MadBirders

In response to changes in the Vermont and CDC guidance with respect to outdoor activities during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mad Birders are changing their protocols for our Spring Bird Walks as follows:

Vaccination is no longer required. However, masks must be worn. This is in recognition of the fact that during group birding it is often quite difficult to maintain social distancing. Our walks are free and open to the public. We hope you will join us. The walk schedule is set forth below:

All walks will begin at 8am and will last 1.5 – 2 hours except for the walks on May 22nd, June 12th, and June 26th, which have an earlier start time and may also last longer. Waterproof footwear and/or hiking boots are advised. Bring binoculars, water and insect repellent.

Walk Schedule

Saturday, May 8 –  Knoll Farm-Nancy -700 Bragg Hill Road Fayston

Saturday, May 15 – Geiger Property-Jeannie  – Park on the left 2 miles
up Center Fayston Rd from Route 100 .

Saturday, May 22 – Camel’s Hump Forest-Ali – Meet at Shaw’s in
Waitsfield at 7:30 AM.  Parking is very limited.

Saturday, May 29 – Freeman Hill-Jeannie – Meet at the cemetery on the
right 1/2 mile up Freeman Hill Rd in Moretown

Saturday, June 5 –   Sainsburys-Scott – 75 Bridge Rd, Moretown

Saturday, June 12 – Parker’s in Granville-Pat and Remy – Meet at Pat’s
(3681 E. Warren Rd at 7:30 AM).

Saturday, June 19 – Boyce Hill Town Forest-Lisa – End of Boyce Road Fayston

Saturday, June 26 – Spencers in South Duxbury-Pat – Meet at Harwood
High School lower parking lot (on Route 100)  at 7:45 AM

The Mad Birders are pleased to announce that our Spring bird walks will resume May 1, 2021.In order to keep everyone safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, the following protocols will be in place for all walks:All participants must be fully vaccinated, meaning that it has been more than two weeks since one’s course of vaccines has been completed.All participants must wear masks.Social distancing will be practiced and larger groups will be subdivided as necessary.
All walks will begin at 8am and will last 1.5 – 2 hours except for the walks on May 22nd, June 12th, and June 26th, which have an earlier start time and may also last longer.Waterproof footwear and/or hiking boots are advised. Bring binoculars, water and insect repellent.

Walk Schedule

Saturday, May 1 –  Warren Mad River Path – Laura –  Meet at Warren Elementary School parking lot

Saturday, May 8 –  Knoll Farm – Nancy -700 Bragg Hill Road Fayston –

Saturday, May 15 – Geiger Property – Jeannie  Park on the left 2 miles up Center Fayston Rd from Route 100 .

Saturday, May 22 – Camel’s Hump Forest – Ali –  Meet at Shaw’s in Waitsfield at 7:30 AM.  Parking is very limited.

Saturday, May 29 – Freeman Hill – Jeannie.  Meet at the cemetery on the right 1/2 mile up Freeman Hill Rd in Moretown

Saturday, June 5 –   Sainsburys.  Scott-  75 Bridge Rd, Moretown

Saturday, June 12 – Parker’s in Granville – Pat and Remy – Meet at Pat’s (3681 E. Warren Rd at 7:30 AM). 

Saturday, June 19 – Boyce Hill Town Forest  Lisa – End of Boyce Road –  Fayston

Saturday, June 26 – Spencers in South Duxbury – Pat – Meet at Harwood High School lower parking lot (on Route 100)  at 7:45 AM 

Email info@madbirders.org for more information.

The time of the singing of birds is upon us. The Mad Birders Spring Walk calendar is just about complete. Details can be found on the specific calendar entry for each walk.  All walks are free and open to the public.  We have loaner binoculars available at all our walks and our much coveted Mad Birder Caps are also usually on hand for purchase. For any questions, email info@madbirders.org 

Wednesday  April 17 – Evening Woodcock Walk on Freeman Hill  7:30 PM

Thursday  May 2 – Meadow Rd, Mad River Greenway West  7 AM

Sunday May 5 – Center Fayston Road Walk 7 AM

Thursday May 9 – Big Picture Theater Mad River Path Boardwalk 7 AM

Saturday May 11- Ward Hill Walk 8 AM

Thursday May 16 – Freeman Hill Road 7 AM

Saturday May 18 – Knoll Farm  8 AM

Thursday May 23 – Geiger Property Center Fayston Road 7 AM

Thursday May 23 – Birds and Beer !! – 4 PM Walk on Mad River Path Boardwalk followed by facilitated discussion at 5 PM led by Bird Diva Bridget Butler at Lawson’s Liquids Taproom (New Event)

Saturday May 25 – Birding by Ear Workshop – Moretown School 1:30 PM

Sunday May 26 – Birding by Ear Bird Walk – Pony Farm Rd 7 AM

Thursday May 30 – Phen Basin Walk 7 AM (New Walk)

Saturday June 1 – Camel’s Hump Forest Walk 7 AM

Thursday June 6 – Spencer’s Duxbury Walk 7 AM (New walk)

Thursday June 13 – Mad River Path Warren Section 8 AM (New walk)

Saturday June 22 – Granville, Parker Property 7:30 AM

The Mad Birders are sad to announce the passing of a beloved member of our birding community, Chris Pratt, who left this world on March 20, 2017. Indubitably the ‘better half’ of Team Pipit, Chris was the constant companion of her husband Fred, of 61 years. Chris was affectionately known to the Mad Birders as “Mrs. Pipit”, and could reliably be seen in the driver’s seat whenever Team Pipit was off chasing birds, which was most of the time. In addition to being an excellent birder, Chris was a world traveler, an opera buff and an excellent cook. We will miss her eloquence, her charm, her generosity and her quick wit. Fortunately, we have the recipe for her Syrian Nutmeg Cake, featured at many Mad Birder Pot Luck Celebrations. We look forward to serving it again in her memory. May your spirit soar forever upward on gossamer wings.

The Mad Birders lost one of their own earlier this month as our dear friend Ave Haviland passed from this life into the next. An enthusiastic birder, Ave was also knowledgeable about wildflowers and native plants. She and her late husband Walt were avid hikers and skiers even as they entered their 80’s. Ave especially loved cycling with the local biking group known as the “Silver Streakers” and lamented when she had to decline a bird walk because of a conflict with a Silver Streakers ride.  Ave enjoyed watching birds at her feeders as much as she loved seeing them in the field. Many Mad Birders looked forward to regular chats with Ave to exchange the latest news on what we had seen at our bird feeders during the winter months. We will miss the twinkle in your pretty blue eyes Ave, and will always remember you in your Periwinkle Blue Mad Birders Hat.

Thanks to the generosity of our hosts: Cory and Chris Stephenson, the Mad Birders enjoyed a field trip to the old Pony Farm property on Pony Farm Road in Moretown. Varied habitat including fields, river corridor, meadows, wetlands and forests produced a wide array of species. Participants practiced birding by ear skills and several sharp eyed birders spied a Savannah Sparrow on a ground nest, and after the adult flew off, we witnessed the tiny mouths of young nestlings still in the nest. The rains began as we concluded our walk and what’s more fun than birding in the rain anyway?

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) perched on a branch and singing.

Join the Mad Birders and the Moretown Memorial Library on Sunday May 22nd at 4PM for a two-part workshop to learn about birding by ear. Whether you are an experienced bird watcher or just at the beginning of this delightful life long hobby, this workshop is for you. Meet at the Moretown Elementary School Library at 4PM on Sunday May 22nd and join Cory Stephenson and Jeannie Elias to learn some tips and tricks for listening to and identifying birdsong.  For the second half of the workshop we will head outside to the field on Sunday June 5th at 7:30 am to 182 Pony Farm Road in Moretown to practice our newly learned skills. Both events are free and open to the public. For details contact Cory at 496-9728 or Jeannie at info@madbirders.org

Spring migration is underway, and the Mad Birders are the beneficiaries of this marvelous annual miracle. Black-Throated Green Warblers (pictured above) have returned to the Mad River Valley, along with many other colorful warblers and songbirds. We have walks scheduled throughout the month of May. Join Jeannie Elias on Thursday mornings at 7am for our Thursday Mornings in May series, or on Saturdays. Zac Cota will be leading a walk on the State Farm Property in Duxbury on May 14th and Nancy Turner will lead a walk at Knoll Farm in Fayston on May 21st. We will also be co-sponsoring a Birding by Ear workshop and birdwalk with the Moretown Library on May 22nd and June 5th in Moretown. Check the calendar for details or email us at info@madbirders.org

Happy Birding!