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…
Release of the Mallards
Two ducklings came into our care a month ago, orphaned after their mother and siblings were struck dead by a car. We raised the ducklings here at VINS, taking special care not to imprint the young waterfowl. The two birds were ready for release last week, and VINS intern Lauren DiBicarri sent these guys back…
Using Eurasian milfoil as Fertilizer
For the past couple weeks I have been working on my project as the invasive species research intern at VINS. I am using the idea of “Invasives as an ally” and trying to utilize Eurasian milfoil as a fertilizer for the garden. The garden site is very dry and low in nutrients and the mineral…
Kingfisher Finds Her Groove
This young baby belted kingfisher, who you may have seen as a baby on the VINS Facebook page, is growing big and healthy. Watch a video of this kingfisher! The baby bird was found at the bottom of a sand pit. Luckily, a man noticed movement at the bottom of the pit, and when he…
Flicker Grand Finale
Remember that crew of northern flickers we were raising here at VINS? Well, they’re outta here! The flickers were released back into the wild recently. Watch a video of the birds’ release. Unfortunately, not all of the flickers who originally came in made it — some passed away while still quite young — but those…
So long, mergs!
VINS’ Katie Christman releases two mergansers. Remember those two adorable baby mergansers, the orphans from separate nests that were paired up together while they received care here at VINS? Well, guess what? Those little babies are now all grown up and were just released back into the wild (together!) at a local pond. Watch a…
Mangia, little falcon!
This American kestrel was brought to VINS after being found orphaned in a barn. The kestrel is now a fledgling, but when he came into our care, he was too young to be on his own in the wild, so we took over as Mom and Dad kestrel. Watch a video of this little kestrel…
Setting the Stage for Fighting Invasives by Laura McRee and Baxter Seguin, VINS Summer Research Interns Classroom training session for mapping invasive species Invasive species have become an important subject in the environmental community in recent years but what exactly are they? As defined by the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) an invasive species…
A Rosy Release
A male rose-breasted grosbeak was admitted as a patient to VINS in mid-May, suffering a fracture in his right wing. Less than 4 weeks later, this songbird left our care in good health. Watch a video of this bird being released! The bird — who had flown into the window of a home — made…
Sitting in food is fun!
Baby mergansers in their food dish. These two orphaned common mergansers — both from separate clutches from different parts of Vermont — have found sanctuary here at VINS. The mergs were somehow separated from their parents and were unable to be reunited with their families. Watch a video of these baby mergansers! So, we’re taking…
