August 14 , 2008

August 14 , 2008

The summer camp season is winding down, and it is time for a long hiatus from Nature News updates to come to a close. The first news item to break the silence will be that of the Montpelier BioBlitz, which took place from 3pm July 11th to 3pm July 12th. Nearly 200 scientists from as far as Kansas converged on Montpelier, and identified approximately 1,500 species. A full list of results can be found at the BioBlitz website: www.NorthBranchNatureCenter.org/bioblitz.

June 24 , 2008

The Giant Ichneumon sighted yesterday remained near the same tree trunk most of the day. Another pleasant surprise was a visit from a Merlin, which perched on the large Maple outside the office windows.

The entire summer camp group was able to witness the Merlin as it hopped about in the leaves, and eventually took off across the street. Other highlights from the camp's morning bird walks were Ravens being mobbed by crows, and good looks at an Ovenbird.

June 23 , 2008

Today, a parasitic wasp called a Giant Ichneumon visited a tree trunk which had been marred by a Pileated Woodpecker. The tree needed to be cut due to proximity to the road, and has been standing as decoration at the Nature Center's front door. The wasp remained on the trunk throughout the day, with its ovipositor embedded within the bark, giving our summer campers ample opportunities to observe this unique and beautiful insect.

June 6 , 2008

A bird walk led by Chip along the Winooski in Waterbury yielded a big surprise. Alarm calls from nearby Red-winged Blackbirds alerted the group to a Peregrine Falcon, which swooped down to capture and carry off a grackle or starling. Other bird sightings included American Redstart, Warbling Vireo, Savannah Sparrow, Spotted Sandpiper, Baltimore Oriole and an Eastern Kingbird revealing its hidden reddish crest.

June 5 , 2008

During a school group visit today, the discussion was about Salamanders. On our hike in search of the slippery amphibians, we found an impressive five species of salamander (half of the ten species found in Vermont)! Our list is as follows:

* Eastern Red-backed Salamander
* Northern Dusky Salamander
* Northern Two-lined Salamander
* Spring Salamander
* Eastern Newt (Red Eft) [pictured to the right]

Although our attention was focused on the ground while we searched, we heard many birds during our hike, including American Crow, Winter Wren , Blackburnian Warbler, Ovenbird, and Scarlet Tanager.

June 2 , 2008

For many years, NBNC has participated in a Monarch Butterfly tagging program, placing little stickers with "serial numbers" on the wings of the Mexico-bound butterflies. Last year we allowed the public to join us in this project, and it appears our efforts have paid off. For the first time, a monarch tagged at the Nature Center was recovered in Mexico!

The butterfly was tagged on September 12th, 2007 (our first public-tagging day) with the "serial number" of JNH 286. The butterfly, a male captured from the wild, was recovered in Cerro Pelon, Mexico by Melquieles Moreno, on March 6th, 2008. Having flown over 2,000 miles to reach his overwintering site, it is truly an extraordinary feat that this migration occurs, and that we have been able to track this individual butterfly. Thanks to those who helped with the tagging effort last year!

On another lepidopteral note, a Nessus Sphinx moth, which is a type of hummingbird moth, visited the Lilac bushes during lunch today. Photo by Larry Clarfeld

May 31 , 2008

A few brave souls tolerated rain and mosquitos for our teen birding trip to Moose Bog. The Spruce Grouse eluded us, but despite the rain, we managed to pick up 33 species including boreals such as Gray Jay and Black-backed Woodpecker. Other highlights included extended looks at male Blackburnian Warbles (plus one female gathering nesting material). The morning's list is below:

Wood Duck
American Black Duck
Great Blue Heron
Wilson's Snipe
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Blue-headed Vireo
Tree Swallow
Blue Jay
Gray Jay
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Veery
Hermit Thrush
Nashville Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Canada Warbler
Swamp Sparrow
Purple Finch