MadBirders

Mad Birders will meet at Knoll Farm on Thursday, July 10 at 7:30 AM for a 2.5 hour monitoring walk.  We will check out three habitats, recording species and numbers in the habitats, plus any others encountered on the walk between blocks.  Wear sturdy footwear, bring insect repellant, sunscreen, and water. 

A great venue for spring migrants and waterfowl is Blueberry Lake in Warren. Join the Mad Birders this Thursday morning at 7:30 for a two hour walk around the lake. Almost all of our spring and summer visitors have arrived for the season and they are moving in, setting up housekeeping and bringing new songbirds into the world. Come on out and take a look.  Meet at the south end of the lake.

Join dawna Foreman this coming Thursday at 7:30am for a Freeman Hill Bird Walk in Moretown. Freeman Hill Road is on the left after you pass Maynard’s Snack Bar heading north on Route 100B from Waitsfield. dawna’s is the first house on the left as you head up Freeman Hill Road. Loaner binoculars are available for new birders. Lots of great birds have been regularly spotted on Freeman Hill, including a couple of Great Crested Flycatchers this week. They have a lemon yellow breast and a wonderful call that sounds like they are saying a very loud VREEEEEP!!! So come join dawna for a walk this Thursday the 22^nd and see what you can see.

Also this week Jeannie Elias is leading a walk on Sunday at 7:30am on Center Fayston Road. Meet at Shaw’s at 7:30 or call Jeannie for directions to her home at 496-4730. Veterans of previous Center Fayston Road walks with Jeannie will be relieved that the mud bog trail has been ditched in favor of open fields, easily accessible brooks and ponds and roadsides. Recent birds seen in these environs include Black Throated Green Warblers, Black Throated Blue Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Chestnut Sided Warblers, Least Flycatchers, Northern Flickers, Tree Swallows and Rose Breasted Grosbeaks.

The Mad Birders want to express their BIG THANKS to Terry Wright for his 2007 BIG YEAR OF BIRDING presentation for the Mad Birders back on March 29th. Terry gave us a wonderful presentation that included a bird identification challenge for all attendees. Pictured above are Terry (yes, that’s him in the camo) looking for the Bicknell’s Thrush on Mount Ellen in Fayston last year (He and the other Mad Birders did get to see the Bicknell’s that day) and at the presentation at the Warren Town Hall. Many heartfelt thanks from all of us.

Pat Folsom got this great shot of a Baltimore Oriole, (back to its original name after being known for a short while as the Northern Oriole,) this morning just after sunrise at one of the feeders at her Waitsfield home. The Baltimore Oriole winters in Southern Mexico, Northern South America and the Greater Antilles. Like many of our migratory songbirds, this bird generally arrives in Vermont during the first week in May, so this one was just about right on time. Be on the look out for the brilliant orange plumage of the male. It is unmistakable…no wonder they like oranges so much.

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Tree Swallow

UPDATE: SATURDAY AM — The walk is still on! At this moment, 7 AM, the rain is intermittent and not too heavy. Wear a hat and gloves and a rain jacket, and we’ll see you at Knoll Farm! — Nancy 

The Mad Birders invite those who are new to birding to join us on a Saturday morning walk that will provide an introduction to the joys of bird watching. We’ll briefly share tips on how to use binoculars, some basic bird watching dos and don’ts and share information about birding hot spots in the Mad River Valley. Most of our time will be spent looking for birds at Knoll Farm. We will start at the yard and barn, then walk up through the meadow to the woods. This is one of Mad Birder’s most popular walks each year. In the past two years, we have seen Cliff, Barn, and Tree Swallows, Bobolinks, Scarlet Tanagers, Hermit Thrushes, and a variety of Warblers, to name a few.

We encourage all fledgling birders and anyone interested in increasing birding skills to join us. Bring binoculars if you have them; spare binoculars will be available for those who do not have them.

Event Information: When: Saturday May 3rd, 8:00 to 9:30 AM

Where: Knoll Farm at 730 Bragg Hill Road 

The event will be held “light” rain or shine. 

Contact Nancy Turner at 496-2523 for more information.

Reports have come in from all around the Mad River Valley about new bird arrivals for the Spring.  Red Winged Blackbirds, Robins, Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, and White Throated Sparrows are regularly being spotted.  Winter Wrens have been heard singing and the first warbler, a Yellow Rumped Warbler, has been seen in Waitsfield. 

The Mad Birders have an ambitious schedule of birding walks planned, including an evening Woodcock Walk on April 24th in Waitsfield, an all day Lake Champlain Birding Adventure on Sunday April 27th, and a morning Beginner Bird Walk on Saturday May 3rd at Knoll Farm in Fayston. 

Everyone is welcome to join the Mad Birders on these walks!  To see the schedule click on the EVENTS section at the top of this page.  For more details on a particular walk, just click on the name of the walk.  Questions?  Email us at info@madbirders.org

HAPPY BIRDING!

Meet at Shaws at 7:30 AM for a wooded walk to beaver ponds.  May be wet and muddy, wear sturdy footwear, may want to bring insect repellent.

Meet at Shaws at 7:30 AM to carpool.  This new walk led by Jon and Amy Jamieson and daughters.  Young birders and families welcome.  Highlights may include nesting Common Ravens.

Meet at Shaw’s at 7:30 AM to carpool to Center Fayston Rd. for a 2 hour walk.  Jeannie Elias – leader