2017 Christmas Bird Count Results

Red-tailed HawkRutland ‘s Christmas Bird Count is over. All that is left to do is review the final results and learn from them. Before going on, let’s recognize our faithful leader, Roy Pilcher for his many years of chairing this event and writing this summary. Roy accepted this responsibility for many years and inspired most of the present RCAS board members and friends to keep the tradition alive. Thank you, Roy, for all you have done. We know your efforts have enriched our lives and appreciate all the help you continue to provide. Once again Roy participated in the count as a team leader.

Last year Kathleen Guinness took over organizing the count and the potluck supper held at the Proctor Library. Thanks to Kathleen for carrying on this important tradition!

To help me get started I read some of the previous summaries on our website journal. It’s shocking to read ‘weather was more like April,’ ‘the meadows were green’ and ‘ponds and rivers were free of ice.’ This year my team started its count at 7:30 with the thermometer reading minus 10. We were dressed for the weather and did our best to perform the count despite the bone-chilling weather.

This year our CBC field teams and feeder watchers counted over 7,000 individual birds representing 52 species. Considering the minus temperatures (the day’s high rose to only about 11), this is quite an accomplishment.

Here are a few points of interest starting with regular species that show up year after year.

Mallard: 178

This is down from the 25-year average of 251. Still water was completely frozen, but the small streams was partly open giving them the necessary food and shelter.

Mourning Dove: 329

Down from the average of 523. Fortunately, doves have been flocking to feeders, but perhaps some were missed due to the difficulty in counting in such extreme cold.

Red-tailed Hawk: 23

Our average. This is a positive sign since a stable raptor population may indicate stability of other species lower down on the food chain

Red-bellied Woodpecker: 14

Up from the average of 3. This species has expanded throughout the state in the past 15 years. None were reported in the early years of the count.

American Crow: 2,663

Up from an average of 1,090. Our record high was 1,809 in 2003. To get an accurate count, volunteer Tracy Busony started weeks ahead of time watching the crows as they came to roost at various locations around Rutland City. With help from a neighbor on count day they counted the whole flock, one by one.

Black-capped Chickadee: 453

Down from an average of 1,014. Sadly chickadees, our beloved feeder birds, are in decline. Hopefully some of this year’s low number can be attributed to the difficulty in counting due to the extreme cold weather.

How about some surprises?

Wilson’s Snipe: 1  

This is a surpise to many, but not to the team that leads this section of the count along Otter Creek. This is a species that migrates, but a few may stay behind if they find open water and a food supply. They are hard to spot so maybe more are around than we know.

Red-shouldered hawk: 1

Most have departed, but like the snipe, occasionally one or two can remain. Not a first for the Rutland CBC, our first in 25 years. There are more reports of over-wintering Red-shouldered Hawks in Vermont than in the past.

Eastern Bluebird: 24

Our average of 17. Many people think bluebirds always migrate, but if the food is here, some may stay (even if it is minus 10!)

American Robin: 14

This is down from an average of 23. Many folks think of the robin as our symbol of spring, but it really isn’t. The number of robins remaining is dependent on the food supply. We had just over a dozen this year year, but have recorded many more in prior CBCs.

Red Crossbill: 3

We don’t always get crossbills as they are known to follow cone crops. This is one of those years. Keep a lookout for them as winter wears on!

Snow Bunting: 162

Up from an average of 85. It’s hard to say what a normal year is because it can range from none to several hundred. They do migrate here from farther north looking for food. If you haven’t seen Snow Buntings then watch the cornfields for a burst of white wings and a swirling flock. It’s a wonderful sight.

Dark-eyed Junco: 1,352

Up from an average of 267. Many of us expected to see more juncos this year because we have had so many at our feeders. Fortunately, one of our volunteers has knowledge of them. Normally many more would be farther south in areas like Maryland. The CBC results from those areas (so far) have shown lower than normal numbers. The birds are still here so now we’ll watch to see if they pack their bags or hang around our feeders all winter.

What was missing?

There are numerous species that we see one year, but not the next. That is a normal pattern. No American Kestrels or Northern Harriers were reported. Wild Turkey numbers were way down, but they are probably still in the woods. Only one Belted Kingfisher was reported. A look around the frozen ponds and streams tells you why.

Many of us would love to see a Snowy Owl here in Rutland County, but we’re still waiting for that. They have been reported in Vermont in a few places this year. 

It is amazing we have completed this same count for 44 years in spite of the holiday rush. The data is important. One year may not tell us anything, but the sum of many years is valuable information. That is why we eBird all of our sightings year-round as well as participate in as many citizen science projects we can. We are always looking for volunteers to join our teams, do a feeder watch at home or participate in various projects. Our Christmas Bird Count data will be available in a final form within a few weeks on the National Audubon web site so you can explore it further. If you have any questions please let us know by email from birding @rutlandcountyaudubon.org.

2017 Annual Meeting, Potluck & Program

Eastern BluebirdThe Annual Meeting of the Rutland County Audubon Society will be held on July 12, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the Proctor Library Community Room, Proctor, Vermont.

The evening will include a potluck dinner. Bring a dish to share. We will provide utensils and beverages.  A short business meeting will follow. It will include the election of Officers and Directors as well as an annual report of our finances and a summary of the year’s activities. Marv Elliott will act as the nominating committee chair and welcomes anyone who will assist with that effort. A slate of officers and directors will be presented; however, all director and officer positions are open to nominations from the floor.

The evening’s program for the meeting will be a member photo show with the theme of birding. Any member or prospective member may provide up to 10 photos to Marv Elliott on a flash drive a week in advance or email them to birding@rutlandcountyaudubon.org. Presenters should give a brief explanation of their photos.

We look forward to seeing you!

fight the invaders

Japanese KnotweedAnyone who has travelled around the marsh has seen an invader - the common reed also known as phragmites. A species like this takes over the growing space where all kinds of native plants previously grew and, as the invaders take over, wildlife, including birds, lose their food and shelter. Without that we know they will be gone or populations diminished at the least. The common reed is a plant that has so established itself that we are not sure what to do about it.

Unfortunately, there are many other nuisance species at the marsh and surrounding area so we would rather direct our efforts to another invader. Japanese knotweed has started colonizing along Whipple Hollow Road. So far, it has only started to spread, but like other invasive plants, we believe it will take over if nothing is done to prevent it.

Now we see a way of stopping the outbreak and combining the effort with a general invasive training and educational effort. The State of Vermont is offering grants to pay 75% of the cost of controlling problems like this one.  Check this link for details http://vtinvasives.org/news/vermont-aquatic-nuisance-control-grants-program.

Here at Rutland County Audubon we are seeking people interested in helping to organize the effort, apply for the grant and do some positive good for bird habitat. If this sparks your interest please contact us at birding@rutlandcountyaudubon.org.

and the winner is......

Hairy WoodpeckerCongratulations to Ruth Smith of Benson! Ruth was the lucky winner of our seed sale drawing at our exhibit in the Forestry Building at the Vermont State Fair. Our seed sale is an annual event to raise money in support of our efforts to protect birds. Ruth will receive a 40 lb-bag of black oil sunflower seeds. Black oil seed is favored by birds because it has a higher fat content which is what they need in the winter to keep warm.

This year’s sale is Saturday, November 7 at two locations: Garland’s on Park Street in Rutland from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Blue Seal Feeds on Rte 7 in Brandon from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cash or check only please.

We hope to sell as much seed as possible during the sale day. We keep the prices as low as possible and our profits go to save birds and bird habitat. Everyone is a winner! Hope to see you there!

audubon seed sale - nov 7

Northern CardinalGarland’s, Park St., Rutland, 8 AM-1 PM

Blue Seal Feeds, Rt. 7, Brandon, 9 AM- 2PM

On November 7 we will hold our annual Audubon Seed Sales at Garland’s in Rutland and Blue Seal Feeds in Brandon. The sales have been an annual event since long before I became active in Rutland Audubon. Many of you have been loyally coming to our seed sales year after year. Thank you! We appreciate your business. The profits from our sales go to running our chapter. We try hard to keep our expenses down so we can spend more time protecting birds and less time fund raising. We expect prices to be lower this year due to a bumper crop.

Another big thank-you to our seed sale hosts - Garland’s Agway in Rutland and Blue Seal Feeds in Brandon are vital supporters of Rutland Audubon. They forgo their seed sale profits for the day to give us this opportunity. We thank them and hope you will give them other business in recognition of their contribution.

The seed sale is also a good time to join our chapter. We give a free birdhouse to anyone who joins during the sale so the membership cost is really minimal. You can get your fall seed from us at whichever location is best for you. Along with supporting our efforts you will be feeding the birds during winter, their most vulnerable time. While you are there, bring us a bird story. We love talking about the birds and any of the many antics we see all the time through careful observation.

We want birding to be fun while we use citizen science to help protect the birds and their habitats.

rcas annual meeting - june 24, 2015

Roy Pilcher presents the annual reportRCAS directors and members gathered at the Proctor Library on June 24 to celebrate another successful year of Rutland County Audubon. The evening kicked off with a delicious potluck supper.

Roy Pilcher, who will be stepping down as RCAS co-president, presented the annual report from the period of July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, our fiscal year.

Following the annual report and election of officers, participants enjoyed a member ‘slide show’ presented on a new drop-down screen donated by RCAS to the Proctor Library, the venue for many of our events, in lieu of a donation for use of their facility. One of the highlights of the show was Valerie Biebuyck’s photo and description of two herring gulls fighting over Cheese Nips that neither of them actually wanted.

We hope you will join us, either as an active volunteer or as a participant in our field trips and programs, in the coming year.

 2015-2016 Slate of Officers:

Marvin Elliott President

Mike Blust, Vice President

Kathleen Guinness, Secretary

Marian McDonald, Assistant Treasurer

Roy Pilcher, Treasurer

Directors:

Marsha Booker

Nathan Dansereau

Ralph Nimtz

Susan Elliott

Renee Warren

Fred Bates

David Jenne

Mary Lou Webster

Sue Wetmore

Tim Abraham

west rutland marsh - june monitoring report

Mallard with youngWe probably say this every year, but nothing beats West Rutland Marsh in June for birding! Twelve participants on today’s monitoring walk, our 167^th monthly walk, tallied 65 species. This is a bit more than our June average of 60 and a lot more than last year’s 57!

Herons were a highlight with American, Least, Great Blue and Green. An American Bittern flew across a hay field on the east side of Marble Street while later another flew overhead has we walked up Water Street.

The only raptor of the day was a single Red-tailed Hawk.

A good number of warblers were tallied: Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-White, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler and Chestnut-sided.

As expected there was plenty of evidence of the breeding season with a female Mallard sitting on a log with her young, a nest box filled with cheeping Tree Swallows, a Baltimore Oriole carrying food and several species agitated by our presence.

The next marsh walk is scheduled for Thursday, July 9, at 7 a.m.

Today list:

Canada Goose  1
Mallard  9
American Bittern  2
Least Bittern  1
Great Blue Heron  2
Green Heron  3
Turkey Vulture  3
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Virginia Rail  1
Mourning Dove  6
Black-billed Cuckoo  1
Chimney Swift  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2
Belted Kingfisher  3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  1
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Alder Flycatcher  6
Willow Flycatcher  4
Least Flycatcher  2
Great Crested Flycatcher  2
Eastern Kingbird  6
Yellow-throated Vireo  2
Warbling Vireo  6
Red-eyed Vireo  13
Blue Jay  7
American Crow  7
Common Raven  2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1
Tree Swallow  6
Barn Swallow  5
Black-capped Chickadee  5
Tufted Titmouse  2
House Wren  2
Marsh Wren  6
Veery  7
Wood Thrush  1
American Robin  9
Gray Catbird  8
Brown Thrasher  1
European Starling  10
Cedar Waxwing  13
Ovenbird  9
Northern Waterthrush  1
Black-and-white Warbler  7
Common Yellowthroat  12
American Redstart  5
Yellow Warbler  11
Chestnut-sided Warbler  2
Chipping Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  8
Swamp Sparrow  11
Scarlet Tanager  2
Northern Cardinal  7
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
Red-winged Blackbird  20
Common Grackle  13
Brown-headed Cowbird  1
Baltimore Oriole  5
House Finch  3
Purple Finch  1
American Goldfinch  12
House Sparrow  5

rcas annual meeting: potluck supper and potluck pictures

Blue-winged WrblerThe annual meeting of Rutland County Audubon will be held on Wednesday June 24th at the Proctor Library. We are seeking bird photographers who are willing to showcase their efforts as part of our program for the evening. We would love to have you attend and provide up to ten photos of birds or other nature-related pictures. The images should be provided to me by June 23 at vtbirdhouses@yahoo.com.

We will show them and you can tell us about them. We have used this approach in the past and it is always fun.

At 6 p.m. we gather to share a potluck dinner. Bring a dish to share. We provide utensils, serving spoons and beverages. After dinner (and cleanup) we will briefly review our past year, talk about next year, elect officers and directors and then show our photos.

notice of annual meeting and elections

Black-and-white WarblerThe annual meeting of the Rutland County Audubon Society will be on June 25, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the Proctor Library Community Room.

We plan to hold a potluck dinner so bring a dish to share. We provide utensils, serving spoons and beverages. A short business meeting will follow including a financial report, a summary of our activities, and elections. Marv Elliott will act as the nominating committee chair and welcomes anyone who wants to assist with that effort. A slate of officers and directors will be presented. However, all director and officer positions are open to nominations from the floor.

The program for the meeting will be a member photo collage with the theme of birding. Any member or prospective member may bring up to 10 photos on a flash drive. Presenters are encouraged to give a brief description of each photo. If you wish to present, please contact Marv Elliott at vtbirdhouses@yahoo.com or 775-2415.

visitors to the marsh

This morning we had some visitors from the north at the marsh. Not birds this time, but our friends from the Otter Creek Audubon Society in Addison County. Fourteen people got together this morning and made it to West Rutland by 7 a.m. Our Audubon chapter, under the trip leadership of Sue Wetmore, spent the morning taking them through the paces of what we now consider a routine outing. Lucky us to have had them because it was a reminder of the great resource we have here in Rutland County. Over and over we heard what a terrific place it is and how special it is to have the marsh in our backyard.

The walk began on the boardwalk. RCAS members, Connie and Brad Coolidge were already there and had been watching a pair of Virginia Rails with chicks. When we walked on the boardwalk part of the family was under it and soon left for a more solitary location.

Tree Swallow bringing food to youngAs we walked along watching and listening for birds it became apparent that a few of members were new to birding or just returning to it after several years. That made it fun for the more experienced birders because they had the chance to explain their birding techniques. Being a new birder can be an intimidating experience with so many sounds and sights to remember. We helped allay that fear by sharing our experience and telling them how we had learned the birds by sight and sound.

Our walk included sightings of many birds with young. There was a female Mallard with six ducklings on the river, immature Hairy Woodpeckers calling from a nest hole, a Tree Swallow feeding young in a nest box and an Eastern Kingbird sitting on a nest near the boardwalk. Walking around the marsh is always rewarding, but it is the best in the spring!

Thank you, Otter Creek Audubon, for visiting today and reminding us of the importance of West Rutland Marsh. It is this kind of event that reminds us of why we must continue to protect this valuable resource.

annual meeting - june 26

Scarlet TanagerThe annual meeting of the Rutland County Audubon Society will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 6:30 PM. The program and meeting will immediately follow a potluck supper at the Proctor Library. If you wish you can come to the meeting and skip the meal.

For our program Vermont birder Maeve Kim will talk about her birding travel experiences. Our business meeting will include a review of our projects and accomplishments for last year, some ideas for next year and the election of officers and directors.

If you are interested in having your name placed in nomination, you can contact me at vtbirdhouses@yahoo.com. Nominations for any position will also be taken from the floor.

This information is required by our constitution, but more needs to be said. Our chapter is doing a great job thanks to the efforts of many volunteers. We are monitoring bird populations, protecting habitat and educating adults and kids about birds. However, as you are aware, we are facing an ever increasing challenge to protect the natural world around us. To do more, we need even more volunteers. If you are willing to help in some way please let me know. You may be able to assist someone for an existing project or take on any one of many new ideas (and you may have your own).

I hope you can attend. Bring a dish to share. Beverages and utensils will be provided. Please email me or call me a 775-2415 with any questions.

wind Power on Grandpa’s Knob, a rock and a hard place

We all know the old “between a rock and a hard place” adage, but the issue of wind power at a site of exceptional ecological value as quoted from a letter by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources sure brings it home. 

ridge overlooking West Rutland MarshWe all know the extent of our demand for energy. Gasoline prices are down a little but we can easily remember over $4 per gallon. Realistically, we know they will be back and get higher. We can also remember well the disaster that unfolded in the Gulf of Mexico. Yes, it was caused by carelessness, stupidity and greed, but all driven by the desire to tap into oil as a source of energy. And who in Vermont doesn’t know about the problems and pollution from nuclear power? Solar power is just gearing up, and hopefully, will become an important part of the mix. 

All of this leads us toward wanting wind power to be a viable solution. On May 14, Reunion Power made its case to the West Rutland Select Board for the installation of 20 wind turbines along the Taconic Ridge that includes Grandpa’s Knob. After the company’s presentation, Roy Pilcher and I, along with many other Vermonters, had a brief opportunity to ask questions. I asked Reunion if they have agreed to the wind power construction guidelines set by the U.S.  Fish and Wildlife Department and supported by National Audubon. The answer was not “yes.” We can all interpret for ourselves the meaning of the response from Reunion.  I believe they will not accept those strict guidelines because they know they can’t meet the requirements. At Audubon, we believe those guidelines help find a creative solution to the wind energy dilemma. For the view of National Audubon, click here. Wind power can be worth the risks if it is properly sited.

Roy Pilcher, RCAS Co-president, prepared and presented charts with actual species of raptors seen over the ridge where the wind farm is to be built and the area near the West Rutland Marsh IBA as well as near the Hubbardton Battlefield.

On May 16 the Rutland County Audubon Board of Directors voted to oppose the commercial development, the Grandpa's Knob Wind Project, sited on the ridge of the Taconics. We are quite satisfied that our approach to this thorny issue is correct. We want the decision to be based on hard facts. the ultimate decision on this project rests with the Vermont Public Service Board. They will decidde whether this project meets a public good. Before that we, as concerned citizens, have a responsibility to invetigate this issue and decide for ourselves whether it is worth the risks.

One of the possible indirect, but positive outcome could be uniting the community over the value of the West Rutland Marsh. We at Rutland County Audubon have long valued the marsh for its great variety of bird life. By getting together now we can move the marsh from a convenient place to dump trans and shoot holes in a computer full of toxic metals to a beautiful natural area springing with life. To do that will take extensive local support. A few outsiders from adjoining areas can come in and do a cleanup, but local residents can find a way to stop the abusive treatment.

Here is hoping for the future of West Rutland Marsh.

annual meeting, program and potluck - june 27

Black-and-white WarblerThe Annual Meeting of the Rutland County Audubon Society will be held on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 6 PM. In keeping with tradition it will include a potluck supper the Proctor Library. Allon Wildgust will present a program on his trip to Africa, which includes many beautiful photos.

This year’s slate of officers and directors, in keeping with the guidelines of our constitution and bylaws, is as follows:

Co-presidents:     Roy Pilcher and Marvin Elliott

Secretary              Kathleen Guinness

Treasurer             Open

Director                Fred Bates

Director                Marsha Booker

Director                Tracey Busony

Director                Susan Elliott       

Director                David Jenne

Director                Renee Warren

Director                Mary Lou Webster

Director                Sue Wetmore                

We invite all interested parties to let us know if they would like to serve as an Officer or Director. We will vote on this slate at the meeting as well invite nominations from the floor.

This is also a time to recognize two people who will be stepping down from their positions. Angele Brill has been on the board for many years, most recently serving as our Treasurer. Angele feels it is time to step down and give someone new a chance. She will help us to get a replacement trained.

In addition, Susan Elliott is stepping down as Secretary, but will continue assisting us with other support functions (the RCAS website, Facebook, eBird reporting, etc.)

We thank Angele and Susan for all their service. We also thank Kathleen Guinness for accepting the nomination to serve as secretary.

We always need volunteers so please let us know if you have an interest. Our goal is to follow the old saying that “many hands make light work.”  By having more volunteers we can spread out the work and allow more time for the part of Audubon we enjoy the most – watching birds. We would also like help with maintaining West Rutland Marsh, monitoring Mountain Top Farm (our conservation easement), helping at the State Fair Forestry Building and many other potential projects. Please contact me at vtbirdhouses@yahoo.com or 775-2415 if you would like to discuss it further.

Hope to see you at the meeting! Bring a dish to share. Beverages and utensils will be provided.

upcoming power line survey - volunteers needed!

RCAS will begin a new birding project this spring. We hope will appeal to members and non-members alike . Details will be provided at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, 6:30 PM at the Union Church Parish house in Proctor. For newcomers, park in the back lot by driving past the main entrance and going left and down the hill. We will meet downstairs; there is a lower entrance just off the lot.

We have been asked to complete a bird species list by Audubon Vermont and Vermont Power (VELCO) for several power line areas. We expect this to involve surveying seven or eight power line routes in our area of Rutland County. It may involve more such as finding which species actually nest and where.

Experienced birders know that power lines are great places to find some of our favorite species.  The Eastern Towhee shown here came from a power line, a place we find them consistently. It’s also good for Blue-winged and Golden winged warblers and their hybrids. When it comes to finding birds we know there could be some exciting discoveries. That’s why we are doing it.

The meeting is being held to explain the project, answer questions and sign up volunteers. The meeting will be conducted by Mark LaBarr and Margaret Fowle of Audubon Vermont. We also hope to have a VELCO representative present. Sue Wetmore, RCAS board member and birder extraordinaire, will lead the project in Rutland County.

This is a way to learn about birds, enjoy seeing birds and contribute to their preservation and protection. We hope to see you there.

RCAS annual meeting

Carmine Bee-Eater, a bird of AfricaEach year at the end of June, Rutland County Audubon celebrates the year's accomplishments with a potluck supper, the annual meeting, and a program. This year, as always, the food was good and so was the bird chatter.

We elected our officers and directors and the annual report and treasurer's report were reviewed. Thanks to Roy Pilcher for presenting his program African Safari: From Penguins to Pachyderms.

RCAS is proud of its achievements this past year. Some highlights:

• Mountain Top Farm easement: During the year RCAS became the owner of a conservation easement on 400+ acres overlooking the Chittenden Reservoir. This is the first such easement in the state with language specific to the preservation of bird habitat. We are seeking volunteers to monitor the boundaries and the bird populations.
• We continued monitoring efforts at locations including West Rutland Marsh, now in its tenth year, and the Pomainville Wildlife Management Area. All our observations are recorded on eBird so we know our efforts are providing valuable data for tracking bird populations. If you are interested in taking on a monitoring project, let us know!
• Continued our education efforts with Audubon Adventures for classrooms, after-school programs, and homeschoolers. We are always looking for volunteers to help spread the word of this award-winning program.
• Further developed our website with expanded birding hotspots and resources.

We have plenty of projects to carry out in the coming year. Our scope is only limited by finding the people to get things done. If you have time to help, please let us know!

Click here for the complete 2010-11 Rutland County Audubon Aannual Report.

RCAS at the fair

Yellow-bellied SapsuckerOnce again Rutland County Audubon will have a display at the Forestry Building at the Vermont State Fair. This year’s focus tree is the White Birch. The connection between birch and many bird species is an important one whether it’s the sap that attracts the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker shown here, the seeds that serve as a food source, or the bark used in nest building.

Stop by the Forestry Building and talk to one of the volunteers to find out why birches are an important part of Vermont’s forested landscape. If your timing is right you may even find one of us wearing a beak!

 The fair runs from September 3 through September 12. See you there!

audubon responds to the gulf oil crisis - how you can help

Brown Pelican, one of the species being affected by the oil spillThe gulf oil crisis has been foremost in our minds for over two months now. National Audubon has been responding in every way possible including coordinating 15,000 volunteers in the gulf states and working on ways they can give direct help. Now our national organization has a message on how the rest of us can help: As part of our response to the oil spill, we suggest you contact a local Audubon Center, chapter, or similar nonprofit to volunteer your time and talents to help birds, especially ones that will be migrating south this fall.

We know Rutland County Audubon members want to help. We are concerned with the effects of this disaster on the birds that breed in our area and then fly south either through or to the gulf for winter. We are conducting bird-monitoring efforts (counting birds) in many areas in Rutland County and can always use more help. One good way to start is to participate in our monthly marsh walk. It is both a way to hone your bird identification skills and contribute to the database of bird populations. Another way is to contribute your bird sightings to eBird. To see just one example of how monitoring efforts can make a difference, click on this link at eBird.

We will do our best to get everyone involved in resolving this crisis.

West Rutland Marsh - 55 more acres preserved!

We have exciting news about our preservation efforts at West Rutland Marsh. As many of you know, Rutland County Audubon has undertaken a long-term Yellow Warblereffort to preserve the marsh through bird monitoring and offering environmental education opportunities. Much of the wetland is owned privately, which potentially makes the ideal bird and wildlife habitat vulnerable. While there has been no immediate threat of development, there is also no guarantee.

Thanks to a grant from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) that has changed. Spearheaded by RCAS, the town of West Rutland succesfully applied for the grant and now the town owns another 55-acre parcel which will be protected. This particular parcel is important because of its habitat and location. The property consists of a broad marshy stretch of the Castleton River's headwaters and a grove of old growth white pine. It is located between Whipple Hollow Road and Marble Street and is bordered on the north and west by lands already preserved. This key piece provides a continguous parcel of protect habitat.

The grant process, begun in July 2008, has been a long one. VHCB supported us throughout the process despite budget cuts in a difficult economic time and our attorney helped steer us through some legal glitches. One of the strong points of the application was the partnership between a municipality and a non-profit organization.

The news comes with responsiblity. RCAS has accepted the challenge of helping plan and implement conservation goals to this parcel and the additional 200 plus acres owned by the town. We will need plenty of volunteer help and probably financial support. We must develop an action plan to have everyone understand what needs to be done and in what order. If you are interested in helping, let us know by contacting me at vtbirdhouses@yahoo.com or at 775-2415.

It is a thrill to be making a positive effort in preserving bird habitat. We believe that places like this must be preserved. In fact it may be more important now than ever to keep places like West Rutland Marsh unspoiled by development. It is during the tough times that we most enjoy the natural world.

Audubon at the fair

Rutland County Audubon will have an exhibit at the Vermont State Fair in Rutland this year. The Web of Life  is part of the display at the Forestry Building. The exhibit includes some interesting connections among segments of our environment such as birds, forests and humans and includes photos of some of our local favorite birds. Our friends from the forestry building invited us to be there because of the link between birds and forests.

We hope you stop by! The fair runs from September 4 through the 13^th. Wednesday, September 9, is free admission to the fair.