Baby, baby, baby, ohhhh!
Mallard duckling Each spring and summer, VINS Wildlife Services cares for several hundred injured and orphaned baby birds. Watch our cute baby bird video!We patch up baby birds’ wounds, set their broken bones, and feed them specialized meals that mimic their diets in the wild. Once the birds are healthy enough and ready to live…
Chickadee checks out!
A little black-capped chickadee came to VINS last month with a drooping wing. While we couldn’t detect a specific fracture, we wrapped the bird’s wing to stabilize it, in case there was a small broken bone. Within a month, the wrap had been removed, the wing was sitting normally along the bird’s body, and this chickadee…
Red-tail on the Move
A red-tailed hawk was found in Hartland, Vermont … in a chicken coop! The emaciated raptor was going after a family’s chicken, became entangled in the coop, and needed rescue. Watch a video of the hawk!Upon exam, VINS staff found the hawk to be emaciated — very thin and underweight — and had internal parasites.…
The results are in!
A few weeks ago, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science hosted a Great Backyard Bird Count event. For two days, birds were counted in a specific location every 15 minutes for four hours. Members of the public helped VINS staff keep an eye out — with the use of binoculars and telescopes — and tally…
Woodpecker Love
The two hairy woodpeckers — a male and a female — seen below being held by VINS staff, were both brought to VINS for care. Watch a video of these woodpeckers’ release! VINS staff Calah Beckwith (left) and Lauren DiBiccari, each hold a hairy woodpecker, ready to be released. While the birds were brought in…
Thank goodness for big ears!
This barred owl received care at VINS after being struck by a car. When examined, staff found that the raptor sustained damage to one of his eyes, which can spell trouble for a bird who uses his vision for nighttime hunting. VINS President John Dolan releases a rehabilitated barred owl back into the wild. Watch…
Feb. 17 & 18: Great Backyard Bird Count
Enjoy watching birds at your feeders? Want to learn more about helping the birds in your community? Then put your bird watching skills to work at VINS as we participate in The Great Backyard Bird Count, February 17 & 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This special event is included with the price of admissions…
Not-so-happy Ending for Nuthatch
A red-breasted nuthatch. Watch a video of this bird’s exam. A red-breasted nuthatch was brought to VINS Friday for treatment after the little bird flew into a bird feeder and sustained injuries. The bird, according to the person who brought him in, got caught in part of the feeder. Watch a video of this bird’s…
Pining for Pipits
By Sara EisenhauerWildlife Services Manager When we think of migrating songbirds, the more common species may come to mind: American robin, Baltimore oriole, red-winged blackbird. When I think of migratory songbirds, I long to see the American pipit. An American pipit. Photo by Jacob C. Spendelow (www.tringa.org). The American Pipit is a small, slender bird…
Kingfisher: All Grown Up
Remember that nestling belted kingfisher who came into our care about a month ago? Well, she’s all grown up! Watch a video of the kingfisher taking one of her first flights. This kingfisher, found orphaned at the bottom of a sandpit, was raised by staff at VINS, who fed her fish (and the occasional chopped…
