The Mad Birders are pleased to announce a full schedule of Spring Walks for 2024. We are excited to have expanded the number of birding enthusiasts who will guide our walks, and we have a couple of fun new ideas that will help expand our offerings.
First, we are hosting a Tree Identification walk. Knowing the type of tree your bird is sitting in enables you to share your sighting with other birders. Washington County Forester Robert Nelson will lead the Mad Birders on a tree identification walk in the Fayston Town Forest at the end of Boyce Hill Road in Fayston.
Second, the Mad Birders will celebrate the marvel of Spring Bird Migration with a Pot Luck Pancake Breakfast in Warren featuring Sweet Willy’s homemade Maple Syrup.
And due to popular demand, we are again holding our Bird By Boat event. Participants will need to bring their own small boats and we will take a leisurely morning paddle around Blueberry Lake in Warren looking for birds.
2024 WALK SCHEDULE – All Mad Birder walks are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Our club’s activities are supported by membership dues
Tues. April 23rd7:15PM – 8:30PM – Boyce Hill Road Fayston Town Forest Woodcock Walk – Leader – Jeannie Elias (she/her). Meet at the Fayston Town Forest at the end of Boyce Hill Road in Fayston. NOTE: This is an evening walk. Bring a flashlight and wear light colored or reflective clothing.
Thurs. May 2nd– 7AM- 8:30AM – Sherman Road/Bowen Road– Leader Jeanne Elias (she/her). Meet at Scrag Mountain Town Forest Parking Lot at the end of Bowen Road off Sherman Road in Waitsfield.
Sat. May 4th – 8AM-9:30AM – Mad River Path – Warren Path – Leader Jeanne Elias (she/her). Meet at Brooks Field behind the Warren Elementary School .
Thurs. May 9th– 7AM- 8:30AM Mad River Path–Fiddlers Walk – Leader Macy Moulton (she/her). Meet at the Laundromat for a comfortable stroll along the Mad River Path- 168 Fiddlers Green off Route 100 in Waitsfield.
Sat. May 11th – 8AM – 10AM – Knoll Farm– Leader – Nancy Turner (she/her). This is one of our most popular walks. From Route 100 in Waitsfield take Bragg Hill Rd to Knoll Farm. 700 Bragg Hill Road. This walk will traverse the farm’s fields with the possibility of tall or wet grasses; wear appropriate footwear and be prepared to slowly walk up the farm’s hillside, with its amazing views into the valley below.
Weds. May 15th – 7AM-8:30AM – Boyce Hill Road Fayston Town Forest – Tree Identification Walk – Leader– Robert Nelson – Washington County Forester. Learn how to identify many common and uncommon species of trees with help from our local County Forester. Meet at Fayston Town Forest at the parking lot at the end of Boyce Hill Road.
Thurs. May 16th – 7AM – 8:30AM Geiger Property– Leader – Jeanne Elias (she/her). Meet 2 miles up Center Fayston Rd. from Route 100, just after the “S” curve. Park in driveway on the left. Sturdy footwear recommended
Sat. May 18th – 8AM – 11AM – Osborn-Maclay Properties Bird Walk and Pot Luck Pancake Breakfast Leader – Jeanne Elias (she/her)Breakfast venue – 568 Fuller Farm Road in Warren. Follow signs for parking. Contact info@madbirders.org for details on pot luck.
Thurs, May 23rd – 7AM – 8:30AM – Freeman Hill Walk – Leader – Rebecca Waterman (she/her). Meet at Mountain View Cemetery .2 miles up Freeman Hill Road from Route 100b in Moretown.
Saturday May 25th – 8AM – 9:30AM – Boyce Hill Road Fayston Town Forest – Leader– Janet Saylor (she/her) Meet at Fayston Town Hall at 866 North Fayston Rd at 7:30 AM to carpool to the Town Forest, which has very limited parking.
Thurs. May 30th – 7 AM –Blueberry Lake – Birding by Boat – Leader – Jeannie Elias (she/her) Meet at north parking lot at the end of Blueberry Lake Road off Plunkton Road. Bring your own boat. All birders must bring and wear a Personal Flotation Device to participate in this event. Birders will very slowly circumnavigate the lake looking and listening for birds.
Sat. June 1st – 8AM – 10 AM –Mad River Path – Big Picture Boardwalk – Leader – TBA. Meet at the boardwalk opposite the Big Picture Theater at 48 Carroll Road in Waitsfield for this short, flat walk.
Sat. June 1st – 3-4:30 PM – Birding by Ear Workshop, Moretown Town Hall 1147 Route 100B in Moretown – Co -Presenters: Cory Stephenson (she/her) and Jeannie Elias (she/her). Learn more about identifying birds by their songs at this informative and fun workshop cosponsored by the Moretown Library and the Mad Birders.
Sun. June 2nd – 7:30AM – 9 AM Pony Farm Road Walk – Co-Leaders: Cory Stephenson (she/her) and Jeannie Elias (she/her). This bird walk is open to all, but is a follow up to the Birding by Ear Workshop and will focus on identifying birds by ear, as well as by sight. Take Pony Farm Road uphill from the southern end of Moretown Village, the walk begins at 182 Pony Farm Road at the top of the first hill. Park at the Farmstand.
Thurs. June 6th 7AM- 8:30AM – Long Road – Leader Jeannie Elias (she/her) Park at beginning of Long Road near intersection with East Road.
Sat June 8th 8AM-9:30AM – Pratt Refuge – Leader Jeannie Elias (she/her) Join the Mad Birders on property donated by Fred Pratt to the Vermont Land Trust for a late Spring Birdwalk. Parking is limited so please carpool. Meet at 7:45AM at Harwood Union High School at 458 Route 100 in Duxbury in the parking lot to the right of the school. Walk location is 2.1 miles up on Ward Hill Road off Route 100 in Duxbury near the hand-painted sign at the bottom of the driveway that says “Pratt.” The driveway will be on the left side of the road. Refreshments will be provided.
Sat, June 15th– 8AM – 2PM – Parkers (Monitoring Walk) in Granville Leader TBA). Meet at 7:30AM at 3681 E. Warren Rd, Waitsfield (Pat’s) to carpool. Note that this is a longer walk, bring water, definitely wear boots. This involves wet conditions in many places. Brunch is included.