Plainfield, Vermont film maker Jan Cannon recently completed a delightful documentary about Professor Heinrich entitled: An Uncommon Curiosity, which premiered this past March at the Green Mountain Film Festival in Montpelier. This talk is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there.

The Warren Library is in the Warren Town Hall, on 413 Main Street in Warren, Vermont.

For more detail email info@madbirders.org

Cooper’s Hawk in Moretown

Jeannie Elias — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:56:35 +0000

Mad Birder Scott Sainsbury got this great shot of a Cooper’s Hawk on his birdfeeder yesterday in Moretown. On June 11th Scott will lead a Spring bird walk on his property, Cross Haven Farm. Keep a look out for great birds…you never know where they will turn up!

The Eagle has landed in the Mad River Valley

Jeannie Elias — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 21:54:59 +0000

Mad Birders have been thrilled with the sight of an immature (First Year) Bald Eagle. “Great Eddy’ was initially spotted by Katie Woodruff near the Covered Bridge over the Mad River on January 12th. The bird has been seen every day since including on the 16th, when it traveled a few miles north to Moretown. These photos by Rick Haynes, Craig Goss and Scott Sainsbury capture the bird roosting and in flight.

Common Redpolls Everywhere!

Jeannie Elias — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:58:12 +0000

Common Redpools are being seen in large number by birders throughout the Mad River Valley. Craig Goss had this flock in the snowstorm yesterday up in Fayston.

Christmas Bird Count ’09 features Northern Bobwhite

Pat Folsom — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:56:38 +0000

One of the big surprises of the 2009 Mad River/Northfield CBC was a dozen Northern Bobwhite seen on Common Road. These birds were seen at several houses during the winter, then were not reported for awhile. It was assumed that they had perished, since they are not supposed to be able to survive this far north for long. They are sometimes released by hunting clubs and seen in the area.

Covey of Northern Bobwhite Quail delights viewers.

Ms. Bobwhite - one of the original dozen?

Early in the summer, three Bobwhite were seen at a feeder on East Warren Rd. As of late August, one female was still visiting the feeder, but has not been seen recently. In the CBC publication for 2009, these Bobwhite were featured in the “Nice Try” category. The only other Bobwhite seen in New England’s CBC were single birds seen on Cape Cod.

Cedar Waxwings Flock Together

Pat Folsom — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:34:00 +0000

Cedar Waxwings may be seen in the Mad River Valley year round. They travel in a flock and are often seen feeding on fruit.

Cedar Waxwings enjoy a snowy day.

Center Fayston Road Bird Walk delivers the goods!

Jeannie Elias — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:11:48 +0000

Indigo Buntings… three years running now.

Tree Swallows nesting in a bluebird box.

An unidentified butterfly among the lilacs.

Alex…

Alex, Patti, Jeannie, Jeff, Kay and Ave

Pat

Alex, Kay, Jeff, Patti and Ave

Seven Mad Birders had a wonderful walk on Center Fayston Road this fine May morning and spotted gorgeous Indigo Buntings for the third year in a row. Thanks to Pat Folsom for these great shots and to Patti Haynes for recording our sightings for Ebird.

Number of species: 32

Ruffed Grouse 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Alder Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 1
Common Raven 1
Tree Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee X
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Veery 1
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Ovenbird X
Mourning Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Purple Finch 1

Mad Birders Serenaded by a Baltimore Oriole on the Mad River Path

Jeannie Elias — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:00:53 +0000

A beautiful Spring morning brought out eight Mad Birders to the boardwalk section of the Mad River Path near the Big Picture Theater. A pair of Baltimore Orioles serenaded us and we all got great looks at both the male and female. Thanks to Bill Martin for bringing a camera and getting a great shot. Thanks also to Laura Brines of the Mad River Path Association for helping make the morning walk happen as part of the Mad River Valley Walk and Roll week. Other birds seen included Yellow Warblers, Eastern Kingbirds, Song Sparrows and Chestnut-Sided Warblers.