January 26, 2009

An adult Bald Eagle was reported today on the Winooski River today, in the vicinity of Montpelier High School.

January 24, 2009

The North Branch Nature Center's youth birding team, "The Noddies", competed this weekend in the Superbowl of Birding. We started the day with Eastern Screech-Owl and ended it with Snowy Owl, and saw tons of great birds in between. For more details, and for a complete list of birds seen, visit the News section of your Youth Birding Page.

January 22, 2009

Chip spotted a flock of 50+ Bohemian Waxwings at the Hunger Mountain Coop this morning. Also, Pine Siskins have continued at the NBNC birdfeeders.

January 21, 2009

An American Robin was seen foraging on the ice on a frozen portion of the Winooski River in Montpelier.

January 19, 2009

Four Bohemian Waxwings put in a quick visit today, perching high in the Sugar Maple in front of the building, and periodically diving towards the Crab Apple trees to feed on the remaining fruit. After 15 minutes they dispersed and weren't seen again. Staff also took a short hike in search of White-winged Crossbills, which have been numerous around the state this winter. One was heard, but not seen, in a Hemlock-rich section of North Branch River Park.

January 14, 2009

Nature Center staff were treated to views of a Northern Shrike, which briefly landed in the Red Maple outside our windows and went after a Black-capped Chickadee. The two birds disappeared around the corner of the building, and we could not confirm or deny that the Chickadee escaped. After the encounter, the remaining Chickadees around the feeder sat motionless for several minutes, and then left for the rest of the day. Other birds seen around the feeder today include Blue Jay, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Cardinal, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch.

January 10, 2009

Members of our Youth Birding Program set out today for the Mid-winter Bald Eagle Survey; a project started in the late-70's to monitor the recovery of this species. Although our group didn't see any Bald Eagles along our transect, which covered the Lower Winooski River, we had an abundance of winter finch sightings. Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, White-winged Crossbill, and Pine Grosbeaks were all seen. Several Canada Geese, Common Mergansers, and a Northern Pintail were also spotted amongst a group of several hundred Mallards and Black Ducks at Muddy Brook Park in South Burlington.

January 8, 2009

A neighbor of the Nature Center reported a Red-bellied Woodpecker today at their feeder on Elm Street.

January 6, 2009

Happy New Year! Our year is off to a nice start here at the Nature Center. Yesterday, our feeder was visited by a small group of Pine Siskins and our regular Brown Creeper made an appearance on the Red Maple outside the Center. Today, a male Northern Cardinal visited the feeder briefly, and a small flock of American Goldfinches has been hanging around.