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Archive for April, 2010

Eric Hanson – Loon Biologist to speak at Mad Birders’ presentation of The Dark Side of the Loon

Eric Hanson – of the Vermont Loon Recovery Project- will present a slide show and talk as part of the Mad Birder’s upcoming showing of Gail Osherenko’s documentary: The Dark Side of the Loon.  Eric has been the Loon Biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies’ Loon Recovery Project since 1998 and has studied loons […]

Mad Birders present The Dark Side of the Loon Saturday 4/24 at 7:30PM

( Events )

The eerie calls and striking black and white plumage of the common loon captivate those of us who spend time on northern lakes and ponds between April and October. Then the loons disappear. Quiet descends. Where do they go? How do they survive in winter?  Common loons change their brilliant breeding plumage for dull feathers […]

Snow Goose on the Mad River!

Mad Birder Scott Sainsbury got this great shot of a rare avian visitor to the Mad River Valley, a Snow Goose.  The bird was seen today, 3/22/10  at the Ward Memorial Recreation Area of the Mad River on Route 100b in Moretown, Vermont.   Way to go Scott!!

Winter Birding

This Barred Owl was spotted in flight mid day on Sunday January 17th.  Bare trees make for good birding in Winter.  Craig Goss took this photo near Phen Basin in Fayston, VT.

Temperatures of Five Below Zero For Mad Birders’ Christmas Bird Count!

( Events )

     31 Mad Birders lived up to their name on Friday December 18th as they set out before sunrise to participate for the 5th time in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count.  The day was remarkably beautiful and memorably cold.  Ten teams of birders spread out over a 15 mile radius ‘count circle’ that encompassed Waitsfield, Warren, […]

Mad Birders Christmas Bird Count and Pot LuckS!!!

The Mad Birders will hold their annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count on Friday December 18th.  Don’t miss your chance to see which birds have arrived from the north or are sticking around to spend the winter in Vermont.  The beauty of the count is that you can’t count on the weather!  It could be cool, clear and […]

Birds of the First Snow

       Mad Birder Bill Martin got these great shots in Warren, Vermont as the first snow of the season blanketed the Mad River Valley on this mid October morning.  We will see the Juncos and Nuthatches all winter long, but these may be our last glimpses of the sparrows until the Spring.  The […]

Summer Residents Head South

This shot of a Warbling Vireo was taken by Mad Birder Scott Sainsbury this week in Moretown. Warbling Vireos typically leave Vermont around the fourth week in September to head for their winter homes, typically located anywhere from Mexico south to El Salvador.

Red Eyed Vireo on the nest!

A Red Eyed Vireo was discovered nesting on Two Dog Mountain in Fayston.  This nest was discovered on a small maple tree very close to a second story porch.  We will keep an eye on the nest, with hopes of capturing some photos of hatchlings before they fledge.  Craig Goss got this great photo on 7/3/09.

Young Pileated Woodpecker the day before it fledged.

Mad Birder Mary Spencer got this terrific shot of a Young Pileated Woodpecker peeking out of its nest in a poplar tree on Center Fayston Road in Fayston.  Surprisingly the nest was in the middle of a yard where there was frequent human activity.  Mary saw an adult Pileated feed breakfast to the young ones on […]