Vermont Birds and Words : Resources

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There's Nothing 86 Tonight

A First for Ivy Pritchard

Index to Birding Resources

1. Birding related links we like
2. Sound Advice (Bird sounds)
3. Local Birding Locations /descp.

4. NEK birding locations
5. Some places to paddle your boat and go birding at the same time!

6. Vermont Habitat Stamp
7. Bird Breeding Dates in Vermont
8. Ticks
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1. Links to bird photos, articles and organizations.

WorldBirds.org is a great site we just discovered, with lots of articles and helpful information.

Bird watching is an easy way to practice mindfulness.

BIRD FRIENDLY NATIVE PLANTS and which birds each plant can attract/feed

How to Choose A Bird-Friendly Coffee

Cats and Birds - video (Cats kill about 2.4 BILLION birds in the contiguous United States EVERY YEAR.)

All About Bald Eagles!!

Coopers VS Sharp-shinned Hawk

Woodpecker Drums

Bird Friendly Coffee

Vermont Bird Hikes and Walks locations

Bird photos, Bryan Pfeiffer

Champlain Islands Nature blog
by Charles (Chuck) Hulse, MD PhD & Master Naturalist

Fat Birder blog with many birding resource links.

Id birds by their flight feathers.

ID bird by shape

How to ID Birds (Cornell)

A Beginner's Guide to Reading Bird Tracks in Snow

Vermont e-Bird: A real time online checklist of birds seen by location.

Birds seen in Vermont by date and bird type. ABA (American Birding Association)

Green Mountain Audubon Society

All About Birds (Cornell articles)

Bird Therapy (Blog)

Nature blog "Naturally Curious", Mary Holland

California Monterey Aquarium Bird Aviary Live web Cam

Audubon magazine issues online.

The art of forest bathing

Why native plants are better for birds and people.

Native Plant list for Jericho, Vermont

Sooty Feathers Tell the Story of Pollution in American Cities.

BirdLife International

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2. SOUND ADVICE - Resources to help people learn and remember bird song

On-line Collections of Bird Noises

Xeno-canto is Maeve's go-to site. There are thousands and thousands of bird noises from all over the world, many examples for each bird.

The MacCauley Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is also huge, with sounds from birds and other creatures.

Apps for Learning Bird Sounds

Here are three pedagogically-designed learning apps, with organized lessons, review, immediate correction, and games to help learning.

Larkwire gets consistently good reviews.

Chirp!

iKnowBirdSongs

Merlin is a free app that allows people to take smartphone photos or even download existing bird photos and then have the birds identified! Here's a review.

There's also a new app called Song Sleuth that allows people to record bird noises and find out what they've just heard. Here's a link to a description and review of the app.

Many people rely on memory-assists called mnemonics for remembering bird songs. Here are two big lists of common mnemonics.

• http://www.fernbank.edu/Birding/mnemonics.htm

• https://web.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/birdsong.html

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3. Local Birding Locations

Remember, The joy of birding can be unique to each individual. One's level of experience is not necessarily a gauge of how much one can enjoy observing birds, their behavior and their habitat. ~ Bernie

BIRDING IN AND NEAR BURLINGTON - prepared by Maeve, 2014

Note: The LocalMotion TrailFinder has directions and maps for many or all of the following trails and areas.

In BURLINGTON

Red Rocks Park – off Route 7 heading south out of Burlington - many trails through woods, some overlooking Lake Champlain – This park is a well-known migrant trap for warblers in spring and fall.

CentennialWoods – adjacent to UVM campus - 65 acres of mature conifer stands, mixed hardwoods, fields, streams, and wetlands – This diverse habitat has been extensively studied by students in Environmental Studies, Botany, Zoology, Forestry, Recreation Management, and Education.

The Intervale is a unique area of farms on river-bottom land. There are several good birding trails including the Rita Calkins Trail, which starts near Gardeners’ Supply.

Arms Forest or Arms Grant Land - behind North Avenue Elks Lodge parking lot. Trail behind parking lot.

In COLCHESTER

Delta Park – An easy trail goes through woods to the lake and is good for young children. Each spring, a lot of the access trail to Delta Park is under water, so it’s best to save this walk for later in the summer, after lake levels recede. In late August and early September, especially during years when Lake Champlain is relatively low, birders flock to this small park to watch migrating shorebirds feeding on exposed sand flats. From Porter’s Point Road in Colchester, turn onto Airport Road and then take a left onto Windermere Way. Go 0.7 miles to the Park.

Colchester Bog – The bike trail leads from Airport Park through this unique habitat. From here, you can walk or bike almost all the way to South Hero along the Colchester Causeway.

In WILLISTON

Mud Pond Conservation Area and Mud Pond Country Park – Take Oak Hill Road south out of Williston. Just after passing over I-89, take a left onto South Road. After about two miles, turn right onto Mud Pond Road. Parking is immediately on your right. For the Conservation Area, go up the hill for a 0.7-mile walk through woods to a lookout stand by a deep pond. This small area can be amazingly birdy. Birders have been known to take almost three hours to walk to the pond and back!

For the Country Park, walk back across South Road and duck into the woods when you see a path and an informational kiosk. These are beautiful woods with many mountain bike paths only some of which are on the map that’s available at the kiosk; it’s very easy to get temporarily lost!

Sucker Brook Hollow Country Park – The parking area for this new nature area is about 2 miles south of the I-89 overpass on Route 2A. 2.3 mile round-trip multiuse trail that includes an impressive 57-ft long footbridge. Connects to Five Tree Hill.

Five Tree Hill Country Park – 1.3-mile trail in tons of open space with great views

Oak Hill View Country Park – Hiking or walking trail loops across the Isham Family Farm, with scenic features including a small pond, sugar bush, and great views of Mount Mansfield and Camels Hump.

In ESSEX JUNCTION

Woodside Natural Area – The beautiful 1-mile loop walk in Woodside has yielded more bird species than almost any other part of Vermont. A pair of Red-Shouldered Hawks has nested in the park for several years now. At least one of the hawks has stayed during the winter, which is very unusual for this migratory species.

Woodside is maintained by the Winooski Valley Park District, which also manages many beautiful outdoor locations in the greater Burlington area, including Colchester Pond, the Ethan Allen Homestead, Overlook Park, Woodside Natural Area and the Old Red Mill in Jericho. Go to www.wvpd.org for directions and trail maps.

In CHARLOTTE

The CharlottePark and Wildlife Refuge is a little-used gem with diverse habitats. Walk on well-marked trails through old orchards and farmland, through forests, and out into wide fields with views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. Eastern Towhees and Brown Thrashers aren’t common in Vermont but have nested here for many years. The Park entrance is off Greenbush Road, north of Charlotte Village and just south of the narrow railroad underpass. (Note: There has been some trouble with vandalism in the parking area, so don’t leave valuable items in your car.)

Williams Woods - One-mile trail in 63 acres of mature valley clayplain forest preserved by The Nature Conservancy. A small pull-off is on Greenbush Road in Charlotte.

In HINESBURG

Hinesburg Area Recreation Trails (HART) - The town of Hinesburg has been doing a remarkable job preserving beautiful land and developing well-marked trails. Go to www.hinesburg.org/hart.html for directions and maps. Here are a few gems:

Geprags Park – Geprags Park is famous among birders because of nesting Golden-Winged Warblers and Blue-Winged Warblers, both beautiful and both rare in the state. (The park also has had at least two identifiable hybrids of these two species.) Trails lead through old orchards and forests. The Hinesburg Invasive Team has been working with the town’s Conservation Commission and Land Trust, as well as The Nature Conservancy and the Green Mountain Audubon Society, to eradicate invasive species and replace them with more bird-friendly plants. The parking area is off Shelburne Falls Road.

HinesburgTown Forest – Google to find maps and directions for three entrances. The Economou Road entrance has been the best for birding. After parking, walk around the metal gate. Soon you’ll come to a clearing with trails (actually logging roads) heading straight and to the right. The road to the right will take you to a large blow-down area. Find a comfy log, sit and wait. In late April and May, you’ll see many different warblers, sparrows, woodpeckers, and flycatchers (including the uncommon Olive-Sided Flycatcher). You also might hear the high whistle of a Broad-Winged Hawk overhead.

LaPlatteHeadwaters Town Forest – 301 acres preserved by the Hinesburg Land Trust and Trust for Public Land - The Lewis Creek Road trail-head leads directly into beautiful forest.

In RICHMOND

Warren and Ruth Beeken Rivershore Trail – a lovely walk through woods and along the Winooski – Look for the nest holes of Bank Swallows in the steep banks across the river. From the center of Richmond, go down Bridge Street. Just past the Round Church, turn left on Cochran Rd. There are three ways to access the trail. The most popular is about midway along the trail at the canoe access about 1.5 miles from the Round Church.

Volunteer Green Trail – This very short trail along the Winooski can be an exciting place to go birding in the spring. Park at Volunteer Green Park (next to On the Rise Bakery) and walk out behind the band shell. The trail begins near the river's edge.

In SHELBURNE

LaPlatte Nature Area and Ti-Haul Trail– Both of these walking trails are reached from Bay Road in Shelburne. Park in the large fishing access lot or in the lot for Shelburne Bay Park, and walk across the road. The dirt Nature Area trail runs along the LaPlatte River. The Ti-Haul Trail (originally laid down to move the boat The Ticonderoga from the Bay to Shelburne Museum) is a wider rec path made of cinders.

Shelburne Bay Park - The parking lot for Shelburne Bay Park is a bit farther down Bay Road from the large fishing access lot. There’s a flat, packed gravel rec path as well as dirt foot trails on Allen Hill. The latter trail runs along high banks beside the lake.

In JERICHO

Mills Riverside Park – Walk on extensive trails through fields and forests. The Park entrance is on Route 15 just outside Underhill Flats.

Mobbs Farm – several miles of walking and mountain bike trails in woods and meadows - Check the map at the kiosk on Fitzsimonds Road to find out what trails are open for biking.

BIRDING WITHOUT WALKING

At various times of the year, some of the best birding in the state is done from a relatively stationary position.

Spring – Drive slowly along the access road at Dead CreekWildlife Management Area in Addison (off Route 17). Starting in March, there might be eagles, ravens, crows and gulls on the melting ice, devouring fish that got trapped when the water froze. In April and May, the hedgerows are full of returning songbirds. Read more from Otter Creek Audubon Society

Summer – Take the Island Runner ferry from Kilkare StatePark to Burton Island. On the island, sit on the bench near the boat basin and watch for gulls and terns.

Fall – From mid-September until Mt. Philo State Park closes in October, drive up to the parking lot near the summit and then walk a short distance to one of the lookouts. Enjoy panoramic views of the Champlain Valley and the Adirondacks while you look for migrating hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures. - In mid-October, head down to Addison and park at the Goose Viewing Area along Route 17. Scan the fields for Snow Geese and Canada Geese.

Winter – If you’ve got a spotting scope, park at CharlotteTown Beach and start scanning the lake. You’ll be astonished at how much activity there is! You can also check out winter ducks by riding the Charlotte or Grand Isle ferry or by hanging out for a while at the docks.

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4. NEK (NORTH EAST KINGDOM) BIRDING PLACES

Moose Bog - Moose Bog in Wenlock Wildlife Management Area (Ferdinand) – includes South America Pond Road – black-backed woodpeckers have been seen there fairly often – spruce grouse have been seen on Moose Bog Trail - From the old railroad depot in Island Pond, head east on Route 105 for 9.4 miles. Turn right onto the unpaved South America Pond Road. A small parking area will be on your right up ahead. Hike the trail down into the bog and just past the parking area on the same side is an upper trail.

West Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Located in the towns of Maidstone, Ferdinand and Brunswick, the WMA ranges north from Maidstone Lake to Route 105, and east from South America Pond to the Connecticut River. Access is available along miles of dirt roads. Main entry points are South America Pond Road off Route 105, and Maidstone Lake and Paul Stream Roads off Route 102.

Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge
Good birding along Stone Dam Road, Peanut Dam Road, Eagle’s Nest Road, Four Miles Road. There's also a scenic overlook behind the Visitor Contact Station in Brunswick VT, with a bird's-eye view of much of Nulhegan Basin as well as a rustic, 1-mile loop trail. Note: The forty miles of gravel roads in this NWR aren't plowed in the winter, and the gates are locked during mud season.

Mollie Beattie Bog (part of Silvio Conte NWR) has a self-guided 200-foot, fully wheelchair-accessible boardwalk and trail includes signs illustrating bog formation, the interesting rare plants that inhabit the black spruce bog area, and the legacy of the late Mollie Beattie, a former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and a Vermont native. Click here for a descriptive article.

Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area is a 4,970-acre wetland and forest complex owned by the State of Vermont and managed by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The property is located 15 miles northeast of St. Johnsbury in the town of Victory, in Essex County. Access areas are located along Victory Road, a dirt road that bisects the WMA and follows the Moose River from North Concord to Gallup Mills.

Steam Mill Brook WMA is nearby and not-often birded, but people have seen nesting Black-backed Woodpeckers and Blackpoll Warblers as well as many other warbler species.

Lake Memphramagog
On the east side of the lake, right on the Canadian border, is a piece of land that has recently become part of the Missisquoi NWR. It's a mixture of grasslands, a small pond and marshy area, and wooded areas along the shore. It's probably the largest piece of public land on the lake. Trails are well-marked and worth checking out. The Canadian border is also well-marked -- don't cross it! amazing piece of land on the east side of Lake Memphremagog - it's called Eagle Point. After being donated for conservation as part of the will of Michael Dunn, a wealthy Montrealer, who owned property on both sides of the US/Canadian border, it officially became part of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, though the State of Vermont is in charge of managing it. It is a gem!
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5. SOME GOOD PLACES FOR BIRDERS TO GO PADDLING

Arrowhead Mountain Lake: This dammed up part of the Lamoille River in Georgia and Milton has a split personality. The southern half feels like a deep, wide river and often has fast-moving motorboats. The northern half is a shallow marshy area that’s great for paddling and provides a rich habitat for many birds. There are several osprey nests, one only a few yards above the water on a huge old fallen tree. You might also see terns, herons, kingfishers and ducks. (The northern marshes are great for duck hunting. Paddlers should stay away during that season!) Directions: You can get to Arrowhead Mountain Lake by taking I89 to exit 18 and then turning south on Route 7. Almost immediately, turn onto 104A West. Or take Route 7 all the way and turn right onto 104A after driving by the length of the lake. The fishing access is on your right 1.5 miles down 104A.

Black Creek Wildlife Management Area – This wetland is just outside St. Albans Bay on Route 36. The lake’s on the south and there’s a pulloff for three or four cars on the northern side of the road. There are two main “arms”, one relatively short that branches off to the right not long after putting in, and the other much longer ending in a narrow stream.

Colchester Pond: This little gem doesn’t offer exciting paddling, but it’s close to Burlington and fine for a lazy summer afternoon. It’s also a great place for boating with children or trying out a new canoe, with no chance of being swamped by anything large or noisy. The big parking lot is up a steep hill from the pond but the kind people at the Winooski Park District have provided wheeled carts for transporting boats up and down. The grassy slope calls out for picnics. There’s a beautiful walking trail that goes all the way around the pond. Directions: To get to Colchester Pond, take Route 15 through Essex Junction. Watch for McDonald’s on your right and Ehler’s RV on your left. Soon after, there’s a traffic light at Old Stage Road. Turn left and then make an almost immediate left onto Lost Nation Road. Follow LNR, turning when it does. (Don’t take Discovery Road.) Make a left onto Curve Hill Road. Go right at the bottom of the hill onto Colchester Pond Road.

Green River Reservoir – Many paddlers consider this the best place to take a nonmotorized boat in the whole state – and it’s definitely one of the best places to see Common Loons! GRR has over 5000 beautiful acres, with dense woodlands and many coves and private little inlets. It’s now a state park featuring primitive campsites that can be reached by boat only. Go to https://www.vtstateparks.com/grriver.html for maps and directions.

Kingsland Bay - The Kingsland Bay Fishing Access area is a gateway to Lake Champlain and Little Otter Creek. If you’re looking for a quiet paddle with few motorboats, head up Little Otter Creek rather than out toward the Lake. Directions: Drive down Route 7 to Ferrisburgh. Opposite the small green and church, turn right onto Little Chicago Road. Look for a sign for Kingsland Bay State Park. Just beyond it, turn right onto Hawkins Rd. In a little over a mile, there’s a “slang” (a low part of the road with water on both sides). The fishing access parking lot is just past this.

Lamoille Delta – Where the Lamoille River enters Lake Champlain, it splits into two around a delta of silt that the river has deposited over many, many years. You can put in at a fishing access on Access Road (turn onto Cub Road off Route 2, then onto Access Road). Or put in at the large fishing access across Route 2 from Sand Bar State Park. As you paddle straight out away from Route 2, be sure to stay to the right of the signs marking the boundary of a restricted area. You’ll come to the first mouth of the river soon, and then the second. Go up one and down the other. Poke around in the bay a little to the south. There’s a great view of the Colchester Causeway to your right!

LaPlatte River – This is a great place to paddle in the spring, when the water’s still high enough to allow kayaks and canoes to float over fallen logs. Put in at the big fishing access on Bay Road in Shelburne and head upstream. There are several wetland areas that often have Green Herons, Great Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Wood Ducks and other birds. You’re also apt to see Belted Kingfishers along the main channel of the river.

Shelburne Pond: Much of the shoreline of this pond is protected by the Nature Conservancy and the University of Vermont. The water is surrounded by ledges, cliffs and marshes. The marsh at the northern end of the pond is a good place to see ducks, herons, turtles and possibly beavers. There’s also a trail from the parking area that takes walkers into the woods and onto small bluffs. The area features a wide assortment of ferns, some of which are rare. (Visitors shouldn’t pick or dig any plants in the area.) By late summer, Shelburne Pond can have a strong smell of decaying vegetation, so it’s best to visit in June or July. Directions: Take Williston Road (Route 2) to Hinesburg Road (Route 116). Go over the interstate. After 5+ more miles, turn right onto Pond Road. About a mile and a half down this road, there’s a large State Fishing Access parking lot.

Winona Lake (sometimes called Bristol Pond) – Heading south on Monkton Road, turn into a fishing access area on your left. This small pond with adjacent wetlands hosted nesting Sandhill Cranes from 2005 through 2016.

Lake Champlain

Before heading out on the broad lake, a paddler should be an experienced boater, a good swimmer, and wearing a PFD (personal flotation device). It’s also a good idea to go with a small group rather than alone. The bays and inlets generally offer calmer water, but anywhere on the lake you’re likely to encounter wind, waves and wakes from big boats. Check out the Lake Champlain Committee's website for information about the Lake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail. The Lake Champlain Basin Program started this project with help from the National Park Service and the New York State Natural Heritage Trust. The web site provides a history of the project, maps, information about overnight camping areas, and guidelines for responsible use of the trail.

IMPORTANT: Paddlers should be aware of fall waterfowl hunting seasons. Get a schedule at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website.

PS About State Fishing Access Areas

As kayaks and canoes have become more popular, there have been some uncomfortable moments and even some verbal clashes at fishing access areas in Vermont. One fisherman told me, “We get to our favorite spot and it’s full and none of those people are fishing. The paddlers have expensive cars with expensive roof racks and all the latest gear, but they don’t even pay for a fishing license. I’ve got my license, but come a busy weekend and I can’t even park to take my grandson out fishing. There’s no room for me anymore.”

Whether we really drive an expensive car or just tie a little kayak on top of a beat-up Ford Escort, it’s a good idea to understand the controversy – and to understand the Fish and Wildlife Department’s rules that clearly definie the priorities for authorized use of state fishing access areas.

First priority: Angling, ice fishing and the launching of any boat to be used for fishing and parking of vehicles and boat trailers related to fishing

Second: Launching inboard and outboard motorboats and parking of vehicles and trailers needed for that purpose

Third: Trapping, hunting and parking of related vehicles and trailers

Fourth: Launching of non-motorized vessels (boats, kayaks, canoes, rafts, sailboats and sailboards) not used for commercial purposes, and parking of vehicles and trailers related to that purpose

The bottom line is that recreational paddlers have a right to use the access areas after people who are fishing, trapping or hunting. (Groups of paddlers who have paid a guide will have to get a permit from the Fish and Wildlife Department before using state-controlled fishing accesses.)

Here are some suggestions for maintaining a good relationship among all Vermonters who enjoy being out on our lakes, streams and ponds:

If you’re going paddling with a group, carpool whenever possible. If you need a car for every boat, unload boats at the access and then move cars well away from the launching ramp. If the access parking area is very small, leave cars alongside the road if it’s safe to do so.

Be polite and friendly with people who are fishing. Don’t put your boat in until you’ve checked where people’s lines are. When you’re coming in off the water, approach slowly. Hang back a short distance from shore and look at the posture of the people fishing. If everyone is sitting around chatting and looking relaxed, getting out of your canoe or kayak won’t be too intrusive. On the other hand, if someone’s craning forward with tension in every line of her body, she might have a big fish nibbling the bait and she won’t appreciate a sudden approach.

A friend of mine who is an avid kayaker has bought a fishing license, although he has never fished. He leaves the license prominently displayed on the dashboard of his car when he’s parked at a state fishing access. He feels that it’s a way of saying, “I value having ready access to beautiful bodies of water, and I’m willing to pay my share to build and maintain the parking areas”.

6. Birders Helped Make the Vermont Habitat Stamp a Success

Continued support for the Habitat Stamp will support landowners’ efforts to create and protect young forest, shorelines, and other important habitats for birds. It will also help the Department purchase special lands that provide habitat for a range of Vermont species while also providing access to birdwatchers. And the Habitat Stamp will continue to help leverage federal funds to make all this work possible.

If you want to further Vermont’s conservation legacy, donate again this year. Habitat Stamps are available at VT Fish and Wildlife. Thanks to your donations,Vermont’s forests and fields will continue to come alive with birdsong each spring and be places where wildlife thrive now and in the future.

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7. TICKS: WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO? (Excerpt from Burl. Free Press, May 15, 2017)

"Prepare for a heavy tick infestation," Col. Batchelder advises. How? He and Tompkins share these tips:

Consider treating clothing with permethrin, a pesticide that can't go on the skin but can repel ticks and even kill them on contact. Pre-treated clothes also are available to buy.
When heading outdoors, tuck the bottom of your pant legs into your socks. Wearing white socks is helpful, too, because the dark-colored ticks are easier to spot if they hitch a ride.
Hike along the center of a trail. Ticks linger on plants, particularly the underside of leaves, and wait for a potential meal to pass by. The tick will grab on and then settle in for a blood meal. "Ticks will wait for an infinite amount of time to find a host to latch on to," Batchelder says. Adds Tompkins, "You physically need to brush up against one." Ticks don't jump.
After coming in from outside, toss clothes straight into the dryer, Tompkins says: "10 minutes on high will kill more ticks than anything."
Check for ticks. Taking a shower also can help wash them off, especially the young nymphs that are small and more difficult to see.
"If you find a tick on you, remove it right away," Tompkins says. Use fine-tipped tweezers, grab ticks close to where they have attached to the skin and pull straight out. Avoid squeezing a tick's body. Although there is disagreement among experts and others, Tompkins says it's fine if you're unable to pull out the mouth parts. They'll dry out, and your body will expel them.
Wash the area of a tick bite. This won't prevent disease, but it will help fight infection.
Watch for symptoms, and if you have any and remember being bitten by a tick in the past month or so, visit your doctor.

Vermont had 491 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in 2015, along with another 219 suspected cases, according to statistics from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vermont also has the highest rate per capita in the nation, with a three-year average of 85.5 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents.

This year, in addition to Lyme, Powassan disease has become a rising concern. Although the disease isn't new — the CDC reports a confirmed case in Washington County in 1999. Ticks transmit the virus swiftly after a bite, within minutes, as opposed to a day or longer necessary to transmit Lyme. Powassan can cause inflammation of the brain, surrounding membranes and the spinal cord, according to the CDC. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties and seizures."There's no treatment for it," Tompkins warns.

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