Easy Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Waste Today
by Anna Autilio Lead, Environmental Educator In 2018, we mark the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the most powerful and important bird-protection law ever passed. In honor of this milestone, nature lovers around the world are joining forces to celebrate 2018 as the “Year of the Bird.” June’s call to action is to reduce…
Bye-bye, bittern!
Earlier this month, a funny-looking, long-legged bird came into our care. The baby bird was found standing alone on a busy road, with no parents around. We raised the bird here at VINS, and today, we released this fellow back into the wild.This is an American bittern, although as a baby, some may say it…
Duck, Duck…Scoter!
On November 4th, an adult male scoter was transferred to VINS from rehabilitator Catherine Greenleaf in Lyme, NH. We know the scoter is a male because he is entirely black with a multi-colored bill that looks like candy corn. He also makes pipping and whistling contact calls that are particular to male scoters, and that…
Correction to “Irene’s Second Guest at VINS”
In a previous blog, you read that VINS received a dead oceanic bird the day after Tropical Storm Irene swept through Vermont. The Wildlife Services staff at VINS believed it to be a Wilson’s storm-petrel, but upon further examination, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies determined that it was actually a band-rumped storm-petrel, the first of…
Irene’s Second Guest at VINS
In addition to the northern gannet mentioned in an earlier blog, VINS received a Wilson’s storm petrel the day after Tropical Storm Irene blew through Vermont. The Wilson’s storm petrel was dead on arrival, but is the only one of its species ever recorded in Vermont. Like the gannet, petrels are pelagic and this particular…
Irene Brings Unexpected Guests to VINS
By Elise Newman Wildlife Services Intern Flooding and heavy rains were not the only things blown in by Tropical Storm Irene. The day after Irene swept through Vermont, VINS received two pelagic birds -– birds who spend most of their lives on the open ocean and only come ashore to breed once a year. For…
‘Moor’ Than Meets the Eye
By Sara Eisenhauer Lead Wildlife Keeper Last week, the staff in Wildlife Services received an interesting patient. It was small, fuzzy, had a beak that looked like candy corn and giant feet. We had never seen anything like it! Initially we thought it was a young sora, but after searching through several books and a…
So long, heron!
It was with great delight we released the juvenile great blue heron who came into our care a few weeks ago. Watch a video of the heron’s release! The bird was initially brought into our care when he was found on a road thin, weak and unable to stand. Read his story here. The young…
Standing Tall
A juvenile great blue heron was found roadside in East Dummerston, VT last week, lethargic and unable to stand. The tall, gangly fellow was brought to VINS, where we did an exam to see what might be the problem. See a video of the heron’s exam, and watch him eat fish!Upon exam (see photos of…
Best of Luck, Young Loon!
This time of year, most of the waterbirds whose songs we’ve savored over the summer months have long since left for warmer waters. Loons — one of my favorite birds of summer — have vacated Vermont to head to the ocean waters of the lower New England coast. Watch a video of the loon’s release!Well,…
