Posts by jbird24
Wintering Raptors
Join VINS tonight, Thursday, Sept. 2, to hear tales from ornithologist Al Hinde about his studies and travels out west, and about Hinde’s contributions to the field of ornithology and raptor studies. His presentation, “Wintering Raptors of the Great Basin: Oasis High in the Desert,” will help prepare people for heading out into the field…
Read MoreThese boots were made for walkin’!
Now I have seen many an odd thing in my day — but boots for a sparrow? Why, I never thought I’d see the day. Watch a video of the sparrow getting fitted for his boots! Alas, a young song sparrow in our care needed some corrective footwear to prevent his feet from curling inwards.…
Read MoreAn Osprey Takes the Plunge
By David Deen for The Outside StoryIllustration by Adelaide Tyrol Flyfishing from a canoe in a small headwater pond at the tippity-top of the Connecticut River is usually a quiet experience. That’s why the sudden splash caused me to turn my head just in time to see an osprey struggling up out of the water…
Read MoreDeadly Oil
A fledgling American robin had a rough start and end to life, landing in an open container of motor oil during what must have been one of the first (and last) flights of his life. Although we tried washing the oil off the bird, the young robin died within a few days. The bird, who…
Read MoreThe Perils of Ground Nesting
Recently, VINS received two juvenile northern harriers into care after their nest had been destroyed. Northern harriers are hawks who can be found soaring low over open fields in search of mice and other rodents. Watch a video of these fledgling northern harriers! Harriers are ground-nesters, and come haying season in Vermont, the offspring of…
Read MoreLook For It Now: White Wood Aster
This late-summer native flower looks almost like an early snowfall dusting the forest floors of Vermont. You can find white wood aster (Eurybia divaricata) sprinkled about edges of the woods, growing 1 to 3 feet tall. The flower has white rays encircling a yellow center that reddens over time. The plant’s leaves have a narrow…
Read MoreSmall & Sweet
Sometimes the patients that come to VINS are small. And sometimes, they are unbelievably small! Black-capped chickadees, ruby-crowned kinglets and American goldfinches are in the “small” range. But ruby-throated hummingbirds blow all other birds out of the water with their tiny, tiny, tiny size. Watch a video of this hummingbird having her wing wrap removed.…
Read MoreCrow Allure
Apparently there are other crow-lovers out there like me — people who love the black feather, the dark eye and the wild antics of the American Crow. Crows, with their natural curiosity and bold attitude, can be found in riotous murders by the hundreds, or quietly perched atop a tall, roadside snag observing the local…
Read MoreEnjoy!
This tufted titmouse came into care at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science after becoming orphaned. As a nestling, a bird is incapable of raising itself, so the trained staff here at VINS steps in to help out. We successfully raised this titmouse, and released him back into the wild last week. Enjoy a video…
Read MoreOne ‘Whey’ Oily Owl
A great-horned owl took an unfortunate turn during a recent hunting venture. The large owl was in hot pursuit of a rat, and accidentally chased him right into a barrel of whey at a local dairy farm. Whey is a byproduct of the cheese-making process, and is extremely oily and greasy. Watch a video of…
Read More