local Christmas Bird Count set for Saturday, December 26

On Saturday, December 26, Rutland County Audubon will participate in the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world, National Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count. From Alaska to Antarctica, tens of thousands of volunteers will add a new layer to over a century of data vital to conservation. Armed with binoculars, local volunteers will join this Citizen Science initiative to count birds in a prescribed 15-mile diameter circle centered where Route 4A crosses the Otter Creek in Center Rutland. The Rutland count will be one of eighteen counts between December 14, 2009 and January 5, 2010 in Vermont. This will mark the 36th local count and the 110th national and international count. Last year the total number of Christmas Bird Counts exceeded 2,000 and over 65 million birds were tallied!

Last year the Rutland count fielded 29 observers in 8 teams who covered 25 miles on foot and 278 miles by car and along with the 8 feeder watchers tallied 10,533 individual birds (9,350 is the 10-year running average).

Scientists rely on gathered data to better understand how birds and the environment we share are faring. Just like canaries in the coal mine, birds serve as early indicators of problems that can eventually affect people and wildlife. 

The Christmas Bird Count began in 1900 when the founder of Bird-Lore (the progenitor of Audubon magazine), Frank Chapman, suggested an alternative to the “side hunt,” in which teams competed to see who could shoot the most game, including birds. Chapman proposed that people “hunt” birds only to identify, count, and record them. These “Binocular Brigades” often brave winter’s chill, ice and snow to record changes in resident bird populations and their ranges.

Traditionally the count day concludes with a potluck supper. It is a time to exchange stories and experiences and to establish a tentative list of the day's sightings. All participants and friends are welcome to meet at the Proctor Free Library at 6 o'clock. Tableware and beverages will be supplied and participants are encourages to bring their choice of a hot dish, salad or dessert.

New participants are always welcome as field observers or feeder watchers. This year new recruites are particularly welcome as several veteran particpants will be away over the holidays. Any new participants will be assigned to an experienced team leader! If interested, please give Roy a call at 775-3461.

eight years of marsh monitoring completed

On Thursday, July 16, 2009, a group of Rutland County Audubon members and friends completed eight years of monthly marsh monitoring of the birds associated with the West Rutland marsh. The first of these walks around the 3.7 mile perimeter of the marsh took place on August 16, 2001, with 15 observers during which 45 species were tallied. The number of species tallied is now 137 while observer participation has reached 1127. The lowest number of species ever recorded on a monthly walk was 28 on April 16, 2005, and the highest number was 70 on May 18, 2006.

Bird monitoring at the marsh has several objectives. One objective is to raise the awareness and appreciation of the general public to this Important Bird Area as an exceptional natural resource. A corollary to the awareness and appreciation is the hope that the future of the marsh and its sustainability will be ensured. A second objective for monthly bird monitoring is that it offers an educational opportunity for birders of all ages and experience to sharpen their identification skills, both visual and auditory, in a collegial and welcoming environment. Finally, with all sightings entered on eBird, the cumulative record will provide researchers an opportunity to advance bird conservation here in Vermont and beyond.

Marsh walks are scheduled monthly generally on a Thursday or a Saturday. Participants meet at the West Rutland Price Chopper parking area at 7:00 a.m. except during winter months when the gathering time is 8:00 a.m. All walks are free and open to the public. Come join us!

a rare gift!

Common Loon Parents and newly hatched chick at Spring Lake in Cuttingsville.

It all started with a phone call late Thursday evening. For close on two months Connie had watched over a pair of nesting Common Loon and by her best estimate hatching was imminent, probably the next day. But Connie was off the next day for a three day conference, would it be possible for me to be there the following day to record the highly anticipated event.

By 8.45 the next morning, Friday, I was ready, camera poised, adult on the nest, mate patrolling nearby and the sun clear and well placed. Fifteen short minutes later, the female loon, slid from her nest followed immediately by a single fluffy black chick. The chick “hit the water running” scampering over the surface at full throttle, ending up with a couple of head dips two or three meters later! For the next thirty minutes the two adults introduced the single chick to its immediate surroundings. The male, again I assume, took it upon himself to catch the first shiny morsels for the chick, but the actual transfer was not observed. The two adults, usually swimming together with the chick between them, if they decided temporarily to separate, the chick appeared to be in two minds as to whom to follow, but invariably, if the observer’s determination was correct, it would choose “Mom”.

After a thirty minute leisurely “swim about”, with the chick at times hitching a ride, the female loon clambered back on to the nest site, this time in the opposite direction to that first observed. Common Loon usually produce two eggs, hence the female must have decided that there was a second chick to be brought into the world.

For the next two hours the male’s behavior was somewhat confusing. With a very small minnow clasped in his beak, he was seen to circle many times around the nesting platform with the intent of feeding either the chick or his mate both on the nest. But the mate was apparently facing in the wrong direction and he could not fulfill his intent. What appeared to be in desperation, still clasping the shiny morsel and on three separate occasions the male clambered not only on to the nest but he appeared to be on top of his mate. While the trio was on the nest a few low vocalizations were heard. The retreat back into the water was “clumsy” to put it delicately!

Shadows began to close the curtain of opportunity to any further picture taking and so the events that followed were once again returned to the intimate privacy of the principal participants.

To be present at the birth of one’s own child, is humbling. To be present at the “coming out” of a not so common Common Loon chick, is a rare gift!

Kent Pond

Semipalmated Sandpiper Kent Pond

Kent Pond is a man made impoundment at an elevation of 1560 feet aligned with the ridge of the Green Mountains. Kent Pond is situated at the apex of the right angle formed by Route 4 East and Route 100. It may be accessed from either highway.

The pond itself, although relatively small and a popular fishing site from both the impoundment and by boat, has provided several surprises for bird enthusiasts. Among those surprises are Brant, Pacific Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Red Phalarope and Semi-palmated Sandpiper, all seen and documented during the month of May. To these may be added Lesser Yellowlegs in April and Dunlin in June.

Another common thread running through most of these sightings is that they occurred during or following an extended period of overcast and/or rainy weather. If these shorebirds were in fact migrating and following the ridge of the Green Mountains, Kent Pond would serve as a temporary sanctuary from the inhospitable elements.

At the time of writing this entry in the Birding Journal, (late June), Kent Pond is host to a pair of nesting Common Loon.