Checklist for spring birdwatching...

With the advent of spring and summer comes a bevy of birding-related things to consider. Here is a (by no means comprehensive) list of things to think about in the coming weeks:

1. The return of the hummingbirds means that it's time to dust off the hummingbird feeders and whip up a fresh and strong batch of sugar water to keep the little ones fueled. The standard recipe is 1 parts sugar and 4 parts water (you can make this a little stronger to lure the hummers in, but do not exceed the ratio too much). Make sure your feeders are kept clean and that sugar water is kept fresh. Especially when the weather is warm, it's important to make sure that you replace the sugar water in your feeders every 3 days or so, to avoid fermentation and spoilage that could harm your hummers. Soap and hot water are useful to clean your feeders, as are Q-tips, which you can use to get rid of black mildew and scum in the feeder portals.

2. Make sure that all nesting boxes are cleaned out and ready for action. Look for damage or structural problems, such as a leaky roof or a rotted perch. Also make sure to clean nesting boxes with very hot water and a little bit of soap (rinse well, of course) to kill any nasty things that might be lurking from previous occupants.

3. Plant bird-friendly plants and flowers. Plant some liatris or sunflowers, which both have seed heads that birds will flock to. For hummingbirds, plant some red and nectar-rich flowers. Favourites include beebalm, trumpet flowers, hostas, false mallow, touch-me-nots, fringed bleeding hearts, cardinal flowers, and many others.

4. Just because it's warm out doesn't mean that you can't still serve suet. While a ball of fat might not fare the best in the hot sun, the suet cakes sold at hardware stores and birding shops stay clean and keep birds happy. Flavours are varied and can be altered to attract a different crowd.

These are just a few things to jumpstart ypur birding season. So slather on some sun screen and venture outdoors!

2009 Birding Season kicks off in Vermont!

Hello all! I'm so happy to be back in the Green Mountains after many long months of toiling hard at school. I can say with some certainty now, however, that with the arrival of spring and the imminent approach of summer, my columns shall be appearing regularly in The Manchester Journal and here, on this site.

If all goes well, my first column of the season should be coming out this week (keeping fingers crossed!).

A Holiday Wish...

Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season to all!

May these days fill your hearts with joy and may your birdfeeder always be busy!

Summer Colours--08/29/08

The backyard is abuzz with a steady hum of activity: Ruby-throated hummingbirds feast on the blossoms of bee-balm and hostas as they come to the end of their season, rose-breasted grosbeaks and sunshine yellow goldfinches bob around the tube feeders and noisy swallows swoop through the sky. This is without a doubt one of my favourite times of the year in Vermont. No matter where you look, you can always be sure that a surprise will await you!

The flock of cedar waxwings was back again, gorging on the plentiful berries in the bushes, the air buzzing with their customary high-pitched zee. On a walk, I also saw a great many of the birds around the Dorset pond, skimming the water between meals. Later that same day, I was also pleased to see two proud eastern phoebe parents anxiously guarding their nest and taking turns on investigating the garden, tails bobbing all the way.

For several days in a row, now, I have had the pleasure of seeing my elusive Baltimore oriole friends darting through the garden. The birds, which have always seemed to purposely avoid me, now appear erratically but often near the giant weeping willows in the field behind my house, where they seem to have taken up residency. Sometimes I glimpse them as they hop around my tomato plants, one of their favourite spots in the garden. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll see a family of the orange beauties before the summer is through!

On another note, on the request of many of my readers, I am pleased to announce that I now have a new and functional website for this column. In addition to my articles here in The Manchester Journal, I will be posting birding tips and tricks, special sightings, general musings, and photographs of birds and flowers from my garden. You are also encouraged to leave comments, questions, and birding tips of your own. Please help me get this off of the ground and make sure to check out my site at www.watchthebirdsvermont.blogspot.com!

Of course, you are still welcome to send me questions and comments regarding this column of any sightings you have seen at chickadee@att.net. Happy birding and enjoy the fine summer weather!

There's the tiniest smell of autumn in the air...

In the weeks before I head back to school, I find myself searching for signs that it's still summer time. My results? Well, yes, it is still summer in Vermont, but autumn seems to be creeping us on us earlier than usual with the cooler temperatures, smell of smoke from bonfires, and the withering of favourite summer blossoms.

One of the biggest hints that autumn is just around the corner is the sudden and drastic increase in hummingbird activity. I usually only see one or two hummers a few time a day. In the past few days, however, I've seen eight or nine of the flying jewels at once, all anxiously vying for the same spot at the hummingbird feeders. Yesterday evening, I was caught right in the middle of a 21-gun salute flyover--buzzed by two hummers on each side of my head for a split second. Hit the Deck!

To help your hummer friends, make sure to keep your feeders full and clean. It's also a good idea to slightly increase the amount of sugar in the solution with which you fill your feeders. That way, the hummers, in need of fat and energy for their long journey to Mexico, can get the calories they need.

Holland Bound--07/25/08

THE HAGUE—The capital city of the Netherlands (a.k.a. Holland) just off the coast of the North Sea has long been known as a centre of world justice. The small city in one of the smallest but proudest European countries boasts the third largest headquarters of the United Nations behind New York and Geneva. The Peace Palace hosts the World Court, while the International Tribunal on Yugoslavia has brought justice to war criminals including the infamous Slobodan Milosevic. Certainly The Hague is internationally important. But little did I know that the tiny city on the sea is also home for many interesting species of birds.

In addition to the numerous green expanses and overgrown parks for birds to call home, birdwatchers have the extra bonus of the proximity of the North Sea and the many canals that criss-cross the city, attracting sea- and fresh-water birds alike. The tram is not only one of the best ways to navigate the city, but is also a great way to see the dozens of Gray Herons which wade through and fish in the canals. These herons, used to the clatter of the trams and the passage of bicycles, barely bat an eye if you approach and watch them, unlike their Vermont cousins. Storks and herons are especially beloved to the people of the Hague, considering that it is not only the symbol of the city, but a bearer of good luck and glad tidings.

Walking along the dyke that abuts the Dutch parliament and the Mauritshuis Museum, where one can see Johannes Vermeer’s best known masterpieces, The View of Delft and Girl with a Pearl Earring, I saw a variety of water birds taking advantage of the summer sun. There were majestic Mute Swans swimming alongside Mallard Ducks as some Common Coots showed their little ones how to dive for food. All over the city, as you walk under the tree-covered passages, you can see Magpies (remember, “One sorrow, two mirth,” etc.) and tons of raucous European mini-crows, more professionally called Eurasian Jackdaws.

Because of the city’s nearness to the sea and the perennially-popular beach district of Scheveningen, there are also many gulls all over The Hague. The most common is the large and boisterous Herring Gull, which takes advantage of the excellent fish and, specifically, herring supply in the Netherlands.

If you venture further afield into the charming Dutch countryside, composed mainly of farms and sweeping fields of flowers and bulbs you can also expect to see a variety of birds. Little clusters of Canada Geese minding their babies mix with small flocks of white geese and Common Shelducks. Look closely and you might even see a lone Eurasian Spoonbill fishing in the canals, or at least a couple of windmills!

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of birdlife I saw whilst touring The Hague and her surrounding cities. So the next time you happen to be swinging up by the Netherlands, admittedly world-renowned for less-wholesome hobbies than bird-watching, remember to bring your binoculars and a European field guide. You never know what you might see along the canals of Holland!

Have any birding questions or queries? If so send me an e-mail at chickadee@att.net!

A Break from Birdwatching...

"To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment." --Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

* * *

Even when the long, lazy days of Vermont summer seem to drag and when birds are more scarce than I can hope, I can always find repose and a paint-box of colours in my flower garden.

After years of careful planning, ripping out, and redoing, the garden is finally starting to take shape. These photos are from my newest flower bed, which has also given me the most trouble. When I thought I had gotten it right, I relalised that my work had in fact just begun. Now, however, I am happy to say that I am pleased with the course this patch is taking.

One of the new varieties in my garden: the Himalayan Cinquefoil.

A sprig of coral bells after an afternoon shower.

* * *

The Birds and the Bears--06/27/08

Within the last week, there has been a surge of bird activity here in my back yard. The regulars are here in full force, as well as a few special visitors who call Vermont home during the summer months. In addition to the flocks of goldfinches, raucous red-winged blackbirds, and cardinals, I have also seen an increase in the number of white-breasted nuthatches, house wrens, and feisty hummingbirds.

To my surprise and delight, I have also seen the elusive Baltimore Orioles darting between the willows in the field. Regular readers of this column will remember my somewhat irrational obsession with orioles, who always make a few select appearances throughout the summer for about a nanosecond and then disappear until the time when I least expect it. I guess I’ll have to keep my eyes and ears open. Hopefully, with a little bit of luck, the orioles might finally decide to investigate my oriole feeders.

Also, for a truly special sighting, make sure to bring your binoculars and take a closer look at the marshes along the road about two miles from the Arlington exit, the next time you drive down to Bennington. Precariously perched atop the spindly branches of the skeletons of trees, you can see the nests of Great Blue Herons. Now, if you look closely, you can even see the herons and their newly-hatched babies in the nests. If you have time, pull over to the side of the road, from where you can hear the caterwauling of the hungry babies.

The birds are not the only ones who have been busy over the past few weeks, however. After my last column, I received a few more reports regarding bears in the area. For example, Kevin of Dorset informed me that many birdfeeders in his area, including his own, had been attacked by hungry bears. Many people told me that they will probably not be hanging their feeders out for the rest of the summer. In my opinion, however, it is probably safe to leave your feeders out without fear of them being whacked. With the start of summer, the bears have a steady food source, which means that they will not have to resort to munching on your birdfeeders. Birders in the valley should be bear free by now. Readers on the mountain might still exercise caution by taking feeders in at night.

Seen any interesting birds lately? Do you have any questions or comments? If so, feel free to send me an e-mail at chickadee@att.net and share your sightings with other birders!

Stop, Look, and Listen!--06/11/08

I think that it is finally safe to say that summer has come to Vermont; and with rising temperatures comes a rise in bird activity, as well. The sudden and drastic rise in temperature, however, seems to have put the birds in hiding. Indeed, when the sun is at its peak, I hardly see any of my feathered friends outside. Here’s the catch: I may not see any birds for most of the day, but I can hear them. That factor made me think about the importance of the recognition of bird calls for any avian enthusiast.

As a budding bird-watcher of eight or nine, I specifically remember asking myself how I was ever to recognize any bird calls at all, let alone a multitude of them. Now, I can probably identify about fifty or sixty (after nine years’ work). A big boost for my birding ear came along with the handy and extremely useful Birdsong Identiflyer, a mini-computer with insert-able themed cards, each with sound bites of various bird songs. This clever device was very useful when it came to learning and recognizing odd bird calls. Of course, now the ubiquitous iPod has a downloadable program which makes thousands of bird calls available at your fingertips—an astonishing wealth of information!

Naturally, the best way to learn bird calls, though, is by stopping, looking, and listening. Though I fear sounding reminiscent of some kind of hackneyed street-crossing caveat, it’s true. The best way to associate birds with their various sounds is by keen sensory perception of the birds around you.

Today, at the peak of the afternoon heat, I was sitting on the porch when I heard an incessant zeeeee coming from the pine trees in the backyard. I didn’t see anything, but the sound rang a bell. Soon after, I realized that there was a flock of beautiful Cedar Waxwings flitting through the branches of the tree, nibbling on the fresh pine buds.

Later, I was doing some gardening when I heard a faint buzzing from over my shoulder. Sure enough, the feisty little hummingbird that frequents the bleeding hearts around the porch was there for a bite. He stayed for a few minutes before investigating the nectar possibilities of a rather startled cardinal on the bird feeder and then, making a speedy getaway.

Then, I heard a strange and vaguely familiar call from the bushes. Sure enough, I spotted the distinctive brilliant blue on one of my favourite summer visitors: the Indigo Bunting. The indigo buntings never stay for very long, and I usually only see them a few times each summer, so I was, needless to say, very pleased.

As I have learned, the ability to recognize bird-calls is a very central part of the birding experience. I must admit, I had never really thought about it before today’s hot and sticky weather made me pay a little closer attention to the sights and sounds around me. I stopped, I looked, I listened, and I had some great and unexpected sightings.

Have you noticed anything interesting in your backyard as of late? Do you have any comments or critiques on this column? If so, feel free to send me an e-mail at chickadee@att.net and I will be more than happy to respond.

Awake and Sing!--05/22/08

After a chilly and somewhat uneventful spring, the birds have returned in full force for the start of the birding season. Not to mention, the lush and sudden profusion of greenery makes me feel almost as if I’ve entered some kind of mini-tropical climate. Vermont is alive with the sounds and smells of late Spring.

Birds and plants aren’t the only things that are awakening, however. Indeed, I had a surprise one morning when I looked out the window to find my tube feeders ravaged by a hungry bear. While our friends in the mountains are always in close proximity to the wilder side of Vermont, we in the valley, though we certainly have our fair share of wild woodland visitors, still get frazzled by such a sight. Of course, with the advent of spring, hibernating critters, from round-cheeked chipmunks to the proverbial hungry bear, are out looking for a meal. I got another report of a similar nature from John in Dorset. The fate of my feeders? One feeder was relatively unharmed, while the other was beyond repair. The mounting pole for the feeders was bent like a paper clip. (So much for the squirrel baffle...) Anyway, after some bending and hammering and the purchase of a new feeder, the backyard hotspot is back open for business—and just in time!

Recently I’ve seen a paint-palate of colours at the feeder, from the butter yellow of the goldfinches and the indigo of the blue jays to the scarlet of the cardinals and heather grey of the chickadees. The yard is awhirl with activity and many of my favourite summer guests have made an appearance. While I was doing some garden work, I was pleased to hear a reproachful “meow” from a Grey Catbird, who eventually came to check up on my progress before fluttering off. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks have also returned, as well as the Tree Swallows.
And guess what? The bear returned, and whacked my feeders yet again. I have temporarily brought them inside the garage.

I am also pleased to report that I had my first hummingbird sighting a few days ago. A little male, clad in iridescent green and red, spent about ten minutes visiting each flower on my newly-blooming bleeding hearts. The little fellow, after emitting a few squeaks, darted back to the thicket the hummers call home every summer after taking his fill and even sitting upon a few of the delicate stalks to take a break between sips.

I just hope that the weather continues to improve. Indeed, after that awful rainy spell last week, that turned into a surprise snow dusting on Mother Myrick mountain (in May? Remember, kids, this is Vermont!). I even had reports of some slate-coloured juncos—more commonly known as “Snow Birds”—in the area. Let’s just hope that they don’t live up to their name or reputation of signalling a snowfall.

Have you seen anything interesting in your backyard lately? Did you see something that surprised you on a walk? If so, send me an e-mail at chickadee@att.net and share your sighting. Happy Birding!

Our Canadian Cousins--01/11/08

This being the end of the holiday season, many of us have probably already said our goodbyes to relatives whom we welcomed into our homes over the holidays. Aunt Fanny has gone back to Florida, Uncle Jim is off on another business trip, and the in-laws are far away. However, just when we last expected it, we have to prepare to welcome our Canadian cousins. Well, not our cousins—the birds’ cousins, down from the North.

Over the past few weeks, and in recent days here in the Northshire area, there has been an increasing and unusual surge in birds coming down from Canada. Case in point: I saw a small flock of Hoary and Common Redpolls, both uncommon south of the Canadian border just yesterday feasting on some newly-scattered sunflower seeds. These fluffy little birds closely resemble sparrows, except they sport deep red patches on their foreheads. So, the next time you think you see a bunch of sparrows, take a closer look; it might be a group of redpolls.

Redpolls are not the only ones coming down to Southern Vermont. According to an article in The Keene Sentinel from Western New Hampshire, record numbers of pine grosbeaks, snow buntings, and redpolls were counted in the annual Christmas bird count. This phenomenon, commonly called irruption, results from an increasing number of birds fly south to find reliable food sources. With the bitterly cold temperatures and abnormally high amounts of snowfall in Canada this year, many of our Canadian cousins have clearly decided to spend their winter vacation in more temperate climates.

In addition, during our brief thaw last week, I was pleasantly surprised to spot a Great Blue Heron wading through the rather chilly waters of the Dorset Pond. I had certainly never seen a blue heron after autumn here in Vermont, and sure enough, upon checking my field guide, I affirmed that herons do indeed migrate. While I have no explanation for this sighting, I suppose the heron was a straggler who decided to do a little ice fishing instead of traveling to warmer regions.

Have you had any interesting sightings to start the New Year right? If so, I’d love to hear all about them, as well as any comments or questions you might have. Make sure to e-mail me at chickadee@att.net Happy birding!

Wishing You a Hooty New Year!--01/02/08

Happy New Year to all! Along with the arrival of the New Year came a bundle of fun surprises: skiers and resort owners clapped their hands in glee with the advent of nearly a foot of beautiful powder, thousands of international visitors stood it out in Times Square to watch the 100th crystal ball drop and signal midnight, and I was pleased to have a few very special bird sightings.

Naturally with all the beautiful snow we have had, there has been a spike in bird activity as our feathered friends search for food. Watching the snow fall from the warmth of the living room, I was pleased to see a smattering of slate-colored juncos, hopping through the newly-fallen powder and trying to avoid sinking into the fluff. The regulars have been making their rounds as well; the cardinal family usually stops by at least once a day, as well as the chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. The backyard is just like a picture-postcard, with birds darting between the snow-covered fir trees and hopping through the powder.

In addition to the regulars, however, on Christmas Eve my family and I were overjoyed to see a less common winter visitor—a fluffy Barred Owl perched in one of the willow trees in the backyard. Just as twilight began to creep over the mountain, I glimpsed the beautiful bird landing for a rest before it flew off into the woods a few minutes later. What luck to have been looking out the window just in time to see such a magnificent creature! This of course, is the beginning of mating season for most of our Vermont species of owls. Therefore, they will be more vocal and more visible for the next few weeks, which is great for birdwatchers who are willing to withstand the cold and seek them out.

For some post-eggnog fun, bundle up and walk near the woods at night and try your hand at some owl calls. The best time to do this is when the weather is clear and the temperature is in the thirties. Making owl calls at this time of year is a great way to attract and see various owls, who will investigate the call. Who knows, you might get lucky and see a few nocturnal beauties or at least get a hooty reply!

Lastly, on the way back from my cousin’s wedding in New Brunswick, Canada, we were making our way through Maine when I spotted an impressive wingspan in the sky ahead of the car. Operating on a hunch, I looked carefully at the bird and was delighted to see the telltale white head of none other than a majestic Bald Eagle, soaring over the frozen landscape! Later on, we spotted another perched in a tall pine at the side of the road. While I have heard of people spotting Bald Eagles in the Dorset-Manchester area, I, myself, have never been fortunate enough to see one in the wild. What a great way to end the 2007 birding year.

What was your most special sighting of 2007? Have you had any interesting sightings to start the New Year right? If so, I’d love to hear all about them, as well as any comments or questions you might have. Make sure to e-mail me at chickadee@att.net. Happy (and warm) birding!