Posts by jbird24
Rearin’-to-go Redstart
This little American redstart was found on the sidewalk beside a huge department store. We believe that she flew into one of the enormous plate glass windows, seeing a reflection of the sky in it and believing she could fly right on through. No such luck. Watch a video of this bird’s release! But the…
Read MoreWhat a gem
First step. First word. First love. “Firsts” are always exciting. On May 14th, 2011, VINS wildlife staff had one of those special moments when we had our first successful release of a hummingbird that came through the VINS wildlife rehab center in 2011. See a video here of this little guy returning to the wild.…
Read MoreWhy did the duck cross the road?
This handsome mallard is still probably asking himself the same thing. When he stepped out on the road last week he ended up getting nailed by a passing vehicle and suffering some serious road-rash. But, he had two things going for him: 1. He got hit right in front of the home of some serious…
Read MoreGuess Who?
A goose, that’s who! This Canada gosling (a baby Canada goose) was recently orphaned, and is the first baby bird the VINS Wildlife Services department has received this spring! The people who found her in their yard tried to find her family, and did the right thing by leaving the gosling outside in a shallow…
Read MoreLook For It Now: Dutchman’s Breeches
Until a few days ago, Dutchman’s breeches were, for me, a wildflower of mythical proportions. Surely a flower that resembles miniature pantaloons hanging upside-down from a clothesline could not grow plainly out in the woods of good old Vermont. But on a recent walk along a dirt road, scads of Dutchman’s breeches could be found,…
Read MoreCatch You Later, Grouse!
The ruffed grouse who came into our care last month with a large wound beneath his wing and head trauma made a full recovery here at VINS. We returned this woodland bird (often mistakenly called a “partridge”) to the great outdoors last week after a month of expert care here at VINS. See a video…
Read MoreIt’s the little things…
Here in the VINS Wildlife Services department, we see a wide variety of bird species come into our care, but some patients are more unique than others. On April 29th, we received this tiny warbler, also known as a northern parula. These small songbirds are one of the many migratory species that return to Vermont…
Read MoreThat’s No Wizard
We had quite the surprise recently when one of our volunteer transporters brought in a box containing one small bird. This particular bird was found outside a home and appeared to have flown into a window. The bird showed signs of spinal and head trauma and was unable to stand, so she was taken right…
Read MoreLook For It Now: Spring Flora
A few days ago, on an evening hike in the woods behind my Vermont home, the first signs of floral life poked through the damp carpet of last falls’ leaves. My hike was accompanied by the songs and calls of a wood thrush, a pileated woodpecker, a white-throated sparrow, robins and countless chickadees. I also…
Read MoreShe’s Free as a Bird Now
Last Friday, Vermont got another free bird. See a video of this owl’s return to the wild. It took 46 days for this barred owl to mend in the Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s avian rehabilitation center, but it was worth the wait to see her fly away again on April 15th. After being hit…
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