More birds are arriving all the time. Migratory waterfowl, including snow goose, continue moving through Vermont to northern breeding areas. Broad-winged hawks have been returning from the south, while rough-legged hawks are leaving for the north. Swallows (northern rough-winged, barn, purple martin, bank, cliff) are returning in greater numbers. The first Baltimore orioles are being spotted.
—Doug Morin doug.morin@vermont.gov
What to Look For in the Next Two Weeks
Lots more new arrivals are on their way. Yellow-billed and black-billed cuckoos, flycatchers, vireos, wood thrush, and many warblers will return. Bobolinks will begin to set up territories in grassy fields. In wetlands, a pulse of migratory shorebirds including spotted and solitary sandpipers, and greater and lesser yellowlegs, will move through on their way north. In yards and forests, white-crowned sparrows will be also moving through Vermont to their northern breeding grounds.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds start to return in early May. The first have yet to be reported in Vermont, but you can watch them move north at ebird (need to set-up an account if you don't have one) or hummingbirdcentral. Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only species of hummingbird in eastern North America. They are common in deciduous forests, fields, stream sides and yards. Incredibly, these tiny birds beat their wings more than 50 times per second, and in fall often migrate to their central American wintering grounds by flying nonstop for more than 500 miles over the Gulf of Mexico.
Fish and Wildlife is for the Birds
It’s the time of year for two outdoor chores: taking down the bird feeders and planning what to do in the garden. This month, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department collaborated with Audubon Vermont to put on a webinar about bears and bird feeders, and how to use native plants to attract birds and enhance bird habitat year-round. You can watch the recording here.
So, while it is time to take down the feeders, there are lots of fun ways to develop bird habitat around your home, neighborhood, or workplace. For those hummingbirds on their way, you’ll want to look for plants with long tube or funnel shaped flowers, preferably red or orange in color, such as bee balm, butterfly milkweed, cardinal flower, and Virginia creeper.
To help you, Audubon has resources to help you select native plants for birds. You can also check out the National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder.
Upcoming Events
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World Migratory Bird Day, May 14: Find an event
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Birds of Vermont Museum: Monthly bird walks
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Rutland County Audubon: Multiple bird walks
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Green Mountain Audubon: Multiple bird walks
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Friends of Missisquoi: Multiple events
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North Branch Nature Center: Spring bird walks
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Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society: Spring bird walks
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Audubon Vermont: Bird walks
Do you have an event you would like posted here? Content you would like covered? A question answered?
Contact Doug at doug.morin@vermont.gov, with the subject line “Birding Report.”