An 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…
The 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…
One ‘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…
Teen Owls
The teen years can be the toughest. You’re kinda feeling like an adult, but you’re still very much a kid. Independence seems just within your grasp, and yet — although you hate to admit it — you still want Mom and Dad by your side. Watch a video of these fledgling owls in their outdoor…
Owlet Love
Wild owls are a fierce bunch. With knife-sharp talons and flesh-ripping beaks, these birds of prey are high in the food chain and not to be messed with. Watch a video of one of our baby owls getting his bandage changed! As babies, however, owls look like soft, fluffy balls of innocence. Sure they’ve still…
Sharp-shinned Trauma
Members of the accipiter family, sharp-shinned hawks are small and built for quick maneuverability as they are aerial foragers, meaning these fast birds catch their prey on the fly. Above, VINS staff gets ready to hand-feed the sharp-shinned hawk.Watch a video of this hawk being hand-fed! No matter the build of a hawk, hawks require…
Final Flight
By Chris CollierVINS Nature Center Programs Manager Tens of thousands of visitors to the VINS Nature Center; thousands of students in classrooms across northern New England; hundreds of summer camp children and countless staff members. All numbers, yes, but all represent the people that interacted with one very small being: our male American kestrel. It’s…
A Clear Prognosis
Like wolves, red-tailed hawks seem to have a spirit that’s both majestic and dignified, symbolizing their status of royalty in the wild. Their large size, powerful flap and graceful soar make them a delight to spot for birders and non-birders alike. In early February, the VINS Wildlife Services team received a call about a red-tailed…
A Little TLC
We all need a little TLC now and again. For one saw-whet owl, TLC came in the form of gentle physical therapy from the trained staff at VINS. In early November, a saw-whet owl was found by a member of the public under a mailbox on the road. It is likely the bird was hit…
Back Home
Last month, the Wildlife Services department at VINS approved one of its patients, a barred owl, for release back into the wild. The owl, pictured below during its release, was found by a member of the public in November. The bird came in suffering from head trauma and damage to one of its eyes. The…
