On this outing, we return to Farrell Park a little bit earlier in an attempt to spot resident and returning species before the trees leaf out, obscuring the view. Birders may be surprised by what they find so close to a suburban community along an accessible paved pathway.

After meeting in the parking area just off Swift Street, we will travel along a well-used trail that meanders through deciduous a forest and along open fields, providing decent viewing opportunities. The pathway we will take is paved and relatively smooth with some gradual inclines. To ensure an enjoyable birding experience, this trip is limited to 20 participants. Registration for this outing will open on April 6.

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This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the ecology and avian life in a remote Pacific ecosystem as well as the research being conducted there. Claire Reilly, a graduate of the University of Vermont, a former Audubon Vermont intern, and field technician who has assisted in bird-friendly maple sugar-making research, is engaged in research on the remote Palmyra atoll. Her work is mostly seabird-focused on an island group that tends to draw more marine biologists more than birders. She is involved in efforts to try to restore Palmyra's native rainforest and bring back seven extirpated species of seabird. This work involves a lot of bird surveying, invasive plant control, native plant monitoring, and seabird attraction efforts. In addition, Claire assists with some of the marine research, including snorkel surveys for coral bleaching, and the deployment of hydrophones for a team that's making a soundscape of the reef.

Shorebirds present on the atoll include bristle-thighed curlews, pacific golden plovers, wandering tattlers, red footed, brown, and masked boobies, brown and black noddies, white and sooty terns, and greater and lesser frigatebirds. Also observed offshore were wedge-tailed shearwater, tropical shearwater, and Bulwer's petrel. Join us on Zoom for this great program!

Join the Green Mountain Audubon Society as we venture out in search of late winter/early spring birds out on the Colchester Causeway. This excursion presents all sorts of possibilities, dependent upon the weather. Passerines and others may be visible on our way out to the lake, where the possibility exists of observing various waterfowl and a variety of other birds. The group will meet at the parking area off Mills Point Road and, from there, head out on the old rail bed. To ensure an enjoyable birding experience, this trip is limited to 20 participants.

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Hyla Howe is a graduate student at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources working with Dr. Allan Strong. Hyla has spent the last three summers studying Bobolinks and other grassland birds in the Champlain Valley, Eastern High Peaks, and Tri-Lakes regions of the Adirondacks. Her interdisciplinary examination of Bobolink populations and farmer attitudes toward grassland bird conservation aims to inform more effective outreach and incentive programs. In the final semester of her M.S. degree, Hyla is excited to tell the story of the delicate and complex relationship between the farmers and birds that have become linked by changing regional land use patterns, and the ways that we can best support them.  Join us on Zoom for this great program!

Dr. O’Kane will be giving a talk, sponsored by GMAS, the Pierson Library, and The Flying Pig Bookstore, on Birding to Change the World: A Memoir at 6:30 p.m. on March 20, 2024 at the Pierson Library in Shelburne. Copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

ONLINE PROGRAM

Liza Morse is a PhD candidate at the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. In collaboration with Ruth Bennett at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Liza has been exploring the impact of coffee cultivation on bird diversity in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range in Colombia. Liza will discuss Smithsonian’s Bird Friendly Coffee program as well as her research into the impacts of sun- versus shade-grown coffee on bird functional diversity.  Originally from Western Massachusetts, Liza’s love of birds began as a kid when she participated in the Christmas Bird Count with a family friend. Her research focuses on bird ecology and conservation in working landscapes, from coffee plantations in Colombia to sugarbushes here in Vermont. Join us on Zoom for this great program!

Postponed to March 2 due to forecast calling for frigid temperatures.

Join the members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society for some winter birding, as we explore the fields and forests of the Winooski River floodplain at the Ethan Allen Homestead. Starting out from the parking area near the museum, we will head out on surrounding trails in search of a variety of avian species. Depending upon the weather, we may be walking on bare ground or snow-covered trails in cold or mild temperatures. Our outing will cover less than two miles over mostly flat terrain. Participants should dress for whatever conditions the day brings. To ensure an enjoyable birding experience, this trip is limited to 20 participants.

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ONLINE PROGRAM

Trish O’Kane is an accidental ornithologist. In her nearly two decades writing about justice as an investigative journalist, she'd never paid attention to nature. But then Hurricane Katrina destroyed her New Orleans home, sending her into an emotional tailspin. Enter a scrappy cast of feathered characters—first a cardinal, urban parrots, and sparrows, then a catbird, owls, a bittern, and a woodcock—that cheered her up and showed her a new path. Join us on Zoom for this great program!

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Bird Tales has become one of the Friends of Missisquoi NWR’s most popular events. Join us and find out why!

This year’s collection of avian stories will be coming from members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society. These avid birders will certainly have stories to entertain the audience.

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Emily Filiberti, graduate student at the University of Maine, has spent the past three years using VHF-coded telemetry to track and monitor a species facing acute population decline, the Golden-winged Warbler. Join us as Emily walks us through the process of tagging and tracking these charismatic and elusive birds, how the Motus network is playing a role in understanding migratory pathways, and how her work will ultimately help to inform future management decisions for the imperiled species. 

Originally from Fairfax, Vermont, Emily discovered her love for birds at a young age while exploring the state with her mother, an avid local birder. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New England, she took on several bird-focused internships, including working with Bobolinks at Shelburne Farms, tracking American Redstarts in western Jamaica, and observing Lance-tailed Manakin courtship performances on an island in Panama. She is now finishing up her Master's of Science program in the Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology department at the University of Maine.

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We all know that nature provides us with peace, quiet, contemplation and delight. Nature can also startle and surprise us. Join Maeve Kim and her partner Bernie Paquette for an evening of breath-taking photos and astonishing stories.

Bernie is a citizen scientist who promotes curiosity, observation, and reflection of all life forms in nature. He has created and developed the JFiN (Jericho Families in Nature) organization, the Community Backyard Bug Safari program, and the JULS (Jericho/ Underhill Life Search) program - all to introduce more folks to nature and entice them to take a closer look at all life forms, insects in particular. He posts photos of insects onto iNaturalist (20,000 at last count) and writes/publishes Jericho Conservation Newsletters, Nature Journals, and nature-themed short stories. His Nature-Inspired Single-Panel Comics are published weekly on his Bugeyed Bernie blog.

Maeve has conducted many programs and classes about birds for GMAS, Audubon Vermont, the Friends of Missisquoi, OLLI-UVM, CVUAccess and other organizations. Tonight she’ll share great finds from Vermont and farther afield. Bernie will introduce you all
to inverting with a closer look at creatures on the fresh-and-alive section of the menu for birds.

Get an early start on your 2024 bird list with members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society as we explore the Burlington waterfront in search of those hardy feathered fauna that spend the winter in Vermont. Starting at Perkins Pier, we will make our way up to the Coast Guard building and back. One never knows what surprises the new day and the new year will bring!

To register follow this link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-day-birding-on-the-burlington-waterfront-tickets-725399307857?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join other Vermont Birders in the annual count of observed bird species in the Burlington area!

Consider participating in the 2023 Winter Bird Count, a long-standing program of the National Audubon Society, with over 100 years of citizen science involvement. This event is part of an early-winter bird census, where volunteers across Vermont, the US, Canada and many countries in the Western Hemisphere, within a 24 hour period to count birds. Whether contributing as a feeder watcher or as part of a team observing birds in a designated sector, all are welcome.

For more information on who to contact to learn about a count near you and how you can participate, follow this link: https://gis.audubon.org/christmasbirdcount/?_gl=1*1h1npm0*_ga*MTM3NDA5Nzg4NS4xNjg5ODcyOTY5*_ga_X2XNL2MWTT*MTcwMDU5NjI3MC4zMzEuMS4xNzAwNTk5NzM3LjMyLjAuMA..

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"While the falling leaves may signal the departure of many summer songsters, the first snow falls usher in an exciting and often underappreciated time in the birding year. Together we will explore a diversity of hardy birds, prepare for winter bird counts, and learn just what it takes to survive our long, cold winter."

Zac Cota is an expert birder, Birds of Vermont Museum board member, Vermont Bird Records Committee member, Vermont eBird Data Expert, and Teacher-Naturalist with North Branch Nature Center.

Explore the diversity of habitats and the resident avian species at the St. Michael’s College Natural Area with members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society. This 2.5 mile walk over varied and often wet terrain will provide participants the opportunity to traverse the Winooski River floodplain’s fields and forests. The trail eventually leads to more elevated mixed species forest and old field environments. At this site, human activities have provided fodder for a large population of feeding crows, ravens, and many other species. To ensure an enjoyable birding experience, this trip is limited to 20 participants. Registration opens on November 11, 2023

To register for this event follow the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-winter-birding-at-the-st-michaels-college-natural-area-tickets-718925163517?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society in our monthly monitoring walk at the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington. This early morning walk will offer an early winter opportunity to view primarily winter resident species with possibly a late migrant tor two. Come be part of a decades-long effort of monthly monitoring. Our path will take us just short of 2 miles over uneven and somewhat hilly terrain. The availability of access to restrooms cannot be guaranteed.

The South Hero Marsh Trail follows an old railroad bed through wetland forest adjacent to both an extensive marsh and open fields. This edge habitat provides food and cover for a diversity of bird species, both resident and migrating. Join the Green Mountain Audubon Society as we visit this site in the hope of getting good looks at a number of avian species. Due to the narrowness of the trail at points, this is being limited to 15 participants. Registration for this event opens October 21, 2023.

To register for this event follow the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birding-in-the-islands-south-hero-marsh-trail-tickets-729664103977?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society in our monthly monitoring walk at the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington. This early morning walk will offer an mid-fall opportunity to view a diversity of both resident and migratory avian species and, hopefully, some beautiful foliage. Come be part of a decades-long effort of monthly monitoring. Our path will take us just short of 2 miles over uneven and somewhat hilly terrain. The availability of access to restrooms cannot be guaranteed. Tickets available starting October 14.

To register for this outing, please follow the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bird-monitoring-at-the-green-mountain-audubon-center-in-huntington-tickets-718597072187?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society as we traverse the beautiful grounds of Shelburne Farms to observe resident and migrating avian species. The diverse habitat at the site includes fields, shrubs, forests, and wetlands, as well as the lake, providing both food and shelter to a variety of birds. Birders will meet at the Coach Barn, near the lake front to look for waterfowl and other birds on the water. From there, we will traverse fields and forest in search of various avian species.

Registration for this event will open on October 7, 2023.

To register for this event follow the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-birding-at-shelburne-farms-tickets-718645456907?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join Larry Orvis and Ali Wagner on a 3 mile (round trip) walk in the foothills of the Green Mountains in the southernmost portion of Camels Hump State Forest.  They will lead us through a variety of habitats while explaining the management strategies and  the creatures that benefit from these practices. Anticipate a 4 hour walk (depending on bird activity), easy walking up forest service road with a few short steep sections. Please note that, due to the nature of this event, registration is limited to 12 participants. Registration for this event will open on Saturday September 21.

Participants are advised to bring bug repellent and water. Parking/carpooling, if possible, is encouraged as space is limited on site. Specific directions will be forwarded to all registrants via email.

To register for this event follow the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-morrison-place-birds-and-stewardship-of-a-vermont-landscape-tickets-718620121127?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society in our monthly monitoring walk at the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington. This early morning walk will offer an early fall opportunity to view a diversity of both resident and migratory avian species. Come be part of a decades-long effort of monthly monitoring. Our path will take us just short of 2 miles over uneven and somewhat hilly terrain. The availability of access to restrooms cannot be guaranteed. Tickets available starting September 9.

To register for this outing, please follow the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monitoring-at-green-mountain-audubon-center-in-huntington-tickets-713269186337?aff=oddtdtcreator

POSTPONED DUE TO FLOODING - TO BE RESCHEDULED

Join Larry Orvis and Ali Wagner on a 3 mile (round trip) walk in the foothills of the Green Mountains in the southernmost portion of Camels Hump State Forest.  They will lead us through a variety of habitats while explaining the management strategies and  the creatures that benefit from these practices. Anticipate a 4 hour walk (depending on bird activity), easy walking up forest service road with a few short steep sections. Please note that, due to the nature of this event, registration is limited to 12 participants.

Participants are advised to bring bug repellent and water. Parking/carpooling, if possible, is encouraged as space is limited on site. Specific directions will be forwarded to all registrants via email.

Green Mountain Audubon returns to Farrell Park to highlight the number and diversity of birds living close to a suburban community along an accessible paved pathway.

After meeting in the parking area just off Swift Street, we will travel along a well-used trail, that meanders through deciduous forest and along open fields, providing the opportunity to observe a variety of species. Maybe if we are lucky, we will again see the owls observed there last year! The pathway that we will take is paved, relatively smooth with some gradual inclines. Portable restroom facilities are available at the site. To ensure an enjoyable birding experience, this trip is limited to 20 participants. Registration for this outing will open on June 3.

To register for this event, click on the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/suburban-birding-at-farrell-park-tickets-594029687787

Observe science in action as Audubon Vermont’s Mark LaBarr conducts a bird banding demonstration at Williston’s Catamount Community Forest. Commencing at 7:00 AM, Mark will employ mist nets to collect, measure, band, and release a variety of avian species and describe how that information is employed in research to to improve our understanding of birds. The banding demonstration will continue until approximately 10:00 AM.

A 8:00 AM, members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society will lead a walk to observe bird species in the various natural habitats found at Catamount. The walk will be limited to 30 registered participants to ensure an enjoyable birding experience. To register for the walk, click on the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bird-banding-demonstration-and-bird-walk-at-catamount-community-forest-tickets-595310147677

This event is the result of collaboration of the Catamount Community Forest, Audubon Vermont, and the Green Mountain Audubon Society.

Green Mountain Audubon explores Westford’s beautiful Town Forest. Trails here traverse a variety of avian habitats including both coniferous and deciduous forest, open fields and areas along the banks of Browns River. This outing offers the opportunity to observe a number of bird species as well as a very scenic landscape. We will trek over 2+ miles including areas with some uneven ground and a few hills. There is a port-o-let near the parking lot where we will meet behind Westford Elementary School. To ensure an enjoyable birding experience, this trip is limited to 20 participants. Registration for this outing will open on May 20th.

Click on this link to register for this event:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birding-at-westfords-town-trails-at-westford-elementary-school-tickets-594017501337

Join members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society in our monthly monitoring walk at the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington. This early morning walk will, hopefully, offer a spectacular variety of passerine birds in their finest breeding plumage. Come be part of a decades long effort of monthly monitoring and hear the beautiful songs that we have longed for all winter. Our path will take us just short of 2 miles over uneven and somewhat hilly terrain. The availability of access to restrooms cannot be guaranteed.

To register for this outing, please follow the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monitoring-walk-at-the-green-mountain-audubon-center-in-huntington-tickets-594039798027

This special excursion (limited to 10 participants) will provide the opportunity to gain a unique perspective on a very productive ecosystem that is part of the Rock River Wildlife Management Area. Venturing from the boat launch near the Missisquoi Bay in Swanton, we will paddle upstream on the slow-moving Rock River, beneath the branches of the floodplain forest, where the trees are alive with with birdsong. Participants will need to provide their own kayak, paddle and lifejacket. There are no restroom facilities at this location.

Registration for this event will open on May 14.

To register for this event, click on the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rock-river-birding-by-kayak-tickets-593989848627

Join the Green Mountain Audubon Society in exploring two special preserves on North Hero. Pelot’s Point, bordering Lake Champlain, offers a variety of habitats including fields, deciduous forest, cedar stands, and marsh areas. Butternut Hill includes two wetlands with a floodplain forest, a mature beech forest, and a small patch of red cedar woodland along the rocky bluff at the lake shore. Within each of these locales can be found a variety of avian species. This outing will cover approximately 2-3 miles over some uneven terrain with a few hills. There are no restroom facilities on site. To ensure an enjoyable birding experience, this trip is limited to 20 participants. Registration for this outing will open on May 6.

To register for this event, follow this link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/north-hero-birding-pelots-point-and-butternut-hill-natural-areas-tickets-593942527087

This popular spring outing presents a great opportunity to view returning woodland warblers before the emergence of the leaves of the forest trees. Traveling approximately two miles along the slightly inclined paved park road, participants will be serenaded by spring songs and observe flashes of birds in breeding plumage. There are rest room facilities near parking close to the top of the Waterbury Dam. To ensure an enjoyable birding experience, this trip is limited to 30 participants. At the start, birders will assembled into smaller groups. Registration for this outing will open on April 29.

To register for this event, follow this link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warbler-watch-at-little-river-state-park-tickets-593975295097

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Join Bird Diva Bridget Butler for a tech talk on using eBird, an online platform and smartphone application that turns your bird observations into real-time data that can provide scientists, researchers, landowners, and communities with information on bird distribution and abundance.

We’ll start a short overview of eBird and what it does, exploring the online website together and learning how to set up an account, search for specific birds, and look at data on birding hotspots in our communities. We’ll then shift to looking at the smartphone app and learn how to capture our observations while in the field. 

Participants should consider registering for eBird and uploading the app to their cell phone before this talk. Having your cell phone handy during the presentation will allow you to play with features as they’re discussed.

Bridget has used eBird personally and professionally since 2004. She oversees the Birder Broker project in Vermont which uses eBird to document breeding birds on private lands with the help of birders and landowners. She also serves on the Vermont Bird Records Committee and is on the board of the Green Mountain Audubon Chapter. You can learn more about her work at www.birddiva.com.