Date: 3/25/24 9:47 am From: Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Spotted sandpiper?
Walking near Richmond Pond yesterday I saw walking on the ice near the outflow what looked for all the world like a spotted sandpiper. It was too far for a phone photo but had all the bobbing behavior one would think, body shape and size, coloration… I’ve never seen one there before for sure.
Yesterday: 1 at intersection of rt 7 and rt 17 in New Haven Junction, a light phase rough-leg -- astonishingly the first I've seen this winter (caveat: haven't got out a lot.). Are others seeing them?
2. again rt 7, this time near the state police office in New Haven, a gorgeous goshawk almost through my windshield.
Date: 3/24/24 10:41 am From: Jeff MacQueen <jmacqueen65...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Pigeon
I've contacted the observer. Jeff (Caledonia eBird reviewer)
On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 1:09 PM Susan Elliott <
<00000032e9152660-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Passenger Pigeon is on eBird because there are historical records so the
> species has to exist the database.
>
> Anyone can add a species using the +Add Species feature on a checklist
> even if that species doesn’t exist on local filters. So it’s possible to
> enter an extinct species, a species say from Antartica, or a species that
> would be rare but truly possible.
>
> Unfortunately, eBird can’t distinguish that when sending out alerts. The
> incidence of an extinct species is pretty low.
>
> Sue Elliott
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Mar 24, 2024, at 10:07 AM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
> >
> > I was wondering too. It’s on the brand-new official list that Sue
> Elliot mentioned a few days ago, with a notation that it’s extinct and also
> a notation that it should be reported if seen. Maybe someone’s hoping for a
> heretofore-unknown breeding population hiding somewhere?
> > Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> >
> >> On Mar 24, 2024, at 12:04 PM, Sue Wetmore <
> <000006207b3956ac-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> >>
> >> Why is the entry of passenger pigeon allowed on the alert ?
> >> Extinct is forever.
> >> Sue Wetmore
> >>
> >> Sent from my iPod
>
Date: 3/24/24 10:09 am From: Susan Elliott <00000032e9152660-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Pigeon
Passenger Pigeon is on eBird because there are historical records so the species has to exist the database.
Anyone can add a species using the +Add Species feature on a checklist even if that species doesn’t exist on local filters. So it’s possible to enter an extinct species, a species say from Antartica, or a species that would be rare but truly possible.
Unfortunately, eBird can’t distinguish that when sending out alerts. The incidence of an extinct species is pretty low.
Sue Elliott
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 24, 2024, at 10:07 AM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>
> I was wondering too. It’s on the brand-new official list that Sue Elliot mentioned a few days ago, with a notation that it’s extinct and also a notation that it should be reported if seen. Maybe someone’s hoping for a heretofore-unknown breeding population hiding somewhere?
> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
>
>> On Mar 24, 2024, at 12:04 PM, Sue Wetmore <000006207b3956ac-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> Why is the entry of passenger pigeon allowed on the alert ?
>> Extinct is forever.
>> Sue Wetmore
>>
>> Sent from my iPod
Date: 3/24/24 9:08 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Pigeon
I was wondering too. It’s on the brand-new official list that Sue Elliot mentioned a few days ago, with a notation that it’s extinct and also a notation that it should be reported if seen. Maybe someone’s hoping for a heretofore-unknown breeding population hiding somewhere?
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> On Mar 24, 2024, at 12:04 PM, Sue Wetmore <000006207b3956ac-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> Why is the entry of passenger pigeon allowed on the alert ?
> Extinct is forever.
> Sue Wetmore
>
> Sent from my iPod
Date: 3/24/24 5:19 am From: Glenn Etter <glennetterjr...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Birding Trips and Classes coming up (Birding Basics; Japan, Costa Rica, Arizona, & Oregon)
Hi Sean,
I was looking at the Oregon itinerary - it looks great, of course. One
place I would recommend checking out is the Yaquina Head Lighthouse -
Natural Area. Not sure what it's like in May, but when we went there once
in summer there were huge colonies of Murres, cormorants (3 species), and
guillemots, along with Harlequin Ducks, auklets (I think), and many
non-ocean birds. There were also a few researchers hanging out examining
the diets of the murres and cormorants. It's super pretty (like all the
coast). Not sure what's there in May, though
Here was our checklist from July
https://ebird.org/checklist/S92442080
On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 8:01 AM Sean Beckett <
<sean...> wrote:
> Birders,
>
> A few fun opportunities through North Branch Nature Center that you might
> like to know about:
>
> "Birding Basics" - A three-part class this April and May taught by Chip
> Darmstadt.
> https://northbranchnaturecenter.org/event/birdingbasics2024/ >
> And four upcoming birding trips abroad that are part of our Adventures
> Afar Program: *Japan, Arizona, Costa Rica, and Oregon*.
> https://northbranchnaturecenter.org/adventures-afar >
> The latter two are designed to as accessible as possible to those who are
> often priced out of these sorts of trips. And great for those new to
> birding/nature travel! Most of these are led by Chip Darmstadt, and the
> Oregon trip is led by me and Rebecca Waterman.
>
> We're also really excited to be able to offset the carbon footprint of all
> our 2025 (and beyond) trips through a carbon credit program we've arranged
> with Northeast Wilderness Trust. Lots more about that on our website.
>
> Thanks for considering!
>
> Sean Beckett
> (he/him)
> Program Director
> North Branch Nature Center
> 713 Elm St, Montpelier VT 05602
> (802) 229-6206 ext. 102
>
Date: 3/24/24 5:11 am From: Tom Jiamachello <000000f285df68b6-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Birding Trips and Classes coming up (Birding Basics; Japan, Costa Rica, Arizona, & Oregon)
Sean, Please put me on the list for the 2025 Cuba trip. Thanks. Tom On Sunday, March 24, 2024, 08:00:42 AM EDT, Sean Beckett <sean...> wrote:
Birders,
A few fun opportunities through North Branch Nature Center that you might like to know about:
The latter two are designed to as accessible as possible to those who are often priced out of these sorts of trips. And great for those new to birding/nature travel! Most of these are led by Chip Darmstadt, and the Oregon trip is led by me and Rebecca Waterman.
We're also really excited to be able to offset the carbon footprint of all our 2025 (and beyond) trips through a carbon credit program we've arranged with Northeast Wilderness Trust. Lots more about that on our website.
Thanks for considering!
Sean Beckett (he/him) Program Director North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm St, Montpelier VT 05602 (802) 229-6206 ext. 102
Date: 3/24/24 5:01 am From: Sean Beckett <sean...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Birding Trips and Classes coming up (Birding Basics; Japan, Costa Rica, Arizona, & Oregon)
Birders,
A few fun opportunities through North Branch Nature Center that you might like to know about:
The latter two are designed to as accessible as possible to those who are often priced out of these sorts of trips. And great for those new to birding/nature travel! Most of these are led by Chip Darmstadt, and the Oregon trip is led by me and Rebecca Waterman.
We're also really excited to be able to offset the carbon footprint of all our 2025 (and beyond) trips through a carbon credit program we've arranged with Northeast Wilderness Trust. Lots more about that on our website.
Thanks for considering!
Sean Beckett (he/him) Program Director North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm St, Montpelier VT 05602 (802) 229-6206 ext. 102
Date: 3/24/24 4:20 am From: Eric Lazarus <lazarericus...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] VTBIRD Digest - 22 Mar 2024 to 23 Mar 2024 (#2024-67)
Like the squirrels, ravens are raising young now also.
From: Vermont Birds <VTBIRD...> On Behalf Of VTBIRD automatic digest system Sent: Sunday, 24 March, 2024 00:00 To: <VTBIRD...> Subject: VTBIRD Digest - 22 Mar 2024 to 23 Mar 2024 (#2024-67)
On Saturday, March 23, 2024, 12:07 PM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
I doubt that the crows were defending the squirrels. I’ll bet they wanted to get in on the tasty meal!
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> On Mar 23, 2024, at 12:02 PM, Lynette Reep <lynettereep...> wrote:
>
> Yes, I'm not sure what kind of larger bird it was, but I thought it was
> interesting that the crows seemed to be defending the squirrels'
> territory/young. I don't know if this is common?
>
> On Sat, Mar 23, 2024 at 11:59 AM Jared Katz <jdkatzvt...> wrote:
>
>> Wow! What a great sighting.
>>
>> Jared
>>
>>> On Mar 23, 2024, at 11:57 AM, Lynette Reep <lynettereep...>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> We were digging out from the snowstorm just now when we noticed four or
>>> five crows calling and mobbing a larger bird in a tree in the neighbor's
>>> backyard. The larger bird was dismantling a squirrel's nest at top speed,
>>> tearing out branches; drifts of leaves floated down. It looked in
>>> silhouette like a raven (it was silent throughout). It shrugged off the
>>> attacks of the crows who fled to nearby perches but continued their alarm
>>> calls.
>>> After about five minutes, by which time the nest was mostly dismantled, a
>>> grown squirrel leaped from the nest and ran down the tree. The raven(?)
>>> snagged a small package-- a baby squirrel? and flew off with it in its
>>> beak, the crows calling after.
>>> Lynette
>>> Burlington
>>
>>
Date: 3/23/24 9:47 am From: Kaye Danforth <000003762748b609-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Crows and Squirrels
I’ve often seen Crows mod Ravens here in the Hinesburg highlands, making alarm calls the whole while. They greatly dislike them.
Kaye with an E in Hinesburg
> On Mar 23, 2024, at 12:07 PM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>
> I doubt that the crows were defending the squirrels. I’ll bet they wanted to get in on the tasty meal!
> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
>
>> On Mar 23, 2024, at 12:02 PM, Lynette Reep <lynettereep...> wrote:
>>
>> Yes, I'm not sure what kind of larger bird it was, but I thought it was
>> interesting that the crows seemed to be defending the squirrels'
>> territory/young. I don't know if this is common?
>>
>> On Sat, Mar 23, 2024 at 11:59 AM Jared Katz <jdkatzvt...> wrote:
>>
>>> Wow! What a great sighting.
>>>
>>> Jared
>>>
>>>> On Mar 23, 2024, at 11:57 AM, Lynette Reep <lynettereep...>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> We were digging out from the snowstorm just now when we noticed four or
>>>> five crows calling and mobbing a larger bird in a tree in the neighbor's
>>>> backyard. The larger bird was dismantling a squirrel's nest at top speed,
>>>> tearing out branches; drifts of leaves floated down. It looked in
>>>> silhouette like a raven (it was silent throughout). It shrugged off the
>>>> attacks of the crows who fled to nearby perches but continued their alarm
>>>> calls.
>>>> After about five minutes, by which time the nest was mostly dismantled, a
>>>> grown squirrel leaped from the nest and ran down the tree. The raven(?)
>>>> snagged a small package-- a baby squirrel? and flew off with it in its
>>>> beak, the crows calling after.
>>>> Lynette
>>>> Burlington
>>>
>>>
Date: 3/23/24 9:08 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Crows and Squirrels
I doubt that the crows were defending the squirrels. I’ll bet they wanted to get in on the tasty meal!
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> On Mar 23, 2024, at 12:02 PM, Lynette Reep <lynettereep...> wrote:
>
> Yes, I'm not sure what kind of larger bird it was, but I thought it was
> interesting that the crows seemed to be defending the squirrels'
> territory/young. I don't know if this is common?
>
> On Sat, Mar 23, 2024 at 11:59 AM Jared Katz <jdkatzvt...> wrote:
>
>> Wow! What a great sighting.
>>
>> Jared
>>
>>> On Mar 23, 2024, at 11:57 AM, Lynette Reep <lynettereep...>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> We were digging out from the snowstorm just now when we noticed four or
>>> five crows calling and mobbing a larger bird in a tree in the neighbor's
>>> backyard. The larger bird was dismantling a squirrel's nest at top speed,
>>> tearing out branches; drifts of leaves floated down. It looked in
>>> silhouette like a raven (it was silent throughout). It shrugged off the
>>> attacks of the crows who fled to nearby perches but continued their alarm
>>> calls.
>>> After about five minutes, by which time the nest was mostly dismantled, a
>>> grown squirrel leaped from the nest and ran down the tree. The raven(?)
>>> snagged a small package-- a baby squirrel? and flew off with it in its
>>> beak, the crows calling after.
>>> Lynette
>>> Burlington
>>
>>
Date: 3/23/24 9:04 am From: Lynette Reep <lynettereep...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Crows and Squirrels
Yes, I'm not sure what kind of larger bird it was, but I thought it was
interesting that the crows seemed to be defending the squirrels'
territory/young. I don't know if this is common?
On Sat, Mar 23, 2024 at 11:59 AM Jared Katz <jdkatzvt...> wrote:
> Wow! What a great sighting.
>
> Jared
>
> > On Mar 23, 2024, at 11:57 AM, Lynette Reep <lynettereep...>
> wrote:
> >
> > We were digging out from the snowstorm just now when we noticed four or
> > five crows calling and mobbing a larger bird in a tree in the neighbor's
> > backyard. The larger bird was dismantling a squirrel's nest at top speed,
> > tearing out branches; drifts of leaves floated down. It looked in
> > silhouette like a raven (it was silent throughout). It shrugged off the
> > attacks of the crows who fled to nearby perches but continued their alarm
> > calls.
> > After about five minutes, by which time the nest was mostly dismantled, a
> > grown squirrel leaped from the nest and ran down the tree. The raven(?)
> > snagged a small package-- a baby squirrel? and flew off with it in its
> > beak, the crows calling after.
> > Lynette
> > Burlington
>
>
Date: 3/23/24 9:00 am From: Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Crows and Squirrels
Wow! What a great sighting.
Jared
> On Mar 23, 2024, at 11:57 AM, Lynette Reep <lynettereep...> wrote:
>
> We were digging out from the snowstorm just now when we noticed four or
> five crows calling and mobbing a larger bird in a tree in the neighbor's
> backyard. The larger bird was dismantling a squirrel's nest at top speed,
> tearing out branches; drifts of leaves floated down. It looked in
> silhouette like a raven (it was silent throughout). It shrugged off the
> attacks of the crows who fled to nearby perches but continued their alarm
> calls.
> After about five minutes, by which time the nest was mostly dismantled, a
> grown squirrel leaped from the nest and ran down the tree. The raven(?)
> snagged a small package-- a baby squirrel? and flew off with it in its
> beak, the crows calling after.
> Lynette
> Burlington
Date: 3/23/24 8:59 am From: Lynette Reep <lynettereep...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Crows and Squirrels
We were digging out from the snowstorm just now when we noticed four or five crows calling and mobbing a larger bird in a tree in the neighbor's backyard. The larger bird was dismantling a squirrel's nest at top speed, tearing out branches; drifts of leaves floated down. It looked in silhouette like a raven (it was silent throughout). It shrugged off the attacks of the crows who fled to nearby perches but continued their alarm calls. After about five minutes, by which time the nest was mostly dismantled, a grown squirrel leaped from the nest and ran down the tree. The raven(?) snagged a small package-- a baby squirrel? and flew off with it in its beak, the crows calling after. Lynette Burlington
On Fri, Mar 22, 2024 at 1:53 PM kcaterer <kristin.caterer...> wrote:
> Where is this?
>
> On Fri, Mar 22, 2024 at 11:43 AM Ted Levin <tedlevin1966...> wrote:
>
> > 11 off & on, just outside my office window, eating tiny, frozen
> crabapples
> > after having stripped the neighborhood of more significant, juicier
> fruits.
> >
>
>
> --
> "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." Ghandhi
>
On Fri, Mar 22, 2024 at 11:43 AM Ted Levin <tedlevin1966...> wrote:
> 11 off & on, just outside my office window, eating tiny, frozen crabapples
> after having stripped the neighborhood of more significant, juicier fruits.
>
--
"Be the change that you wish to see in the world." Ghandhi
Date: 3/22/24 8:27 am From: Kent McFarland <kmcfarland...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Birds of North America Collection - anyone want?
I would second Sean's offer and say I have a set up for grabs too. It could
be picked up in Woodstock or at the VCE office if one was interested.
Thanks
Kent
____________________________
Kent McFarland (he/him)
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
PO Box 420 | Norwich, Vermont 05055
On Fri, Mar 22, 2024 at 11:01 AM Sean Beckett <
<sean...> wrote:
> Greetings, Birders!
>
> We've got a duplicate copy of the physical Birds of North America
> collection, which is a project published by the AOU in the 90s-00s
> comprising a detailed species account of every North American bird species,
> each written by preeminent ornithologists working on that species. It has
> now been made available online via subscription, so we no longer need the
> physical copies.
>
> Each account looks something like this
> <
> https://www.buteobooks.com/pages/books/BNA358/philip-c-stouffer-r-terry-chesser/tropical-kingbird-birds-of-north-america-species-account > >,
> and the full collection takes up a good 5-10 ft of shelf space.
>
> Anyone want it?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Sean Beckett
> (he/him)
> Program Director
> North Branch Nature Center
> 713 Elm St, Montpelier VT 05602
> (802) 229-6206 ext. 102
>
Date: 3/22/24 8:01 am From: Sean Beckett <sean...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Birds of North America Collection - anyone want?
Greetings, Birders!
We've got a duplicate copy of the physical Birds of North America collection, which is a project published by the AOU in the 90s-00s comprising a detailed species account of every North American bird species, each written by preeminent ornithologists working on that species. It has now been made available online via subscription, so we no longer need the physical copies.
Date: 3/22/24 5:11 am From: Pat Folsom <pfols...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Nighthawks
So sorry this went to everyone,meant for Jan
Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Folsom" <pfols...>
To: "VT Bird" <VTBIRD...>
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 8:07:52 AM
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Nighthawks
Hi Jan- I am in NM, heading to AZ on Sunday. My friend Sam did say she was interested after I had breakfast with her last week. I know she contacted Chip after I gave her the info. I am on the same flights as Chip as I needed to make reservations before I headed to NM.
Was remembering our CA trip a couple days ago while hiking the foothills with a good friend of Luke and Catherine. Small world stuff. I remember that Luke and I know many of the same birders.
See you soon. I'm so happy to be able to walk again with my new knee,
Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jan Miles" <jancmiles...>
To: "VT Bird" <VTBIRD...>
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 6:05:47 AM
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Nighthawks
Hi Pat,
Say, here’s a past birding adventure! Bill and I did that twice last summer, which was a first, combining it with golf. Don is such a good nighthawk watchman.
Yesterday, I made my flight reservations, phoning Chip from AAA for more info. I decided to fly into Minneapolis, because it is indeed more expensive to Deluth! Chip said we’d bird in the morning around Fargo, so I’m flying out of Fargo after noon, arriving in Chicago where my connection is the same as his out of Minneapolis.
Chip said one of your friends might join in? My friend Becky from Kalamazoo is in the group after she and I had talked enough over the years about finding a COWA! She said she needs too much time to get organized and couldn’t be a roomie, and then you signed on! After CA, we know the drill.
It’s just occurred to me that you might be in NM/AZ? I hope so with more snow on the way….
Best,
Jan
Sent from my iPad
> On Aug 24, 2016, at 10:15 PM, Patricia Folsom <pfols...> wrote:
>
> I traveled to Bradford this evening and found at least 50 circling and feeding. As Pieter said, quite a show!
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Aug 24, 2016, at 9:54 PM, Pieter van Loon <boydenvl...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> I decided to take my kayak and fishing pole to the Retreat Meadows in Brattleboro this evening around 5:45. For the next hour and a half I spent way more time watching Nighthawks than fishing. Granted, I should have gone to the Don Clark School of Nighthawk Counting, but to be fair I didn't realize I was going to run into them tonight. I ended up sitting in the middle of the West River counting them as they came over the power lines in front of me and finished my count at 584. Not sure if I was just seeing the same 40 birds cycle north up to the I-91 bridge and then back around to Retreat Meadows over and over again or whether there really were that many birds. Seems like the latter. Quite a show.
>> Pieter van Loon Marlboro, VT
Date: 3/22/24 5:09 am From: Pat Folsom <pfols...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Nighthawks
Hi Jan- I am in NM, heading to AZ on Sunday. My friend Sam did say she was interested after I had breakfast with her last week. I know she contacted Chip after I gave her the info. I am on the same flights as Chip as I needed to make reservations before I headed to NM.
Was remembering our CA trip a couple days ago while hiking the foothills with a good friend of Luke and Catherine. Small world stuff. I remember that Luke and I know many of the same birders.
See you soon. I'm so happy to be able to walk again with my new knee,
Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jan Miles" <jancmiles...>
To: "VT Bird" <VTBIRD...>
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 6:05:47 AM
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Nighthawks
Hi Pat,
Say, here’s a past birding adventure! Bill and I did that twice last summer, which was a first, combining it with golf. Don is such a good nighthawk watchman.
Yesterday, I made my flight reservations, phoning Chip from AAA for more info. I decided to fly into Minneapolis, because it is indeed more expensive to Deluth! Chip said we’d bird in the morning around Fargo, so I’m flying out of Fargo after noon, arriving in Chicago where my connection is the same as his out of Minneapolis.
Chip said one of your friends might join in? My friend Becky from Kalamazoo is in the group after she and I had talked enough over the years about finding a COWA! She said she needs too much time to get organized and couldn’t be a roomie, and then you signed on! After CA, we know the drill.
It’s just occurred to me that you might be in NM/AZ? I hope so with more snow on the way….
Best,
Jan
Sent from my iPad
> On Aug 24, 2016, at 10:15 PM, Patricia Folsom <pfols...> wrote:
>
> I traveled to Bradford this evening and found at least 50 circling and feeding. As Pieter said, quite a show!
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Aug 24, 2016, at 9:54 PM, Pieter van Loon <boydenvl...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> I decided to take my kayak and fishing pole to the Retreat Meadows in Brattleboro this evening around 5:45. For the next hour and a half I spent way more time watching Nighthawks than fishing. Granted, I should have gone to the Don Clark School of Nighthawk Counting, but to be fair I didn't realize I was going to run into them tonight. I ended up sitting in the middle of the West River counting them as they came over the power lines in front of me and finished my count at 584. Not sure if I was just seeing the same 40 birds cycle north up to the I-91 bridge and then back around to Retreat Meadows over and over again or whether there really were that many birds. Seems like the latter. Quite a show.
>> Pieter van Loon Marlboro, VT
Date: 3/22/24 3:07 am From: Jan Miles <jancmiles...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Nighthawks
Hi Pat,
Say, here’s a past birding adventure! Bill and I did that twice last summer, which was a first, combining it with golf. Don is such a good nighthawk watchman.
Yesterday, I made my flight reservations, phoning Chip from AAA for more info. I decided to fly into Minneapolis, because it is indeed more expensive to Deluth! Chip said we’d bird in the morning around Fargo, so I’m flying out of Fargo after noon, arriving in Chicago where my connection is the same as his out of Minneapolis.
Chip said one of your friends might join in? My friend Becky from Kalamazoo is in the group after she and I had talked enough over the years about finding a COWA! She said she needs too much time to get organized and couldn’t be a roomie, and then you signed on! After CA, we know the drill.
It’s just occurred to me that you might be in NM/AZ? I hope so with more snow on the way….
Best,
Jan
Sent from my iPad
> On Aug 24, 2016, at 10:15 PM, Patricia Folsom <pfols...> wrote:
>
> I traveled to Bradford this evening and found at least 50 circling and feeding. As Pieter said, quite a show!
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Aug 24, 2016, at 9:54 PM, Pieter van Loon <boydenvl...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> I decided to take my kayak and fishing pole to the Retreat Meadows in Brattleboro this evening around 5:45. For the next hour and a half I spent way more time watching Nighthawks than fishing. Granted, I should have gone to the Don Clark School of Nighthawk Counting, but to be fair I didn't realize I was going to run into them tonight. I ended up sitting in the middle of the West River counting them as they came over the power lines in front of me and finished my count at 584. Not sure if I was just seeing the same 40 birds cycle north up to the I-91 bridge and then back around to Retreat Meadows over and over again or whether there really were that many birds. Seems like the latter. Quite a show.
>> Pieter van Loon Marlboro, VT
Date: 3/19/24 5:20 am From: Veer Frost <0000038039fb4cf6-dmarc-request...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Fox Sparrow
Sparrow-majesty! only spring and fall pass-through here, always impressed that he doesn't skitter from the red squirrel like juncos and his smaller cousins.Veer Frost,Passumpsic
Thanks, Susan. Very helpful.
Bruce MacPherson
South Burlington
On Monday, March 18, 2024 at 08:06:01 PM EDT, Susan Elliott <00000032e9152660-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Hi everyone,
Here is a link to the updated Vermont Bird Checklist:https://vtecostudies.org/wildlife/wildlife-watching/vbrc/bird-checklists/
While eBird is handy at alerting you to unusual sightings, either out-of-range or out-of-season, there are some finer points noted on the checklist (nesting rarity, species usually found within certain areas of the state, etc.). It is very handy to bookmark the site or keep a copy in your car or backpack when out of cell range.
This year's changes:Black-bellied Whistling Duck: n/a to V
Ring-necked Duck: 2D-12B to 1A -12D
Western Grebe: n/a to H and V
Bald Eagle: 1A-12D N to 1A-12DGreat Blue Heron: 3B-12D to 3B-12D+Canada Jay: 1A-12D to 1A - 12D KSong Sparrow: 3B-11A+ to 1A-12D
Summer Tanager: V to 4C-5B
If you do happen to spot an unusual bird, the checklist is helpful in determining if a Rare Species Documentation report should be submitted to the Vermont Bird Records Committee. A link to that report can be found here:https://vtecostudies.org/wildlife/wildlife-watching/vbrc/report/
Hi everyone,
Here is a link to the updated Vermont Bird Checklist:https://vtecostudies.org/wildlife/wildlife-watching/vbrc/bird-checklists/
While eBird is handy at alerting you to unusual sightings, either out-of-range or out-of-season, there are some finer points noted on the checklist (nesting rarity, species usually found within certain areas of the state, etc.). It is very handy to bookmark the site or keep a copy in your car or backpack when out of cell range.
This year's changes:Black-bellied Whistling Duck: n/a to V
Ring-necked Duck: 2D-12B to 1A -12D
Western Grebe: n/a to H and V
Bald Eagle: 1A-12D N to 1A-12DGreat Blue Heron: 3B-12D to 3B-12D+Canada Jay: 1A-12D to 1A - 12D KSong Sparrow: 3B-11A+ to 1A-12D
Summer Tanager: V to 4C-5B
If you do happen to spot an unusual bird, the checklist is helpful in determining if a Rare Species Documentation report should be submitted to the Vermont Bird Records Committee. A link to that report can be found here:https://vtecostudies.org/wildlife/wildlife-watching/vbrc/report/
On Sun, Mar 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM Richard Littauer <
<richard.littauer...> wrote:
> Good luck with this, Ruth! I have always found that any of the high
> altitude parts of the Long Trail work - Abe and Ellen and Mansfield, in
> particular.
>
> On a different note, though, Bicknell's are in Cuba! That's where some
> percentage of them overwinter. You can see some eBird notes here:
>
> https://ebird.org/map/bicthr?neg=true&env.minX=&env.minY=&env.maxX=&env.maxY=&zh=false&gp=false&ev=Z&excludeExX=false&excludeExAll=false&mr=1-12&bmo=1&emo=12&yr=all&byr=1900&eyr=2024 > .
>
>
> Spruce Grouse, agreed, probably aren't.
>
> R
>
> On Sat, Mar 16, 2024 at 7:22 PM R Stewart <2cnewbirds...> wrote:
>
> > I am just back from a birding trip to Cuba (willing to share details).
> One
> > of the participants in our group is on a quest for the Spruce Grouse and
> > Bicknell's (neither which are in Cuba!!) She's from NC and is planning
> on
> > a 'go' in early June. Initially she was thinking Jay Peak for Bicknell's.
> > Is there someone in the area that might help her plan and find her target
> > birds? Please zip me an email off line and I will pass along the info.
> > Thanks. Ruth
> >
> > --
> > Ruth Stewart
> > E. Dorset VT
> >
>
>
> --
> Richard Littauer | burntfen.com <http://www.burntfen.com> | socials:
> richard.social
>
Date: 3/17/24 8:00 am From: Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Birding in NE Kingdom
Good luck with this, Ruth! I have always found that any of the high
altitude parts of the Long Trail work - Abe and Ellen and Mansfield, in
particular.
On Sat, Mar 16, 2024 at 7:22 PM R Stewart <2cnewbirds...> wrote:
> I am just back from a birding trip to Cuba (willing to share details). One
> of the participants in our group is on a quest for the Spruce Grouse and
> Bicknell's (neither which are in Cuba!!) She's from NC and is planning on
> a 'go' in early June. Initially she was thinking Jay Peak for Bicknell's.
> Is there someone in the area that might help her plan and find her target
> birds? Please zip me an email off line and I will pass along the info.
> Thanks. Ruth
>
> --
> Ruth Stewart
> E. Dorset VT
>
Date: 3/16/24 4:22 pm From: R Stewart <2cnewbirds...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Birding in NE Kingdom
I am just back from a birding trip to Cuba (willing to share details). One of the participants in our group is on a quest for the Spruce Grouse and Bicknell's (neither which are in Cuba!!) She's from NC and is planning on a 'go' in early June. Initially she was thinking Jay Peak for Bicknell's. Is there someone in the area that might help her plan and find her target birds? Please zip me an email off line and I will pass along the info. Thanks. Ruth
Date: 3/16/24 5:26 am From: Susan Fogleman <sfogleman...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
Perfect, Glenn!!! 🎼 🎻
Susan Fogleman
> On Mar 15, 2024, at 12:47 PM, Glenn Etter <glennetterjr...> wrote:
>
> i like medley of song sparrows, but symphony of song sparrows keeps the
> alliteration going
>
> On Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 12:30 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
> wrote:
>
>> Song sparrows joined the robins today; lovely to hear them again! A book
>> of song sparrows perhaps?
>>
Date: 3/15/24 4:43 pm From: AOL <0000045717cbf104-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins
I found this list somewhere years ago
A Glossary of Poetic Plurals Birds
sedge/ siegeof bitterns
chain of bobolinks
wake of buzzards
brood of chickens
flock/ peepof chickens
brood/ chattering/ clutchof chicks
chattering of choughs
bury of conies
cover of coots
gulp of cormorants
sedge/ siegeof cranes
murder of crows
herd of curlews
bevy/ cote/ dole/ dule/ piteousness/ pitying of doves
brace/ raft/ paddling/ flush ofducks
aerie of eagles
stand of flamingos
gaggle of geese
skein of geese (in flight)
wedge of geese (flying in a “V”)
charm of goldfinches
skein of goslings
covey of grouse
bazaar of guillemots
colony of gulls
aerie/ cast/ kettleof hawks
brood of hens
hedge/ sedge/ siegeof herons
charm of hummingbirds
scold of jays
deceit of lapwings
ascension/ exaltationof larks
tidings of magpies
sord of mallards
watch of nightingales
parliament of owls
pandemonium of parrots
covey of partridges
ostentation of peacocks
colony/ parcel/ rookery/ huddle/ crècheof penguins
covey/ nide/ nyeof pheasants (on the ground)
bouquet of pheasants (when flushed)
flight of pigeons
congregation of plovers
covey of ptarmigans
bevy/ covey of quail
conspirancy/ storytelling/ unkindnessof ravens
building/ clamor/ parliamentof rooks
wisp of snipes
host of sparrows
murmuration of starlings
a fifth of starlings
muster of storks
flight of swallows
lamentation of swans
wedge of swans (flying in a “V”)
flock of swifts
spring of teals
rafter of turkeys
brood of turkeys (immature)
pitying of turtledoves
committee of vultures
plump of waterfowl
raft of wigeons
chime of wrens
fall of woodcocks
descent of woodpeckers
Thanks,
Nancy
> On Mar 15, 2024, at 17:56, Janet <musbird...> wrote:
>
> Check out the charming 1967/2008 children’s book by British illustrator Brian Wildsmith Animal Gallery. It Includes such group names as a Game of Swans, a Siege of Herons, a Pandemonium of Parrots, a Colony of Penguins, and a Muster of Turkeys, And a bunch of funny terms for animals and fish, etc. Gorgeous paintings to boot!
> Janet Watton
> Randolph
>
>> On Mar 15, 2024, at 12:00 AM, VTBIRD automatic digest system <LISTSERV...> wrote:
>>
>> There are 19 messages totaling 710 lines in this issue.
>>
>> Topics of the day:
>>
>> 1. Carolina v Winter? (6)
>> 2. Siskins (4)
>> 3. Red-shouldered Hawks
>> 4. Proper name for a group of robins? (7)
>> 5. Good week.
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:12:03 -0400
>> From: Jared Katz <jdkatzvt...>
>> Subject: Carolina v Winter?
>>
>> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>>
>> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:16:55 -0400
>> From: Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...>
>> Subject: Re: Carolina v Winter?
>>
>> Your bird sounds like a Carolina from your description. I have them all
>> the time on my suet and even on sunflower chips.
>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:13 AM Jared Katz <
>>> <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a
>>> little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The
>>> call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>>>
>>> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more
>>> uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen
>>> a Carolina at my feeder before.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:18:19 -0400
>> From: Jared Katz <jdkatzvt...>
>> Subject: Re: Carolina v Winter?
>>
>> Thank you Mark.
>>
>>>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:16 AM, Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Your bird sounds like a Carolina from your description. I have them all
>>> the time on my suet and even on sunflower chips.
>>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:13 AM Jared Katz <
>>> <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a
>>>> little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The
>>>> call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>>>>
>>>> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more
>>>> uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen
>>>> a Carolina at my feeder before.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:14:16 -0400
>> From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...>
>> Subject: Re: Carolina v Winter?
>>
>> A few winters ago, a Carolina Wren spent several weeks at our house - a real treat!
>> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
>>
>>>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:12 AM, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>>>
>>> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:55:28 -0400
>> From: Veer Frost <veer.frost...>
>> Subject: Siskins
>>
>> My usual 2-3 this morning ramping up to 10+, many high pitched
>> conversations!Veer Frost, Passumpsic
>>
>> _Dwell in the essential _I Ching
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:02:42 -0400
>> From: Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan...>
>> Subject: Siskins
>>
>> Two Pine Siskins have been at our feeders for the past three days. They are
>> usually accompanying a small flock of Goldfinches. This is the first time we
>> have seen them in a while ( 2 or 3 years).
>>
>> Barbara Brosnan
>>
>> Weybridge
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:13:41 +0000
>> From: Joyce Werntgen <joywert...>
>> Subject: Re: Siskins
>>
>> I am in Montpelier and have had a flock of at least 15 Pine Siskins for the past couple of months. Some Goldfinch traveling with them.
>> Joyce
>>
>>
>> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
>>
>>
>> On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 10:02 AM, Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan...> wrote:
>>
>> Two Pine Siskins have been at our feeders for the past three days. They are
>> usually accompanying a small flock of Goldfinches. This is the first time we
>> have seen them in a while ( 2 or 3 years).
>>
>> Barbara Brosnan
>>
>> Weybridge
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:16:10 +0000
>> From: Mamuniaangel <mamuniaangel...>
>> Subject: Re: Carolina v Winter?
>>
>> I had nesting Carolina wrens one fall (they started in September!) when I lived in Swanton. Now in NC, I see many of them--so much fun! They are notably more "rust and buff" as opposed to brown and white. They are also bigger than winter wrens. That loud, wind-up music box song is great. I don't hear them singing "teakettle." I hear different variations of "wiggly-wiggly-wig!" "a-wiggle-a-wiggle-a-wiggle!" Angel Harris
>> On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 08:12:41 AM EDT, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>>
>> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 11:35:45 -0400
>> From: Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...>
>> Subject: Re: Red-shouldered Hawks
>>
>> Cool observation, Roy.
>>
>> It's not too early for Red-shouldered Hawks; take a look at this graph of
>> observations in Vermont.
>> https://ebird.org/barchart?byr=1900&eyr=2024&bmo=1&emo=12&r=US-VT&spp=reshaw >>
>> Logging it on eBird would be a great idea - it useful to know when they
>> start coming back, although, as you can see, some are known to overwinter
>> here (mainly in the southern part of the state).
>>
>> It was also great that you got visual confirmation. Blue Jays can mimic
>> Red-shouldered and Broad-winged Hawks, and at this time of the year, I've
>> often thought I heard an early Broad-wing only to find a Blue Jerk singing
>> away.
>>
>> Best,
>> R
>>
>>> On Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 6:33 PM kfinch <kfinch51...> wrote:
>>>
>>> A Red-shouldered Hawk has been hanging around our Chester homestead for a
>>> couple of weeks now. Ken Finch
>>> -------- Original message --------From: Roy Pilcher <
>>> <00000022ffe6db53-dmarc-request...> Date: 3/13/24 5:27 PM
>>> (GMT-05:00) To: <VTBIRD...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Red-shouldered
>>> Hawks My son walks the Carriage Trail between Proctor and Rutland daily.
>>> He also has the Merlin App on his cell phone.While walking this afternoon
>>> he heard calls that the App indicated as Red-shouldered Hawks.I suggested
>>> that it was too early for Red-shouldered Hawks and the calls were probably
>>> Blue Jays' imitations. I suggested he play the Red-shouldered call. His
>>> reply came back, he saw two hawks circling above the trees. [No leaves on
>>> the trees.]The timing of the observation is early, I think! Should I enter
>>> it on e-Bird?Cheers, Roy Pilcher
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Richard Littauer | burntfen.com <http://www.burntfen.com> | socials:
>> richard.social
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:16:05 -0400
>> From: Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>> Subject: Proper name for a group of robins?
>>
>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:24:42 -0400
>> From: Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
>> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>>
>> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
>> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
>> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
>> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
>> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
>> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
>> entertaining read!
>>
>> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
>> 119 here:
>> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf.
>> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
>> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >>
>> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
>> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >>
>> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
>> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter >> *Natural History field guides*
>> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >>
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:28:37 -0400
>> From: Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...>
>> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>>
>> While on that subject, what is the plural of Titmouse? Titmouses or
>> Titmice???
>>
>> Mark
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:26 PM Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
>>> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
>>> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
>>> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
>>> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
>>> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
>>> entertaining read!
>>>
>>> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
>>> 119 here:
>>>
>>> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf >>> .
>>> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
>>> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >>>
>>> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
>>> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >>>
>>> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
>>> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter >>> *Natural History field guides*
>>> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>>
>>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:38:00 -0400
>> From: Graham Bates <batesg...>
>> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>>
>> These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:43:09 +0000
>> From: "<kj813...>" <kj813...>
>> Subject: Re: Carolina v Winter?
>>
>> They appeared last year at my feeders and are back this year. So charming! Kay in Hinesburg
>>
>>
>> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
>>
>>
>> On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 8:12 AM, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>>
>> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:54:57 -0400
>> From: Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...>
>> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>>
>> The interesting thing about these collective names for animals (sometimes
>> called terms of venery) is that they aren't necessarily frozen in time. The
>> underlying syntactic construction is productive
>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productivity_(linguistics)>. I can
>> understand a frasier of cranes just fine. It is grammatical for me, even if
>> I've never heard it before. Grammatical doesn't mean it's in some list of
>> words for birds - it means I can parse it in my head, and understand what
>> you mean it to mean, because I speak English and my brain understands how
>> English is meant to work. The grammar makes sense.
>>
>> So, asking for the "right" term is a bit silly - the term for a group of
>> robins is whatever you want it to be. There may have been a name used for
>> robins in the past, but it's not set in stone. Some are - a murder of crows
>> is instantly recognizable as a common phrase - but that doesn't make other
>> terms less grammatical to a native English speaker - unlike, say, me saying
>> "Crows murder a of" - something that any English speaker would ask me to
>> repeat, because it's impossible to parse effectively.
>>
>> This means the question isn't "What's the term", but rather, "What do you
>> think about this as a name for these?"
>>
>> A Hyde Park of Robins sounds like a good enough term for what you saw.
>>
>> A good summary of the origin of these terms of venery comes from the
>> Marginalian, here
>> <https://www.themarginalian.org/2024/01/04/brian-wildsmith-birds-company-terms/>,
>> with some more details on the Book of St. Albans, written by the woman
>> Teage mentions, Juliana Barnes, in 1486. It's a nice read.
>>
>> And, hopefully, in the future if someone asks you for the right term for a
>> group of Yellow-rumped Warblers or *Larus delawarensis* or Northern Hawk
>> Owls, you can think of something witty on the spot, and it sticks. A rump
>> of warblers. A Frodo of Ring-billed Gulls. A Falconry of Northern Hawk
>> Owls.
>>
>> R
>>
>> P.S. The plural of Titmouse can be either titmouses or titmice (or
>> titmices, maybe). Titmici or Titmousen or Titmopodes would be a bit of a
>> stretch, though, but they might still work. Try them?
>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:39 PM Graham Bates <batesg...> wrote:
>>>
>>> These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
>>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Richard Littauer | burntfen.com <http://www.burntfen.com> | socials:
>> richard.social
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 21:13:09 -0400
>> From: Connie Caldes <connie.caldes...>
>> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>>
>> I had the same question about the plural for Titmouse?
>>
>> Connie
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:29 PM, Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> wrote:
>>>
>>> While on that subject, what is the plural of Titmouse? Titmouses or
>>> Titmice???
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>
>>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:26 PM Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
>>>> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
>>>> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
>>>> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
>>>> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
>>>> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
>>>> entertaining read!
>>>>
>>>> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
>>>> 119 here:
>>>>
>>>> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf >>>> .
>>>> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
>>>> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >>>>
>>>> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
>>>> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >>>>
>>>> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
>>>> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter >>>> *Natural History field guides*
>>>> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:03:45 -0600
>> From: Mundi Smithers <amen1farm...>
>> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>>
>> Or as my kids appellation for Titmice, Tough Titted Mice. 🤣🤣
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> The greatest tragedy in mankind’s entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion.
>> Arthur C Clarke 1917 - 2008
>>
>> Garden-Making is the slowest of the performing arts.
>> Mac Griswold
>>
>>>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 7:14 PM, Connie Caldes <connie.caldes...> wrote:
>>>
>>> I had the same question about the plural for Titmouse?
>>>
>>> Connie
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:29 PM, Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> While on that subject, what is the plural of Titmouse? Titmouses or
>>>> Titmice???
>>>>
>>>> Mark
>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:26 PM Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
>>>>> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
>>>>> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
>>>>> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
>>>>> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
>>>>> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
>>>>> entertaining read!
>>>>>
>>>>> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
>>>>> 119 here:
>>>>>
>>>>> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf >>>>> .
>>>>> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
>>>>> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >>>>>
>>>>> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
>>>>> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >>>>>
>>>>> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
>>>>> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter >>>>> *Natural History field guides*
>>>>> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>>>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>>>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 22:09:45 -0400
>> From: Charlie La Rosa <charlie.larosa...>
>> Subject: Re: Siskins
>>
>> I've had pine siskins here in So. Washington off on all winter. In the last
>> few weeks the group grew to over 50. I've only seen 10-15 the last few
>> days, but who knows how many visit while I'm at work?
>> Charlie La Rosa
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 10:15 AM Joyce Werntgen <
>> <0000019178608573-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>>> I am in Montpelier and have had a flock of at least 15 Pine Siskins for
>>> the past couple of months. Some Goldfinch traveling with them.
>>> Joyce
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 10:02 AM, Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Two Pine Siskins have been at our feeders for the past three days. They are
>>> usually accompanying a small flock of Goldfinches. This is the first time
>>> we
>>> have seen them in a while ( 2 or 3 years).
>>>
>>> Barbara Brosnan
>>>
>>> Weybridge
>>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 22:46:11 -0400
>> From: Charlie La Rosa <charlie.larosa...>
>> Subject: Good week.
>>
>> I've had the usual species every day here.
>>
>> 2 ravens Last week they were carrying sticks to probable nest site in
>> tall white pines.
>> chickadees
>> blue jays as many as 30 in a group
>> downies
>> hairies
>> modos
>> juncos absent most of winter but regular now
>> common grackle the last two days
>> red-wings last Sunday (5 males)
>> red-breasted nuthatch
>> white-breasted nuthatch
>> siskins...many
>> goldfinches...most was 4 at one time
>> tufted titmouse
>> turkeys....30 +/- in largest group
>> purple finch has not been seen for a week now
>> the dozen house sparrows living in my wood shed have left
>>
>> On Monday during the snow storm there were large groups of Canadas in
>> flooded fields and in stubbled corn fields along I-89 from Montpelier to
>> Richmond. There were none on Tuesday except for a few in a small pond where
>> they had managed to keep a small area of water from freezing during the
>> night. There was a turkey vulture in So. Burlington. Also on Monday, a
>> magnificent red-tail was soaring fairly low in Corinth offering a very nice
>> view.
>>
>> The first chipmunk of spring popped up through a hole in the snow this week
>> and sparked the curiosity of a blue jay that hopped around and above it
>> within about ten inches for a while as the chipmunk feasted on the seed
>> dropped on the snow.
>>
>> The only singing I can report is that of the coyotes during the night.
>> Haven't heard barred owls lately.
>>
>> Charlie La Rosa
>> So. Washington
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> End of VTBIRD Digest - 13 Mar 2024 to 14 Mar 2024 (#2024-60)
>> ************************************************************
Date: 3/15/24 3:56 pm From: Janet <musbird...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins
Check out the charming 1967/2008 children’s book by British illustrator Brian Wildsmith Animal Gallery. It Includes such group names as a Game of Swans, a Siege of Herons, a Pandemonium of Parrots, a Colony of Penguins, and a Muster of Turkeys, And a bunch of funny terms for animals and fish, etc. Gorgeous paintings to boot!
Janet Watton
Randolph
> On Mar 15, 2024, at 12:00 AM, VTBIRD automatic digest system <LISTSERV...> wrote:
>
> There are 19 messages totaling 710 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. Carolina v Winter? (6)
> 2. Siskins (4)
> 3. Red-shouldered Hawks
> 4. Proper name for a group of robins? (7)
> 5. Good week.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:12:03 -0400
> From: Jared Katz <jdkatzvt...>
> Subject: Carolina v Winter?
>
> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>
> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:16:55 -0400
> From: Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...>
> Subject: Re: Carolina v Winter?
>
> Your bird sounds like a Carolina from your description. I have them all
> the time on my suet and even on sunflower chips.
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:13 AM Jared Katz <
> <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a
>> little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The
>> call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>>
>> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more
>> uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen
>> a Carolina at my feeder before.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:18:19 -0400
> From: Jared Katz <jdkatzvt...>
> Subject: Re: Carolina v Winter?
>
> Thank you Mark.
>
>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:16 AM, Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> wrote:
>>
>> Your bird sounds like a Carolina from your description. I have them all
>> the time on my suet and even on sunflower chips.
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:13 AM Jared Katz <
>> <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>>> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a
>>> little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The
>>> call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>>>
>>> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more
>>> uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen
>>> a Carolina at my feeder before.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:14:16 -0400
> From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...>
> Subject: Re: Carolina v Winter?
>
> A few winters ago, a Carolina Wren spent several weeks at our house - a real treat!
> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
>
>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:12 AM, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>>
>> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:55:28 -0400
> From: Veer Frost <veer.frost...>
> Subject: Siskins
>
> My usual 2-3 this morning ramping up to 10+, many high pitched
> conversations!Veer Frost, Passumpsic
>
> _Dwell in the essential _I Ching
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:02:42 -0400
> From: Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan...>
> Subject: Siskins
>
> Two Pine Siskins have been at our feeders for the past three days. They are
> usually accompanying a small flock of Goldfinches. This is the first time we
> have seen them in a while ( 2 or 3 years).
>
> Barbara Brosnan
>
> Weybridge
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:13:41 +0000
> From: Joyce Werntgen <joywert...>
> Subject: Re: Siskins
>
> I am in Montpelier and have had a flock of at least 15 Pine Siskins for the past couple of months. Some Goldfinch traveling with them.
> Joyce
>
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
>
>
> On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 10:02 AM, Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan...> wrote:
>
> Two Pine Siskins have been at our feeders for the past three days. They are
> usually accompanying a small flock of Goldfinches. This is the first time we
> have seen them in a while ( 2 or 3 years).
>
> Barbara Brosnan
>
> Weybridge
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:16:10 +0000
> From: Mamuniaangel <mamuniaangel...>
> Subject: Re: Carolina v Winter?
>
> I had nesting Carolina wrens one fall (they started in September!) when I lived in Swanton. Now in NC, I see many of them--so much fun! They are notably more "rust and buff" as opposed to brown and white. They are also bigger than winter wrens. That loud, wind-up music box song is great. I don't hear them singing "teakettle." I hear different variations of "wiggly-wiggly-wig!" "a-wiggle-a-wiggle-a-wiggle!" Angel Harris
> On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 08:12:41 AM EDT, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>
> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 11:35:45 -0400
> From: Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...>
> Subject: Re: Red-shouldered Hawks
>
> Cool observation, Roy.
>
> It's not too early for Red-shouldered Hawks; take a look at this graph of
> observations in Vermont.
> https://ebird.org/barchart?byr=1900&eyr=2024&bmo=1&emo=12&r=US-VT&spp=reshaw >
> Logging it on eBird would be a great idea - it useful to know when they
> start coming back, although, as you can see, some are known to overwinter
> here (mainly in the southern part of the state).
>
> It was also great that you got visual confirmation. Blue Jays can mimic
> Red-shouldered and Broad-winged Hawks, and at this time of the year, I've
> often thought I heard an early Broad-wing only to find a Blue Jerk singing
> away.
>
> Best,
> R
>
> On Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 6:33 PM kfinch <kfinch51...> wrote:
>
>> A Red-shouldered Hawk has been hanging around our Chester homestead for a
>> couple of weeks now. Ken Finch
>> -------- Original message --------From: Roy Pilcher <
>> <00000022ffe6db53-dmarc-request...> Date: 3/13/24 5:27 PM
>> (GMT-05:00) To: <VTBIRD...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Red-shouldered
>> Hawks My son walks the Carriage Trail between Proctor and Rutland daily.
>> He also has the Merlin App on his cell phone.While walking this afternoon
>> he heard calls that the App indicated as Red-shouldered Hawks.I suggested
>> that it was too early for Red-shouldered Hawks and the calls were probably
>> Blue Jays' imitations. I suggested he play the Red-shouldered call. His
>> reply came back, he saw two hawks circling above the trees. [No leaves on
>> the trees.]The timing of the observation is early, I think! Should I enter
>> it on e-Bird?Cheers, Roy Pilcher
>
>
>
> --
> Richard Littauer | burntfen.com <http://www.burntfen.com> | socials:
> richard.social
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:16:05 -0400
> From: Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
> Subject: Proper name for a group of robins?
>
> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:24:42 -0400
> From: Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>
> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
> entertaining read!
>
> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
> 119 here:
> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf.
> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >
> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >
> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter > *Natural History field guides*
> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
> wrote:
>
>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:28:37 -0400
> From: Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...>
> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>
> While on that subject, what is the plural of Titmouse? Titmouses or
> Titmice???
>
> Mark
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:26 PM Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
> wrote:
>
>> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
>> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
>> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
>> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
>> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
>> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
>> entertaining read!
>>
>> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
>> 119 here:
>>
>> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf >> .
>> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
>> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >>
>> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
>> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >>
>> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
>> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter >> *Natural History field guides*
>> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >>
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>
>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:38:00 -0400
> From: Graham Bates <batesg...>
> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>
> These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
> wrote:
>
>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:43:09 +0000
> From: "<kj813...>" <kj813...>
> Subject: Re: Carolina v Winter?
>
> They appeared last year at my feeders and are back this year. So charming! Kay in Hinesburg
>
>
> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
>
>
> On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 8:12 AM, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>
> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:54:57 -0400
> From: Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...>
> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>
> The interesting thing about these collective names for animals (sometimes
> called terms of venery) is that they aren't necessarily frozen in time. The
> underlying syntactic construction is productive
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productivity_(linguistics)>. I can
> understand a frasier of cranes just fine. It is grammatical for me, even if
> I've never heard it before. Grammatical doesn't mean it's in some list of
> words for birds - it means I can parse it in my head, and understand what
> you mean it to mean, because I speak English and my brain understands how
> English is meant to work. The grammar makes sense.
>
> So, asking for the "right" term is a bit silly - the term for a group of
> robins is whatever you want it to be. There may have been a name used for
> robins in the past, but it's not set in stone. Some are - a murder of crows
> is instantly recognizable as a common phrase - but that doesn't make other
> terms less grammatical to a native English speaker - unlike, say, me saying
> "Crows murder a of" - something that any English speaker would ask me to
> repeat, because it's impossible to parse effectively.
>
> This means the question isn't "What's the term", but rather, "What do you
> think about this as a name for these?"
>
> A Hyde Park of Robins sounds like a good enough term for what you saw.
>
> A good summary of the origin of these terms of venery comes from the
> Marginalian, here
> <https://www.themarginalian.org/2024/01/04/brian-wildsmith-birds-company-terms/>,
> with some more details on the Book of St. Albans, written by the woman
> Teage mentions, Juliana Barnes, in 1486. It's a nice read.
>
> And, hopefully, in the future if someone asks you for the right term for a
> group of Yellow-rumped Warblers or *Larus delawarensis* or Northern Hawk
> Owls, you can think of something witty on the spot, and it sticks. A rump
> of warblers. A Frodo of Ring-billed Gulls. A Falconry of Northern Hawk
> Owls.
>
> R
>
> P.S. The plural of Titmouse can be either titmouses or titmice (or
> titmices, maybe). Titmici or Titmousen or Titmopodes would be a bit of a
> stretch, though, but they might still work. Try them?
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:39 PM Graham Bates <batesg...> wrote:
>
>> These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Richard Littauer | burntfen.com <http://www.burntfen.com> | socials:
> richard.social
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 21:13:09 -0400
> From: Connie Caldes <connie.caldes...>
> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>
> I had the same question about the plural for Titmouse?
>
> Connie
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:29 PM, Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> wrote:
>>
>> While on that subject, what is the plural of Titmouse? Titmouses or
>> Titmice???
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:26 PM Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
>>> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
>>> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
>>> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
>>> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
>>> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
>>> entertaining read!
>>>
>>> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
>>> 119 here:
>>>
>>> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf >>> .
>>> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
>>> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >>>
>>> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
>>> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >>>
>>> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
>>> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter >>> *Natural History field guides*
>>> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>>
>>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:03:45 -0600
> From: Mundi Smithers <amen1farm...>
> Subject: Re: Proper name for a group of robins?
>
> Or as my kids appellation for Titmice, Tough Titted Mice. 🤣🤣
> Sent from my iPad
>
> The greatest tragedy in mankind’s entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion.
> Arthur C Clarke 1917 - 2008
>
> Garden-Making is the slowest of the performing arts.
> Mac Griswold
>
>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 7:14 PM, Connie Caldes <connie.caldes...> wrote:
>>
>> I had the same question about the plural for Titmouse?
>>
>> Connie
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:29 PM, Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> wrote:
>>>
>>> While on that subject, what is the plural of Titmouse? Titmouses or
>>> Titmice???
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>
>>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:26 PM Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
>>>> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
>>>> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
>>>> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
>>>> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
>>>> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
>>>> entertaining read!
>>>>
>>>> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
>>>> 119 here:
>>>>
>>>> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf >>>> .
>>>> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
>>>> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >>>>
>>>> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
>>>> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >>>>
>>>> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
>>>> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter >>>> *Natural History field guides*
>>>> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>>>
>>>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 22:09:45 -0400
> From: Charlie La Rosa <charlie.larosa...>
> Subject: Re: Siskins
>
> I've had pine siskins here in So. Washington off on all winter. In the last
> few weeks the group grew to over 50. I've only seen 10-15 the last few
> days, but who knows how many visit while I'm at work?
> Charlie La Rosa
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 10:15 AM Joyce Werntgen <
> <0000019178608573-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>> I am in Montpelier and have had a flock of at least 15 Pine Siskins for
>> the past couple of months. Some Goldfinch traveling with them.
>> Joyce
>>
>>
>> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
>>
>>
>> On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 10:02 AM, Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan...>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Two Pine Siskins have been at our feeders for the past three days. They are
>> usually accompanying a small flock of Goldfinches. This is the first time
>> we
>> have seen them in a while ( 2 or 3 years).
>>
>> Barbara Brosnan
>>
>> Weybridge
>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 22:46:11 -0400
> From: Charlie La Rosa <charlie.larosa...>
> Subject: Good week.
>
> I've had the usual species every day here.
>
> 2 ravens Last week they were carrying sticks to probable nest site in
> tall white pines.
> chickadees
> blue jays as many as 30 in a group
> downies
> hairies
> modos
> juncos absent most of winter but regular now
> common grackle the last two days
> red-wings last Sunday (5 males)
> red-breasted nuthatch
> white-breasted nuthatch
> siskins...many
> goldfinches...most was 4 at one time
> tufted titmouse
> turkeys....30 +/- in largest group
> purple finch has not been seen for a week now
> the dozen house sparrows living in my wood shed have left
>
> On Monday during the snow storm there were large groups of Canadas in
> flooded fields and in stubbled corn fields along I-89 from Montpelier to
> Richmond. There were none on Tuesday except for a few in a small pond where
> they had managed to keep a small area of water from freezing during the
> night. There was a turkey vulture in So. Burlington. Also on Monday, a
> magnificent red-tail was soaring fairly low in Corinth offering a very nice
> view.
>
> The first chipmunk of spring popped up through a hole in the snow this week
> and sparked the curiosity of a blue jay that hopped around and above it
> within about ten inches for a while as the chipmunk feasted on the seed
> dropped on the snow.
>
> The only singing I can report is that of the coyotes during the night.
> Haven't heard barred owls lately.
>
> Charlie La Rosa
> So. Washington
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of VTBIRD Digest - 13 Mar 2024 to 14 Mar 2024 (#2024-60)
> ************************************************************
Date: 3/15/24 12:01 pm From: Susan Fogleman <sfogleman...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
I like a Chandler of Robins. And in re: Yellow-rumped Warblers, how about a Butt of Y-r Warblers?
Susan Fogleman
> On Mar 15, 2024, at 10:24 AM, Charlie Teske <cteske140...> wrote:
>
> So, it could be a hood of robins near Sherwood Forest, or a Batman of robins when found in a cave?
>
>
>
> On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:54:57 -0400, Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...> wrote:
>
> The interesting thing about these collective names for animals (sometimes
> called terms of venery) is that they aren't necessarily frozen in time. The
> underlying syntactic construction is productive
> . I can
> understand a frasier of cranes just fine. It is grammatical for me, even if
> I've never heard it before. Grammatical doesn't mean it's in some list of
> words for birds - it means I can parse it in my head, and understand what
> you mean it to mean, because I speak English and my brain understands how
> English is meant to work. The grammar makes sense.
>
> So, asking for the "right" term is a bit silly - the term for a group of
> robins is whatever you want it to be. There may have been a name used for
> robins in the past, but it's not set in stone. Some are - a murder of crows
> is instantly recognizable as a common phrase - but that doesn't make other
> terms less grammatical to a native English speaker - unlike, say, me saying
> "Crows murder a of" - something that any English speaker would ask me to
> repeat, because it's impossible to parse effectively.
>
> This means the question isn't "What's the term", but rather, "What do you
> think about this as a name for these?"
>
> A Hyde Park of Robins sounds like a good enough term for what you saw.
>
> A good summary of the origin of these terms of venery comes from the
> Marginalian, here
> ,
> with some more details on the Book of St. Albans, written by the woman
> Teage mentions, Juliana Barnes, in 1486. It's a nice read.
>
> And, hopefully, in the future if someone asks you for the right term for a
> group of Yellow-rumped Warblers or *Larus delawarensis* or Northern Hawk
> Owls, you can think of something witty on the spot, and it sticks. A rump
> of warblers. A Frodo of Ring-billed Gulls. A Falconry of Northern Hawk
> Owls.
>
> R
>
> P.S. The plural of Titmouse can be either titmouses or titmice (or
> titmices, maybe). Titmici or Titmousen or Titmopodes would be a bit of a
> stretch, though, but they might still work. Try them?
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:39 PM Graham Bates wrote:
>
>> These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske
>> wrote:
>>
>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Richard Littauer | burntfen.com | socials:
> richard.social
>
Date: 3/15/24 11:59 am From: Richard Guthrie <richardpguthrie...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Merlin (app) Question
Perhaps it wasn’t a bird. - chipmunk, frog?
Rich Guthrie
> On Mar 15, 2024, at 12:47 PM, Glenn Etter <glennetterjr...> wrote:
>
> thanks for this comprehensive reply, Scott! We've been wanting to get a
> better mic for Merlin and the warbler season, so this was quite helpful
>
>> On Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 12:23 PM Scott Spangenberg <sjspangenberg...>
>> wrote:
>>
>> This is an excellent question, and the answer is yes, lots of people do
>> this. It is not overkill; different kinds of microphones have different
>> properties, so the microphone that you want will depend on your recording
>> goals. Any microphone that is more sensitive than the ones in your phone
>> will let you make a better recording. A shotgun mic will record a narrower
>> angle of sound and will be better at excluding sounds off to the side. You
>> would benefit from one of these if you are trying to record a specific bird
>> rather all the birds close by. Cost effective models that would give you
>> more sensitivity and ease of use include the R0DE VideoMic Me-C for phones
>> that have a USB-C port (like the iPhone 15 models and almost all
>> Android-based phones), and the VideoMic Me-L for Apple phones that have a
>> Lightning port. Other models may work better if the budget allows, but most
>> will require at least one cable adapter.
>>
>> A lavalier mic (the kind you might clip to your shirt or hat) will do a
>> better job of recording what is beside you (and to some extent, what is
>> behind you) than a shotgun mic. There are lots of good choices for this
>> type.
>>
>> Another choice that you might not have considered is to use a digital
>> recorder as a microphone, just like they can be used for video recording
>> with a camera. Most will require a cable to connect the headphone jack with
>> the phone, and you will want to have something to clamp it to the phone. I
>> love my Olympus LS-P5 for this purpose, but there are more inexpensive
>> choices.
>>
>> I use all three types of external microphones. For most people, I think a
>> nice balance of cost, convenience, and increased sensitivity would be one
>> the of R0DE VideoMe microphones. Just search for "VideoMic Me-C" or
>> “VideoMic Me-L”.
>>
>> Scott Spangenberg
>> Amherst, NH
>>
>>> On Mar 15, 2024, at 11:12 AM, Martha & Bill McClintock <
>> <mbmcclintock...> wrote:
>>>
>>> does anyone use an external microphone when using Merlin? Is
>>> that overkill? Would the microphone pick up nearby voices but not birds
>>> in trees? Just wondering. Thanks for your ideas.
>>>
>>> Martha
>>> (Usually birding in) Westford
>>
Definitely hooting at all time of the day and night close to my home. Kay in Hinesburg
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Friday, March 15, 2024, 6:56 AM, DIANA& JOHN KENTFIELD <dlee3...> wrote:
I have heard barred owls hooting to each other in the woods this last week. Yesterday, I heard them making courting sounds at 2:30 in the afternoon.
> On 03/14/2024 10:46 PM EDT Charlie La Rosa <charlie.larosa...> wrote:
>
>
> I've had the usual species every day here.
>
> 2 ravens Last week they were carrying sticks to probable nest site in
> tall white pines.
> chickadees
> blue jays as many as 30 in a group
> downies
> hairies
> modos
> juncos absent most of winter but regular now
> common grackle the last two days
> red-wings last Sunday (5 males)
> red-breasted nuthatch
> white-breasted nuthatch
> siskins...many
> goldfinches...most was 4 at one time
> tufted titmouse
> turkeys....30 +/- in largest group
> purple finch has not been seen for a week now
> the dozen house sparrows living in my wood shed have left
>
> On Monday during the snow storm there were large groups of Canadas in
> flooded fields and in stubbled corn fields along I-89 from Montpelier to
> Richmond. There were none on Tuesday except for a few in a small pond where
> they had managed to keep a small area of water from freezing during the
> night. There was a turkey vulture in So. Burlington. Also on Monday, a
> magnificent red-tail was soaring fairly low in Corinth offering a very nice
> view.
>
> The first chipmunk of spring popped up through a hole in the snow this week
> and sparked the curiosity of a blue jay that hopped around and above it
> within about ten inches for a while as the chipmunk feasted on the seed
> dropped on the snow.
>
> The only singing I can report is that of the coyotes during the night.
> Haven't heard barred owls lately.
>
> Charlie La Rosa
> So. Washington
Date: 3/15/24 9:48 am From: Glenn Etter <glennetterjr...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
i like medley of song sparrows, but symphony of song sparrows keeps the
alliteration going
On Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 12:30 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
wrote:
> Song sparrows joined the robins today; lovely to hear them again! A book
> of song sparrows perhaps?
>
>
>
> On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:02:15 +0000, Pamela Coleman <
> <0000003fbb1e7534-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> LOL Charlie!
>
> On Friday, March 15, 2024 at 10:24:28 AM EDT, Charlie Teske wrote:
>
> So, it could be a hood of robins near Sherwood Forest, or a Batman of
> robins when found in a cave?
>
>
>
> On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:54:57 -0400, Richard Littauer wrote:
>
> The interesting thing about these collective names for animals (sometimes
> called terms of venery) is that they aren't necessarily frozen in time. The
> underlying syntactic construction is productive
> . I can
> understand a frasier of cranes just fine. It is grammatical for me, even if
> I've never heard it before. Grammatical doesn't mean it's in some list of
> words for birds - it means I can parse it in my head, and understand what
> you mean it to mean, because I speak English and my brain understands how
> English is meant to work. The grammar makes sense.
>
> So, asking for the "right" term is a bit silly - the term for a group of
> robins is whatever you want it to be. There may have been a name used for
> robins in the past, but it's not set in stone. Some are - a murder of crows
> is instantly recognizable as a common phrase - but that doesn't make other
> terms less grammatical to a native English speaker - unlike, say, me saying
> "Crows murder a of" - something that any English speaker would ask me to
> repeat, because it's impossible to parse effectively.
>
> This means the question isn't "What's the term", but rather, "What do you
> think about this as a name for these?"
>
> A Hyde Park of Robins sounds like a good enough term for what you saw.
>
> A good summary of the origin of these terms of venery comes from the
> Marginalian, here
> ,
> with some more details on the Book of St. Albans, written by the woman
> Teage mentions, Juliana Barnes, in 1486. It's a nice read.
>
> And, hopefully, in the future if someone asks you for the right term for a
> group of Yellow-rumped Warblers or *Larus delawarensis* or Northern Hawk
> Owls, you can think of something witty on the spot, and it sticks. A rump
> of warblers. A Frodo of Ring-billed Gulls. A Falconry of Northern Hawk
> Owls.
>
> R
>
> P.S. The plural of Titmouse can be either titmouses or titmice (or
> titmices, maybe). Titmici or Titmousen or Titmopodes would be a bit of a
> stretch, though, but they might still work. Try them?
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:39 PM Graham Bates wrote:
>
> > These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
> >
> > On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske
> > wrote:
> >
> > > My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier
> of
> > > cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
> > > Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
> > >
> >
>
>
> --
> Richard Littauer | burntfen.com | socials:
> richard.social
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/15/24 9:47 am From: Glenn Etter <glennetterjr...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Merlin (app) Question
thanks for this comprehensive reply, Scott! We've been wanting to get a
better mic for Merlin and the warbler season, so this was quite helpful
On Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 12:23 PM Scott Spangenberg <sjspangenberg...>
wrote:
> This is an excellent question, and the answer is yes, lots of people do
> this. It is not overkill; different kinds of microphones have different
> properties, so the microphone that you want will depend on your recording
> goals. Any microphone that is more sensitive than the ones in your phone
> will let you make a better recording. A shotgun mic will record a narrower
> angle of sound and will be better at excluding sounds off to the side. You
> would benefit from one of these if you are trying to record a specific bird
> rather all the birds close by. Cost effective models that would give you
> more sensitivity and ease of use include the R0DE VideoMic Me-C for phones
> that have a USB-C port (like the iPhone 15 models and almost all
> Android-based phones), and the VideoMic Me-L for Apple phones that have a
> Lightning port. Other models may work better if the budget allows, but most
> will require at least one cable adapter.
>
> A lavalier mic (the kind you might clip to your shirt or hat) will do a
> better job of recording what is beside you (and to some extent, what is
> behind you) than a shotgun mic. There are lots of good choices for this
> type.
>
> Another choice that you might not have considered is to use a digital
> recorder as a microphone, just like they can be used for video recording
> with a camera. Most will require a cable to connect the headphone jack with
> the phone, and you will want to have something to clamp it to the phone. I
> love my Olympus LS-P5 for this purpose, but there are more inexpensive
> choices.
>
> I use all three types of external microphones. For most people, I think a
> nice balance of cost, convenience, and increased sensitivity would be one
> the of R0DE VideoMe microphones. Just search for "VideoMic Me-C" or
> “VideoMic Me-L”.
>
> Scott Spangenberg
> Amherst, NH
>
> > On Mar 15, 2024, at 11:12 AM, Martha & Bill McClintock <
> <mbmcclintock...> wrote:
> >
> > does anyone use an external microphone when using Merlin? Is
> > that overkill? Would the microphone pick up nearby voices but not birds
> > in trees? Just wondering. Thanks for your ideas.
> >
> > Martha
> > (Usually birding in) Westford
>
Date: 3/15/24 9:30 am From: Charlie Teske <cteske140...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
Song sparrows joined the robins today; lovely to hear them again! A book of song sparrows perhaps?
On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:02:15 +0000, Pamela Coleman <0000003fbb1e7534-dmarc-request...> wrote:
LOL Charlie!
On Friday, March 15, 2024 at 10:24:28 AM EDT, Charlie Teske wrote:
So, it could be a hood of robins near Sherwood Forest, or a Batman of robins when found in a cave?
On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:54:57 -0400, Richard Littauer wrote:
The interesting thing about these collective names for animals (sometimes
called terms of venery) is that they aren't necessarily frozen in time. The
underlying syntactic construction is productive
. I can
understand a frasier of cranes just fine. It is grammatical for me, even if
I've never heard it before. Grammatical doesn't mean it's in some list of
words for birds - it means I can parse it in my head, and understand what
you mean it to mean, because I speak English and my brain understands how
English is meant to work. The grammar makes sense.
So, asking for the "right" term is a bit silly - the term for a group of
robins is whatever you want it to be. There may have been a name used for
robins in the past, but it's not set in stone. Some are - a murder of crows
is instantly recognizable as a common phrase - but that doesn't make other
terms less grammatical to a native English speaker - unlike, say, me saying
"Crows murder a of" - something that any English speaker would ask me to
repeat, because it's impossible to parse effectively.
This means the question isn't "What's the term", but rather, "What do you
think about this as a name for these?"
A Hyde Park of Robins sounds like a good enough term for what you saw.
A good summary of the origin of these terms of venery comes from the
Marginalian, here
,
with some more details on the Book of St. Albans, written by the woman
Teage mentions, Juliana Barnes, in 1486. It's a nice read.
And, hopefully, in the future if someone asks you for the right term for a
group of Yellow-rumped Warblers or *Larus delawarensis* or Northern Hawk
Owls, you can think of something witty on the spot, and it sticks. A rump
of warblers. A Frodo of Ring-billed Gulls. A Falconry of Northern Hawk
Owls.
R
P.S. The plural of Titmouse can be either titmouses or titmice (or
titmices, maybe). Titmici or Titmousen or Titmopodes would be a bit of a
stretch, though, but they might still work. Try them?
On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:39 PM Graham Bates wrote:
> These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske
> wrote:
>
> > My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
> > cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
> > Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
> >
>
--
Richard Littauer | burntfen.com | socials:
richard.social
Date: 3/15/24 9:24 am From: Scott Spangenberg <sjspangenberg...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Merlin (app) Question
This is an excellent question, and the answer is yes, lots of people do this. It is not overkill; different kinds of microphones have different properties, so the microphone that you want will depend on your recording goals. Any microphone that is more sensitive than the ones in your phone will let you make a better recording. A shotgun mic will record a narrower angle of sound and will be better at excluding sounds off to the side. You would benefit from one of these if you are trying to record a specific bird rather all the birds close by. Cost effective models that would give you more sensitivity and ease of use include the R0DE VideoMic Me-C for phones that have a USB-C port (like the iPhone 15 models and almost all Android-based phones), and the VideoMic Me-L for Apple phones that have a Lightning port. Other models may work better if the budget allows, but most will require at least one cable adapter.
A lavalier mic (the kind you might clip to your shirt or hat) will do a better job of recording what is beside you (and to some extent, what is behind you) than a shotgun mic. There are lots of good choices for this type.
Another choice that you might not have considered is to use a digital recorder as a microphone, just like they can be used for video recording with a camera. Most will require a cable to connect the headphone jack with the phone, and you will want to have something to clamp it to the phone. I love my Olympus LS-P5 for this purpose, but there are more inexpensive choices.
I use all three types of external microphones. For most people, I think a nice balance of cost, convenience, and increased sensitivity would be one the of R0DE VideoMe microphones. Just search for "VideoMic Me-C" or “VideoMic Me-L”.
Scott Spangenberg
Amherst, NH
> On Mar 15, 2024, at 11:12 AM, Martha & Bill McClintock <mbmcclintock...> wrote:
>
> does anyone use an external microphone when using Merlin? Is
> that overkill? Would the microphone pick up nearby voices but not birds
> in trees? Just wondering. Thanks for your ideas.
>
> Martha
> (Usually birding in) Westford
Date: 3/15/24 8:56 am From: Ken Copenhaver <copenhvr...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Merlin (app) Question
It's also possible that Merlin just wasn't recognizing the song, vs not
hearing it. If the song was showing up on the sonogram, it probably wasn't
a problem with the microphone.
Ken Copenhaver
On Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 11:43 AM Richard Littauer <
<richard.littauer...> wrote:
> I would also suggest using iNaturalist, and then uploading it. Humans are
> often better than Merlin at identifying things, although it does take a bit
> longer.
>
> R
>
> On Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 11:34 AM David Guertin <dave...>
> wrote:
>
> > I've often had situations where Merlin would not pick up a bird that I
> > could hear clearly. I think it depends on the phone.
> >
> > As an alternative to an external microphone, I usually use the BirdNET
> > app instead. Like Merlin, it's also produced by the Cornell lab, and on
> > my phone I've found it to be more reliable in detecting birds. Unlike
> > Merlin, it has a nice feature that indicates how likely the ID is to be
> > correct, from "almost certain" down to "wild guess", which is nice. It
> > requires a little more manual intervention than Merlin, but the biggest
> > down side is that it needs a cell connection to make an ID, so in cases
> > where I don't have a cell connection, I can save the recording and make
> > the ID when I get home.
> >
> > Dave G.
> >
> > On 3/15/24 11:12, Martha & Bill McClintock wrote:
> > > As I walked this morning, a lovely sounding bird sang from SO close. I
> > > just could not find it in the dense evergreens (an old Christmas tree
> > farm)
> > > or figure out what it was so I pulled out my phone to use Merlin.
> > Although
> > > the bird was rather close and loud, Merlin did not pick it up. So I
> > > wondered, does anyone use an external microphone when using Merlin? Is
> > > that overkill? Would the microphone pick up nearby voices but not
> birds
> > > in trees? Just wondering. Thanks for your ideas.
> > >
> > > Martha
> > > (Usually birding in) Westford
> >
>
>
> --
> Richard Littauer | burntfen.com <http://www.burntfen.com> | socials:
> richard.social
>
Date: 3/15/24 8:43 am From: Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Merlin (app) Question
I would also suggest using iNaturalist, and then uploading it. Humans are
often better than Merlin at identifying things, although it does take a bit
longer.
R
On Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 11:34 AM David Guertin <dave...> wrote:
> I've often had situations where Merlin would not pick up a bird that I
> could hear clearly. I think it depends on the phone.
>
> As an alternative to an external microphone, I usually use the BirdNET
> app instead. Like Merlin, it's also produced by the Cornell lab, and on
> my phone I've found it to be more reliable in detecting birds. Unlike
> Merlin, it has a nice feature that indicates how likely the ID is to be
> correct, from "almost certain" down to "wild guess", which is nice. It
> requires a little more manual intervention than Merlin, but the biggest
> down side is that it needs a cell connection to make an ID, so in cases
> where I don't have a cell connection, I can save the recording and make
> the ID when I get home.
>
> Dave G.
>
> On 3/15/24 11:12, Martha & Bill McClintock wrote:
> > As I walked this morning, a lovely sounding bird sang from SO close. I
> > just could not find it in the dense evergreens (an old Christmas tree
> farm)
> > or figure out what it was so I pulled out my phone to use Merlin.
> Although
> > the bird was rather close and loud, Merlin did not pick it up. So I
> > wondered, does anyone use an external microphone when using Merlin? Is
> > that overkill? Would the microphone pick up nearby voices but not birds
> > in trees? Just wondering. Thanks for your ideas.
> >
> > Martha
> > (Usually birding in) Westford
>
Date: 3/15/24 8:34 am From: David Guertin <dave...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Merlin (app) Question
I've often had situations where Merlin would not pick up a bird that I could hear clearly. I think it depends on the phone.
As an alternative to an external microphone, I usually use the BirdNET app instead. Like Merlin, it's also produced by the Cornell lab, and on my phone I've found it to be more reliable in detecting birds. Unlike Merlin, it has a nice feature that indicates how likely the ID is to be correct, from "almost certain" down to "wild guess", which is nice. It requires a little more manual intervention than Merlin, but the biggest down side is that it needs a cell connection to make an ID, so in cases where I don't have a cell connection, I can save the recording and make the ID when I get home.
Dave G.
On 3/15/24 11:12, Martha & Bill McClintock wrote: > As I walked this morning, a lovely sounding bird sang from SO close. I > just could not find it in the dense evergreens (an old Christmas tree farm) > or figure out what it was so I pulled out my phone to use Merlin. Although > the bird was rather close and loud, Merlin did not pick it up. So I > wondered, does anyone use an external microphone when using Merlin? Is > that overkill? Would the microphone pick up nearby voices but not birds > in trees? Just wondering. Thanks for your ideas. > > Martha > (Usually birding in) Westford
Date: 3/15/24 8:14 am From: Martha & Bill McClintock <mbmcclintock...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Merlin (app) Question
As I walked this morning, a lovely sounding bird sang from SO close. I just could not find it in the dense evergreens (an old Christmas tree farm) or figure out what it was so I pulled out my phone to use Merlin. Although the bird was rather close and loud, Merlin did not pick it up. So I wondered, does anyone use an external microphone when using Merlin? Is that overkill? Would the microphone pick up nearby voices but not birds in trees? Just wondering. Thanks for your ideas.
Date: 3/15/24 8:05 am From: Pamela Coleman <0000003fbb1e7534-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
LOL Charlie!
On Friday, March 15, 2024 at 10:24:28 AM EDT, Charlie Teske <cteske140...> wrote:
So, it could be a hood of robins near Sherwood Forest, or a Batman of robins when found in a cave?
On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:54:57 -0400, Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...> wrote:
The interesting thing about these collective names for animals (sometimes
called terms of venery) is that they aren't necessarily frozen in time. The
underlying syntactic construction is productive
. I can
understand a frasier of cranes just fine. It is grammatical for me, even if
I've never heard it before. Grammatical doesn't mean it's in some list of
words for birds - it means I can parse it in my head, and understand what
you mean it to mean, because I speak English and my brain understands how
English is meant to work. The grammar makes sense.
So, asking for the "right" term is a bit silly - the term for a group of
robins is whatever you want it to be. There may have been a name used for
robins in the past, but it's not set in stone. Some are - a murder of crows
is instantly recognizable as a common phrase - but that doesn't make other
terms less grammatical to a native English speaker - unlike, say, me saying
"Crows murder a of" - something that any English speaker would ask me to
repeat, because it's impossible to parse effectively.
This means the question isn't "What's the term", but rather, "What do you
think about this as a name for these?"
A Hyde Park of Robins sounds like a good enough term for what you saw.
A good summary of the origin of these terms of venery comes from the
Marginalian, here
,
with some more details on the Book of St. Albans, written by the woman
Teage mentions, Juliana Barnes, in 1486. It's a nice read.
And, hopefully, in the future if someone asks you for the right term for a
group of Yellow-rumped Warblers or *Larus delawarensis* or Northern Hawk
Owls, you can think of something witty on the spot, and it sticks. A rump
of warblers. A Frodo of Ring-billed Gulls. A Falconry of Northern Hawk
Owls.
R
P.S. The plural of Titmouse can be either titmouses or titmice (or
titmices, maybe). Titmici or Titmousen or Titmopodes would be a bit of a
stretch, though, but they might still work. Try them?
On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:39 PM Graham Bates wrote:
> These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske
> wrote:
>
> > My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
> > cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
> > Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
> >
>
--
Richard Littauer | burntfen.com | socials:
richard.social
Date: 3/15/24 7:25 am From: Charlie Teske <cteske140...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
So, it could be a hood of robins near Sherwood Forest, or a Batman of robins when found in a cave?
On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:54:57 -0400, Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...> wrote:
The interesting thing about these collective names for animals (sometimes
called terms of venery) is that they aren't necessarily frozen in time. The
underlying syntactic construction is productive
. I can
understand a frasier of cranes just fine. It is grammatical for me, even if
I've never heard it before. Grammatical doesn't mean it's in some list of
words for birds - it means I can parse it in my head, and understand what
you mean it to mean, because I speak English and my brain understands how
English is meant to work. The grammar makes sense.
So, asking for the "right" term is a bit silly - the term for a group of
robins is whatever you want it to be. There may have been a name used for
robins in the past, but it's not set in stone. Some are - a murder of crows
is instantly recognizable as a common phrase - but that doesn't make other
terms less grammatical to a native English speaker - unlike, say, me saying
"Crows murder a of" - something that any English speaker would ask me to
repeat, because it's impossible to parse effectively.
This means the question isn't "What's the term", but rather, "What do you
think about this as a name for these?"
A Hyde Park of Robins sounds like a good enough term for what you saw.
A good summary of the origin of these terms of venery comes from the
Marginalian, here
,
with some more details on the Book of St. Albans, written by the woman
Teage mentions, Juliana Barnes, in 1486. It's a nice read.
And, hopefully, in the future if someone asks you for the right term for a
group of Yellow-rumped Warblers or *Larus delawarensis* or Northern Hawk
Owls, you can think of something witty on the spot, and it sticks. A rump
of warblers. A Frodo of Ring-billed Gulls. A Falconry of Northern Hawk
Owls.
R
P.S. The plural of Titmouse can be either titmouses or titmice (or
titmices, maybe). Titmici or Titmousen or Titmopodes would be a bit of a
stretch, though, but they might still work. Try them?
On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:39 PM Graham Bates wrote:
> These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske
> wrote:
>
> > My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
> > cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
> > Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
> >
>
--
Richard Littauer | burntfen.com | socials:
richard.social
On Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 8:03 AM Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
> I’ve read in a few places that purists might insist on titmouses but an
> increasing number of dictionaries and field guides use “titmice”. So I
> guess we can say whatever we prefer!
> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
Date: 3/15/24 5:03 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: [VTBIRD] titmice or titmouses
I’ve read in a few places that purists might insist on titmouses but an increasing number of dictionaries and field guides use “titmice”. So I guess we can say whatever we prefer!
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
Date: 3/15/24 5:00 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] first chipmunk
This is the first winter since I moved here in the ‘80s when there have been chipmunks all winter long, not very day but every single week. Given that we have three huge vegetable gardens, we are really hoping for a hungry owl or two right now!
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> On Mar 14, 2024, at 10:46 PM, Charlie La Rosa <charlie.larosa...> wrote:
>
> I've had the usual species every day here.
>
> 2 ravens Last week they were carrying sticks to probable nest site in
> tall white pines.
> chickadees
> blue jays as many as 30 in a group
> downies
> hairies
> modos
> juncos absent most of winter but regular now
> common grackle the last two days
> red-wings last Sunday (5 males)
> red-breasted nuthatch
> white-breasted nuthatch
> siskins...many
> goldfinches...most was 4 at one time
> tufted titmouse
> turkeys....30 +/- in largest group
> purple finch has not been seen for a week now
> the dozen house sparrows living in my wood shed have left
>
> On Monday during the snow storm there were large groups of Canadas in
> flooded fields and in stubbled corn fields along I-89 from Montpelier to
> Richmond. There were none on Tuesday except for a few in a small pond where
> they had managed to keep a small area of water from freezing during the
> night. There was a turkey vulture in So. Burlington. Also on Monday, a
> magnificent red-tail was soaring fairly low in Corinth offering a very nice
> view.
>
> The first chipmunk of spring popped up through a hole in the snow this week
> and sparked the curiosity of a blue jay that hopped around and above it
> within about ten inches for a while as the chipmunk feasted on the seed
> dropped on the snow.
>
> The only singing I can report is that of the coyotes during the night.
> Haven't heard barred owls lately.
>
> Charlie La Rosa
> So. Washington
Date: 3/15/24 3:57 am From: DIANA& JOHN KENTFIELD <dlee3...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Barred Owls
I have heard barred owls hooting to each other in the woods this last week. Yesterday, I heard them making courting sounds at 2:30 in the afternoon.
> On 03/14/2024 10:46 PM EDT Charlie La Rosa <charlie.larosa...> wrote: > > > I've had the usual species every day here. > > 2 ravens Last week they were carrying sticks to probable nest site in > tall white pines. > chickadees > blue jays as many as 30 in a group > downies > hairies > modos > juncos absent most of winter but regular now > common grackle the last two days > red-wings last Sunday (5 males) > red-breasted nuthatch > white-breasted nuthatch > siskins...many > goldfinches...most was 4 at one time > tufted titmouse > turkeys....30 +/- in largest group > purple finch has not been seen for a week now > the dozen house sparrows living in my wood shed have left > > On Monday during the snow storm there were large groups of Canadas in > flooded fields and in stubbled corn fields along I-89 from Montpelier to > Richmond. There were none on Tuesday except for a few in a small pond where > they had managed to keep a small area of water from freezing during the > night. There was a turkey vulture in So. Burlington. Also on Monday, a > magnificent red-tail was soaring fairly low in Corinth offering a very nice > view. > > The first chipmunk of spring popped up through a hole in the snow this week > and sparked the curiosity of a blue jay that hopped around and above it > within about ten inches for a while as the chipmunk feasted on the seed > dropped on the snow. > > The only singing I can report is that of the coyotes during the night. > Haven't heard barred owls lately. > > Charlie La Rosa > So. Washington
Date: 3/14/24 7:47 pm From: Charlie La Rosa <charlie.larosa...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Good week.
I've had the usual species every day here.
2 ravens Last week they were carrying sticks to probable nest site in tall white pines. chickadees blue jays as many as 30 in a group downies hairies modos juncos absent most of winter but regular now common grackle the last two days red-wings last Sunday (5 males) red-breasted nuthatch white-breasted nuthatch siskins...many goldfinches...most was 4 at one time tufted titmouse turkeys....30 +/- in largest group purple finch has not been seen for a week now the dozen house sparrows living in my wood shed have left
On Monday during the snow storm there were large groups of Canadas in flooded fields and in stubbled corn fields along I-89 from Montpelier to Richmond. There were none on Tuesday except for a few in a small pond where they had managed to keep a small area of water from freezing during the night. There was a turkey vulture in So. Burlington. Also on Monday, a magnificent red-tail was soaring fairly low in Corinth offering a very nice view.
The first chipmunk of spring popped up through a hole in the snow this week and sparked the curiosity of a blue jay that hopped around and above it within about ten inches for a while as the chipmunk feasted on the seed dropped on the snow.
The only singing I can report is that of the coyotes during the night. Haven't heard barred owls lately.
Date: 3/14/24 7:11 pm From: Charlie La Rosa <charlie.larosa...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Siskins
I've had pine siskins here in So. Washington off on all winter. In the last
few weeks the group grew to over 50. I've only seen 10-15 the last few
days, but who knows how many visit while I'm at work?
Charlie La Rosa
On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 10:15 AM Joyce Werntgen <
<0000019178608573-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I am in Montpelier and have had a flock of at least 15 Pine Siskins for
> the past couple of months. Some Goldfinch traveling with them.
> Joyce
>
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
>
>
> On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 10:02 AM, Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan...>
> wrote:
>
> Two Pine Siskins have been at our feeders for the past three days. They are
> usually accompanying a small flock of Goldfinches. This is the first time
> we
> have seen them in a while ( 2 or 3 years).
>
> Barbara Brosnan
>
> Weybridge
>
Date: 3/14/24 7:05 pm From: Mundi Smithers <amen1farm...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
Or as my kids appellation for Titmice, Tough Titted Mice. 🤣🤣
Sent from my iPad
The greatest tragedy in mankind’s entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion.
Arthur C Clarke 1917 - 2008
Garden-Making is the slowest of the performing arts.
Mac Griswold
> On Mar 14, 2024, at 7:14 PM, Connie Caldes <connie.caldes...> wrote:
>
> I had the same question about the plural for Titmouse?
>
> Connie
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:29 PM, Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> wrote:
>>
>> While on that subject, what is the plural of Titmouse? Titmouses or
>> Titmice???
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:26 PM Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
>>> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
>>> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
>>> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
>>> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
>>> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
>>> entertaining read!
>>>
>>> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
>>> 119 here:
>>>
>>> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf >>> .
>>> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
>>> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >>>
>>> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
>>> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >>>
>>> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
>>> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter >>> *Natural History field guides*
>>> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>>
>>>
Date: 3/14/24 6:14 pm From: Connie Caldes <connie.caldes...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
I had the same question about the plural for Titmouse?
Connie
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:29 PM, Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> wrote:
>
> While on that subject, what is the plural of Titmouse? Titmouses or
> Titmice???
>
> Mark
>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:26 PM Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
>> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
>> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
>> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
>> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
>> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
>> entertaining read!
>>
>> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
>> 119 here:
>>
>> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf >> .
>> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
>> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >>
>> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
>> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >>
>> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
>> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter >> *Natural History field guides*
>> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >>
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
>>> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
>>> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>>>
>>
Date: 3/14/24 5:56 pm From: Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
The interesting thing about these collective names for animals (sometimes
called terms of venery) is that they aren't necessarily frozen in time. The
underlying syntactic construction is productive
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productivity_(linguistics)>. I can
understand a frasier of cranes just fine. It is grammatical for me, even if
I've never heard it before. Grammatical doesn't mean it's in some list of
words for birds - it means I can parse it in my head, and understand what
you mean it to mean, because I speak English and my brain understands how
English is meant to work. The grammar makes sense.
So, asking for the "right" term is a bit silly - the term for a group of
robins is whatever you want it to be. There may have been a name used for
robins in the past, but it's not set in stone. Some are - a murder of crows
is instantly recognizable as a common phrase - but that doesn't make other
terms less grammatical to a native English speaker - unlike, say, me saying
"Crows murder a of" - something that any English speaker would ask me to
repeat, because it's impossible to parse effectively.
This means the question isn't "What's the term", but rather, "What do you
think about this as a name for these?"
A Hyde Park of Robins sounds like a good enough term for what you saw.
And, hopefully, in the future if someone asks you for the right term for a
group of Yellow-rumped Warblers or *Larus delawarensis* or Northern Hawk
Owls, you can think of something witty on the spot, and it sticks. A rump
of warblers. A Frodo of Ring-billed Gulls. A Falconry of Northern Hawk
Owls.
R
P.S. The plural of Titmouse can be either titmouses or titmice (or
titmices, maybe). Titmici or Titmousen or Titmopodes would be a bit of a
stretch, though, but they might still work. Try them?
On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:39 PM Graham Bates <batesg...> wrote:
> These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
> wrote:
>
> > My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
> > cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
> > Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
> >
>
They appeared last year at my feeders and are back this year. So charming! Kay in Hinesburg
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 8:12 AM, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
Date: 3/14/24 5:39 pm From: Graham Bates <batesg...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
These are epic. A Frasier of cranes?!?! YES!!
On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...> wrote:
> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of > cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted. > Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today. >
Date: 3/14/24 5:29 pm From: Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
While on that subject, what is the plural of Titmouse? Titmouses or
Titmice???
Mark
On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:26 PM Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...>
wrote:
> I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
> nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
> The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
> of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
> includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
> the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
> entertaining read!
>
> The section on "The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys" can be found on page
> 119 here:
>
> https://ia802601.us.archive.org/21/items/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft/bokeofsaintalban00bernuoft.pdf > .
> The font's nearly indecipherable, so a better resource is this compilation:
> https://www.academia.edu/37687003/A_Compilation_of_Collective_Nouns >
> Teage O'Connor (he/him)
> CrowsPath.org <https://crowspath.org/> >
> *Wild Burlington natural history newsletter*
> - https://crowspath.org/newsletter > *Natural History field guides*
> - https://crowspath.org/field-guides >
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
> wrote:
>
> > My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
> > cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
> > Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
> >
>
Date: 3/14/24 5:26 pm From: Teage O'Connor <badger.meli...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
I love these. There seems to be a long tradition of making up collective
nouns dating back to the 15th century (at least in the English language).
The first book published by a woman in England is the source of many many
of the more obscure collective nouns (while it lacks "murder of crows" it
includes an "unkindness of ravens"). Berners' book is quite old (1486), so
the writing can be rather opaque, though with some patience it's a very
entertaining read!
On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM Charlie Teske <cteske140...>
wrote:
> My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of
> cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
> Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
>
Date: 3/14/24 11:17 am From: Charlie Teske <cteske140...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Proper name for a group of robins?
My wife says it's a Christopher, but then she also speaks of a Frasier of cranes and a package of orioles, so she can't be trusted.
Whatever it's called, it has descended en masse into Hyde Park today.
Logging it on eBird would be a great idea - it useful to know when they
start coming back, although, as you can see, some are known to overwinter
here (mainly in the southern part of the state).
It was also great that you got visual confirmation. Blue Jays can mimic
Red-shouldered and Broad-winged Hawks, and at this time of the year, I've
often thought I heard an early Broad-wing only to find a Blue Jerk singing
away.
Best,
R
On Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 6:33 PM kfinch <kfinch51...> wrote:
> A Red-shouldered Hawk has been hanging around our Chester homestead for a
> couple of weeks now. Ken Finch
> -------- Original message --------From: Roy Pilcher <
> <00000022ffe6db53-dmarc-request...> Date: 3/13/24 5:27 PM
> (GMT-05:00) To: <VTBIRD...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Red-shouldered
> Hawks My son walks the Carriage Trail between Proctor and Rutland daily.
> He also has the Merlin App on his cell phone.While walking this afternoon
> he heard calls that the App indicated as Red-shouldered Hawks.I suggested
> that it was too early for Red-shouldered Hawks and the calls were probably
> Blue Jays' imitations. I suggested he play the Red-shouldered call. His
> reply came back, he saw two hawks circling above the trees. [No leaves on
> the trees.]The timing of the observation is early, I think! Should I enter
> it on e-Bird?Cheers, Roy Pilcher
Date: 3/14/24 7:17 am From: Mamuniaangel <000002fe774c7bcd-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Carolina v Winter?
I had nesting Carolina wrens one fall (they started in September!) when I lived in Swanton. Now in NC, I see many of them--so much fun! They are notably more "rust and buff" as opposed to brown and white. They are also bigger than winter wrens. That loud, wind-up music box song is great. I don't hear them singing "teakettle." I hear different variations of "wiggly-wiggly-wig!" "a-wiggle-a-wiggle-a-wiggle!" Angel Harris
On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 08:12:41 AM EDT, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
I am in Montpelier and have had a flock of at least 15 Pine Siskins for the past couple of months. Some Goldfinch traveling with them.
Joyce
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Thursday, March 14, 2024, 10:02 AM, Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan...> wrote:
Two Pine Siskins have been at our feeders for the past three days. They are
usually accompanying a small flock of Goldfinches. This is the first time we
have seen them in a while ( 2 or 3 years).
Date: 3/14/24 7:03 am From: Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Siskins
Two Pine Siskins have been at our feeders for the past three days. They are usually accompanying a small flock of Goldfinches. This is the first time we have seen them in a while ( 2 or 3 years).
Date: 3/14/24 6:15 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Carolina v Winter?
A few winters ago, a Carolina Wren spent several weeks at our house - a real treat!
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:12 AM, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>
> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
Date: 3/14/24 5:49 am From: Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Carolina v Winter?
Thank you Mark.
> On Mar 14, 2024, at 8:16 AM, Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> wrote:
>
> Your bird sounds like a Carolina from your description. I have them all
> the time on my suet and even on sunflower chips.
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:13 AM Jared Katz <
> <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a
>> little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The
>> call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>>
>> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more
>> uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen
>> a Carolina at my feeder before.
Date: 3/14/24 5:18 am From: Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Carolina v Winter?
Your bird sounds like a Carolina from your description. I have them all
the time on my suet and even on sunflower chips.
On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 8:13 AM Jared Katz <
<000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a
> little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The
> call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
>
> This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more
> uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen
> a Carolina at my feeder before.
Date: 3/14/24 5:13 am From: Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Carolina v Winter?
Wren help. I had a wren on my feeder this am in Richmond. It looked a little different than my usual (unusual) Winter Wren. Then it called. The call, based on iBirdPro and Merlin, is Carolina Wren.
This one had a long white band above the eye, lighter throat, more uniformly brown with some mottling on primaries. I don’t think I have seen a Carolina at my feeder before.
A Red-shouldered Hawk has been hanging around our Chester homestead for a couple of weeks now. Ken Finch -------- Original message --------From: Roy Pilcher <00000022ffe6db53-dmarc-request...> Date: 3/13/24 5:27 PM (GMT-05:00) To: <VTBIRD...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Red-shouldered Hawks My son walks the Carriage Trail between Proctor and Rutland daily. He also has the Merlin App on his cell phone.While walking this afternoon he heard calls that the App indicated as Red-shouldered Hawks.I suggested that it was too early for Red-shouldered Hawks and the calls were probably Blue Jays' imitations. I suggested he play the Red-shouldered call. His reply came back, he saw two hawks circling above the trees. [No leaves on the trees.]The timing of the observation is early, I think! Should I enter it on e-Bird?Cheers, Roy Pilcher
Dear Roy;
I know it's a different watershed, but Bill Schulz in Norwich has had a
Red Shouldered Hawk at his feeders . There's a report from January and one
for March 9. They are around.
Good birding!
Kate
On Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 5:27 PM Roy Pilcher <
<00000022ffe6db53-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> My son walks the Carriage Trail between Proctor and Rutland daily. He
> also has the Merlin App on his cell phone.While walking this afternoon he
> heard calls that the App indicated as Red-shouldered Hawks.I suggested that
> it was too early for Red-shouldered Hawks and the calls were probably Blue
> Jays' imitations. I suggested he play the Red-shouldered call. His reply
> came back, he saw two hawks circling above the trees. [No leaves on the
> trees.]The timing of the observation is early, I think! Should I enter it
> on e-Bird?
> Cheers, Roy Pilcher
>
My son walks the Carriage Trail between Proctor and Rutland daily. He also has the Merlin App on his cell phone.While walking this afternoon he heard calls that the App indicated as Red-shouldered Hawks.I suggested that it was too early for Red-shouldered Hawks and the calls were probably Blue Jays' imitations. I suggested he play the Red-shouldered call. His reply came back, he saw two hawks circling above the trees. [No leaves on the trees.]The timing of the observation is early, I think! Should I enter it on e-Bird?
Cheers, Roy Pilcher
Date: 3/13/24 9:03 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Purple finch
If it was a female, maybe it was the same bird that showed up here yesterday, just up the road from you. (And if it was a male, maybe it’ll be her mate!)
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> On Mar 13, 2024, at 11:59 AM, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> First spring purple finch on the feeder in Richmond.
>
> Sent from my irresistible flat thing.
Date: 3/12/24 6:54 am From: Ken Copenhaver <copenhvr...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Missisquoi NWR Bird Monitoring Walk
Please join us for our monthly bird monitoring walks on the refuge. Ken
Copenhaver and Julie Filiberti lead the walks on various refuge trails on
the 3rd Saturday of each month (except December when it is on the 2nd
Saturday). The purpose of the walks is to gather long-term data on the
presence of birds, their abundance, and changes in populations.
Observations are entered into the Vermont eBird database where data is
stored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. These walks are appropriate for
birders of all skill levels and provide a wonderful opportunity to learn
about birds throughout the seasons. After 167 months of walks, we have
recorded 164 species of birds.
This month's walk will be on *Saturday, March 16, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM a**t
the Jeep Trail*. Meet at the Louie's Landing parking lot on Rt 78, about
3.5 miles west of Swanton village. We will then open the gate and drive
back to the trailhead at Mac's Bend.
*Trail Description**:* The walk starts at a gravel parking lot at Mac’s
Bend. The trail follows the river and thus is level. The trail is very
close to the riverbank edge in one section. The trail surface is uneven,
with many roots, rocks, and ruts. There are no benches. We usually walk
about a mile and turn around, making it approximately a 2-mile walk.
*Trail Conditions:* By this weekend, the trail should be clear of ice and
snow, but it could be very muddy in places and there could be downed trees
to navigate over or around.
If you have any questions, contact me at <copenhvr...>
Hi Richard,
I understand your skepticism! I moved to VT from northwest WA state this past August. In winter there are large flocks of swans in the Skagit Valley (WA), and I'm familiar with both Tundras and Trumpeters. When I saw and heard swans a few mornings ago, I thought I was dreaming- the fog made it more surreal- but I'm sure they were swans, and I'm nearly sure they were Tundras. I was out walking my dog, without my phone. I regret not getting any audio.
Janiene
________________________________
From: Vermont Birds <VTBIRD...> on behalf of Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...>
Sent: Saturday, March 9, 2024 10:05 PM
To: <VTBIRD...> <VTBIRD...>
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Tundra swans?
This is an unusual sighting, but I don't think it is out of the question.
Tundra Swans migrate through south of here from the North Carolina and the
Chesapeake; they normally stage in southern Pennsylvania. Having some fly
north isn't totally abnormal; I'm surprised I haven't picked up any on my
night mic before. It was around this time of year that there were some in
Lemon Fair in Addison in 2020.
Good sighting!
R
On Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 6:31 PM Janiene Licciardi <janienel...>
wrote:
> Yesterday morning between 7- 7:30am, I saw and heard about a small flock
> of swans flying low, maybe about 12-15, circling in the fog. This was in
> the Quechee area, less than a mile NE of Dewey's Mill Pond. I could see
> them clearly enough to positively identify them as swans, and they sounded
> like Tundra swans, not Trumpeters. The day before, my partner was driving
> to work on RT 4 east toward White River Junction and she saw about a dozen
> swans flying low at around 7am, approximately on a course over the White
> River. I have checked eBird for sightings, and I don't see any for the
> whole state of Vermont! Is this an unusual sighting? Unfortunately, I don't
> have pics or audio.
>
This is an unusual sighting, but I don't think it is out of the question.
Tundra Swans migrate through south of here from the North Carolina and the
Chesapeake; they normally stage in southern Pennsylvania. Having some fly
north isn't totally abnormal; I'm surprised I haven't picked up any on my
night mic before. It was around this time of year that there were some in
Lemon Fair in Addison in 2020.
Good sighting!
R
On Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 6:31 PM Janiene Licciardi <janienel...>
wrote:
> Yesterday morning between 7- 7:30am, I saw and heard about a small flock
> of swans flying low, maybe about 12-15, circling in the fog. This was in
> the Quechee area, less than a mile NE of Dewey's Mill Pond. I could see
> them clearly enough to positively identify them as swans, and they sounded
> like Tundra swans, not Trumpeters. The day before, my partner was driving
> to work on RT 4 east toward White River Junction and she saw about a dozen
> swans flying low at around 7am, approximately on a course over the White
> River. I have checked eBird for sightings, and I don't see any for the
> whole state of Vermont! Is this an unusual sighting? Unfortunately, I don't
> have pics or audio.
>
This is a reminder that there is a listserv like this one, dedicated towards talking about Nocturnal Flight Calls in Vermont. The season has started, and if you have a mic and want an easy way to talk to people, here is where you can subscribe: https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=NFC&A=1
Yesterday morning between 7- 7:30am, I saw and heard about a small flock of swans flying low, maybe about 12-15, circling in the fog. This was in the Quechee area, less than a mile NE of Dewey's Mill Pond. I could see them clearly enough to positively identify them as swans, and they sounded like Tundra swans, not Trumpeters. The day before, my partner was driving to work on RT 4 east toward White River Junction and she saw about a dozen swans flying low at around 7am, approximately on a course over the White River. I have checked eBird for sightings, and I don't see any for the whole state of Vermont! Is this an unusual sighting? Unfortunately, I don't have pics or audio.
Date: 3/7/24 11:03 am From: Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] mystery goose in Burlington
That also sounds like it could be a Greater White-fronted Goose, depending
on where the white was on the head.
R
On Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 1:09 PM David Guertin <dave...> wrote:
> That would certainly be exciting. Another possibility to consider is a
> leucistic Canada Goose. I've seen several leucistic Canada Geese around
> here with varying degrees of white, some with almost completely white
> heads. For example: https://ebird.org/checklist/S105053898 >
> Dave G.
>
> On 3/7/24 11:10, Maeve Kim wrote:
> > A friend just called to say he’d seen what he was pretty sure was either
> a Bar-headed or Barnacle Goose flying over the north end of Burlington. He
> lived in Europe for several years and is a thoughtful man, not given to
> jumping to conclusions, but he saw the flying goose too briefly for
> anything but a “wow! That’s a European species!". He said the bird was
> shaped like a Canada Goose and appeared to be a similar size (but it was
> alone so there was nothing for comparison) but had a good deal of white on
> the head.
> > So - Those of you in Burlington, keep an eye out for odd-looking geese!
> > Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
>
Date: 3/7/24 10:09 am From: David Guertin <dave...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] mystery goose in Burlington
That would certainly be exciting. Another possibility to consider is a leucistic Canada Goose. I've seen several leucistic Canada Geese around here with varying degrees of white, some with almost completely white heads. For example: https://ebird.org/checklist/S105053898
Dave G.
On 3/7/24 11:10, Maeve Kim wrote: > A friend just called to say he’d seen what he was pretty sure was either a Bar-headed or Barnacle Goose flying over the north end of Burlington. He lived in Europe for several years and is a thoughtful man, not given to jumping to conclusions, but he saw the flying goose too briefly for anything but a “wow! That’s a European species!". He said the bird was shaped like a Canada Goose and appeared to be a similar size (but it was alone so there was nothing for comparison) but had a good deal of white on the head. > So - Those of you in Burlington, keep an eye out for odd-looking geese! > Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
Date: 3/7/24 8:11 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: [VTBIRD] mystery goose in Burlington
A friend just called to say he’d seen what he was pretty sure was either a Bar-headed or Barnacle Goose flying over the north end of Burlington. He lived in Europe for several years and is a thoughtful man, not given to jumping to conclusions, but he saw the flying goose too briefly for anything but a “wow! That’s a European species!". He said the bird was shaped like a Canada Goose and appeared to be a similar size (but it was alone so there was nothing for comparison) but had a good deal of white on the head.
So - Those of you in Burlington, keep an eye out for odd-looking geese!
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
Date: 3/7/24 5:43 am From: Kent McFarland <kmcfarland...> Subject: [VTBIRD] eBird Vermont maintenance outage scheduled
eBird Vermont is taking flight to new servers! Engineering teams at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have been working hard for several months to migrate our core applications to more advanced cloud computing infrastructure. This transition will provide improved reliability, stability, and room to grow for the next 2 billion bird observations. To complete this process, it will be necessary to take our databases offline for an extended period.
eBird Vermont will be unavailable starting 6am ET March 19 until 6am ET March 21
They just keep coming, it has to be 400+ now @ 1:30 Wednesday
> On Mar 6, 2024, at 12:32 PM, Barclay Morris <bemorris...> wrote:
>
> All through this strange winter with no ice coverage on the Inland Sea (first in my thirty-five years here.) It’s been either Common Goldeneye in flocks of dozens or Common Mergansers in flocks of hundreds. Today it’s Scaup, roughly 250-300. I’m going out on a limb and saying Greater but I’m not good at this distinction. Why they all seemed to like my like stretch of shoreline I don’t know, but lots of alewives have been drifting in and we do have our share of zebra mussels as well.
>
> Barclay
> East Shore Grand Isle
All through this strange winter with no ice coverage on the Inland Sea (first in my thirty-five years here.) It’s been either Common Goldeneye in flocks of dozens or Common Mergansers in flocks of hundreds. Today it’s Scaup, roughly 250-300. I’m going out on a limb and saying Greater but I’m not good at this distinction. Why they all seemed to like my like stretch of shoreline I don’t know, but lots of alewives have been drifting in and we do have our share of zebra mussels as well.
Date: 3/4/24 7:54 pm From: <kj813...> <0000002d57029402-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Commentary on Flaco's death re: our use of rodenticides
Yes this was wonderfully written piece Kay in Hinesburg
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Monday, March 4, 2024, 9:51 AM, Walter Medwid <wmedwid...> wrote:
Date: 3/4/24 2:42 pm From: Barbara Powers <barkiepvt...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Commentary on Flaco's death re: our use of rodenticides
I can’t read this article because I don’t subscribe to the Times. Can you please send it another way so I can read it. Thanks.
Barbara Powers
Sent from my iPad
Date: 3/3/24 2:19 pm From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: [VTBIRD] cranes back in Jericho??
Last May, a lone Sandhill Crane hung around the beaver pond near our house for a few days. This morning I was outside chatting with a neighbor when two large long-necked birds flew overhead, neck stretched out, feet trailing. We two humans were laughing at the time so I wasn’t as alert as I wish I had been, but the birds were making a noise that was crane-like. They were heading SSE, so birders in Essex and Richmond and along Route 117: Keep a look out!
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
Date: 3/1/24 3:34 pm From: Ian Clark <ian...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Free loon presentation Sunday March 3 in Piermont
The Piermont, NH, Public Library is hosting me to present my slideshow, An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon, this Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m. in the Old Church Building (across Route 10 from the Library, just south of the intersection with Route 25). Free and everyone welcome.
On Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 11:03 AM Barbara Powers <barkiepvt...>
wrote:
> BWD Magazine (Bird Watcher’s Digest) is still available. I’ve received 5
> issues. The contact information is: BWD Magazine
> PO Box 3396
> Terre Haute, IN 47803
> <customerservice...>
>
> Both Bill I and Bill II died as well as their mother within a very short
> time. The magazine in its old form closed but after a few months a group
> got together and started it again in a different format. It’s really
> terrific now. A year’s subscription is $26.00. It comes every two months.
> It’s available in paper and online.
> Barbara Powers
> Manchester Center
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
In spite of only 22 degrees and gusts to 32 I had to get a short walk and some fresh air. Several Bluebirds and a couple of fluffed up Robins in the Sumac bushes down by the little pond on Lakeshore Blvd. Brrrrr. The Goldeneye and Mergansers congregating in the lee of the cliff out front look much more comfortable.
Date: 2/29/24 8:43 am From: Ian Clark <ian...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Northern hawk owl visiting New Hampshire, pix on blog
Thanks!
-----Original Message-----
From: Vermont Birds <VTBIRD...> On Behalf Of Maeve Kim
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 6:19 PM
To: <VTBIRD...>
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Northern hawk owl visiting New Hampshire, pix on blog
Great photos of an exciting bird! - I hadn’t known that Northern Hawk Owls have symmetrical ears. Thanks for the information.
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> On Feb 27, 2024, at 10:25 AM, Ian Clark <ian...> wrote:
>
> Good morning -
>
>
>
> The northern hawk owl in New Hampshire persists. I visited on Sunday
> to try to get some photos. The bird loves to perch on phone poles and
> wires making photography challenging, but I've some shots up on my blog at:
> https://blog.ianclark.com/photography/wildlife-photography/northern-ha > wk-owl
> /.
>
>
>
> My kayak is out of the basement and ready to go, just waiting for the
> loons to return.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
> %%%%%%
> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
>
> Ian Clark
> PO Box 51
> West Newbury, VT 05085
> (848) 702-0774
>
> www.IanClark.com <http://www.ianclark.com/> >
> @UpperValleyPhotos
>
> https://www.facebook.com/uppervalley.photos >
>
> Follow my blog: http://blog.ianclark.com <http://blog.ianclark.com/> >
> Or follow the antics of my doggies:
> https://www.facebook.com/Dexter.and.Romeo/ >
>
Date: 2/28/24 4:44 pm From: Susan Paradis <susanp.fcwc...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Bird Photos at Kellogg Hubbard
Enjoyed seeing the photos at the library ... Especially liked the "Apple Waxwing"! Susan Paradis Middlesex
On Wed, Feb 28, 2024, 6:23 PM Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...> wrote:
> Hey all, > > I've had my photos up in Kellogg Hubbard Library in Montpelier for the past > month, and I realized I didn't mention it here. I am taking them down > tomorrow. I hope some of you had the chance to go and see them. If you're > interested in framed prints or in seeing what is up digitally, here is a > gallery: https://burntfencreativellc.pixieset.com/birds/. > > As well, I've added some photos from my recent trip to New Zealand, which > focuses more on plants than birds: > https://burntfencreativellc.pixieset.com/newzealand/ > > Happy birding, > > R > > -- > Richard Littauer | burntfen.com <http://www.burntfen.com> | socials: > richard.social >
After walking through the LaPlatte Marsh in Shelburne this afternoon I discovered a black-legged tick crawling across my hand. In February! I've got chills running up and down my spine and it's not because of the weather. It's going to be a long (tick) season.
Beware.
Bruce MacPherson
South Burlington
On Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 12:44:09 PM EST, Barclay Morris <bemorris...> wrote:
I am very impressed by the 3 Common Goldeneye nonchalantly bobbing in 2-3 foot waves+whitecaps and 39mph wind gusts a hundred or so feet offshore. I think this is going to be a very interesting day, weather wise, before it’s all over.
Date: 2/28/24 3:23 pm From: Richard Littauer <richard.littauer...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Bird Photos at Kellogg Hubbard
Hey all,
I've had my photos up in Kellogg Hubbard Library in Montpelier for the past month, and I realized I didn't mention it here. I am taking them down tomorrow. I hope some of you had the chance to go and see them. If you're interested in framed prints or in seeing what is up digitally, here is a gallery: https://burntfencreativellc.pixieset.com/birds/.
Date: 2/28/24 3:20 pm From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Northern hawk owl visiting New Hampshire, pix on blog
Great photos of an exciting bird! - I hadn’t known that Northern Hawk Owls have symmetrical ears. Thanks for the information.
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> On Feb 27, 2024, at 10:25 AM, Ian Clark <ian...> wrote:
>
> Good morning -
>
>
>
> The northern hawk owl in New Hampshire persists. I visited on Sunday to try
> to get some photos. The bird loves to perch on phone poles and wires making
> photography challenging, but I've some shots up on my blog at:
> https://blog.ianclark.com/photography/wildlife-photography/northern-hawk-owl > /.
>
>
>
> My kayak is out of the basement and ready to go, just waiting for the loons
> to return.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
>
> Ian Clark
> PO Box 51
> West Newbury, VT 05085
> (848) 702-0774
>
> www.IanClark.com <http://www.ianclark.com/> >
> @UpperValleyPhotos
>
> https://www.facebook.com/uppervalley.photos >
>
> Follow my blog: http://blog.ianclark.com <http://blog.ianclark.com/> >
> Or follow the antics of my doggies:
> https://www.facebook.com/Dexter.and.Romeo/ >
>
Date: 2/28/24 3:18 pm From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Bird Photos from VT and NH from the last two months
These are spectacular photos, Jim, bringing several grins and “wow”s as I scrolled through them. Thank you so much for generously sharing them!
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> On Feb 27, 2024, at 11:21 AM, Jim Block <jim...> wrote:
>
> I put some photos from the last two months on my blog: Barrow's Goldeneye,
> Pine Siskins, Horned Larks, Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings, owls, eagles, and
> hawks, and many birds in flight. You can see them here:
>
> https://jimblockphoto.com/2024/02/birds-of-winter/ >
>
>
> Jim Block
>
> Etna, NH
>
>
Date: 2/28/24 1:47 pm From: David Book <0000005c520ea7e6-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] BirdWatchers Digest
Thanks to all who sent comments about Birding Digest. Subscribed this afternoon and can hardly wait to get my first 1ssue! David in Worcester
On Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 06:15:04 AM EST, Grace Nelson <000003f90bfe1fe2-dmarc-request...> wrote:
I see there are print and digital subscriptions available to Bird Watchers Digest:
https://bwdmagazine.com/
> On Feb 27, 2024, at 7:23 PM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>
> Just subscribe. The old little format is no longer, and the new one is what you’ll get.
> Maeve
>
>> On Feb 27, 2024, at 6:57 PM, <kj813...> <0000002d57029402-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> How do we get the newer version? Kay in Hinesburg
>>
>>
>> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
>>
>>
>> On Monday, February 26, 2024, 6:03 PM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>>
>> The new and improved Bird Watcher’s Digest is enjoyable: bigger and better photos than the old smaller format, longer articles. etc.
>> Maeve
>>
>>> On Feb 26, 2024, at 5:47 PM, David Book <0000005c520ea7e6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Sounds like a disaster and very sad. Can you recommend another publication other than Cornell's and the Digest that might replace Birdwatching? ThanksDavid
>>> On Monday, February 26, 2024 at 05:38:09 PM EST, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>>>
>>> I wouldn’t hold my breath for a refund - or, for contributors, any payment.
>>>
>>> I just unearthed the note from July 2023. In part:
>>>
>>> As many of you may know, The BeBop Channel Corporation acquired Madavor Media LLC, the company for which your work was contracted, in February 2023. Shortly after the acquisition, we discovered the true depth and context of a massive irresponsible practice by Madavor of continuing to contract freelancers -- even though the company had insufficient funds to honor those commitments -- in order to keep its publishing business going. Upon finding this out, we immediately terminated the majority of the senior leadership of Madavor Media LLC and halted the hiring of freelancers. We also developed a payment plan to try, in good faith, to get all of you some of the money that you were owed, albeit in very small increments due to budgetary constraints.
>>>
>>> I don’t think Madavor was the original owner. I seem to remember corresponding with another company in the early days of the magazine.
>>>
>>> Maeve
>>>
>>>> On Feb 26, 2024, at 5:28 PM, David Book <0000005c520ea7e6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Thank you, Maeve, for the info about one of my favorites. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your articles as well as Pete Dunne's and other. I miss it also. I guess no refund for those of us who had extended subscriptions?
>>>> On Monday, February 26, 2024 at 05:16:07 PM EST, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Yes. Sadly, the magazine stopped after the spring 2023 issue. I’m a contributor so I got two explanatory notes from the new owner suggesting something negative about the previous owners, but I’ve forgotten the details. I miss that magazine!
>>>> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
>>>>
>>>>> On Feb 26, 2024, at 4:08 PM, David Book <0000005c520ea7e6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Does anyone know if Birdwatching Magazine has ceased publication. I have not received an issue since June and their customer service number has been disconected.David
>>>>> On Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 10:13:17 AM EST, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> ebird records show that’s true, Kay. Right now there are many red “teardrops” close to the lake, a few a bit farther east, and none east of the spine of the Green Mountains.
>>>>> Maeve
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Feb 24, 2024, at 10:04 AM, <kj813...> <0000002d57029402-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Maeve - Do you think they appear sooner in the Champlain Valley, closer to the lake, than in slightly higher elevations such as where I live in the "shadow of Camel's Hump" in Hinesburg and where you are in Jericho?Best, Kay
>>>>>> On Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 09:59:21 AM EST, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It’s not the earliest date; that was last year, when a male Red-winged Blackbird showed up on 2/19. But there does seem to be a trend. In the last 31 years, I’ve seen these spring firsts in February nine times and six of those early sightings were since 2016. One year I saw my first RWBB in January, on Hawkins Road in Ferrisburgh. The other 21 years, the firsts have been in March.
>>>>>> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
I am very impressed by the 3 Common Goldeneye nonchalantly bobbing in 2-3 foot waves+whitecaps and 39mph wind gusts a hundred or so feet offshore. I think this is going to be a very interesting day, weather wise, before it’s all over.
Date: 2/28/24 8:18 am From: Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] binos and FOY birds
I keep Nikon Monarch 10x42s in my car and really like them. I use an old
pair of Swarovski 10x42s for my everyday birding and love them as well. My
spouse, however, prefers her Vortex bins.
Mark
On Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 11:07 AM Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
> My partner has the Nikon Monarch 8x42s and likes them very much. I tried
> them, but they didn’t work as well for me. (Binoculars are very
> individual!) So I got the Vortex pair.
> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
>
> > On Feb 28, 2024, at 11:01 AM, Kim Sargeant <grammiekims...>
> wrote:
> >
> > I bought my Nikon Monarch 8x42 in 2005 for a special trip and I love
> them.
> > At the time I compared them to a pair of Leicas, but the slight
> difference
> > in them was not worth the extra $1000.
> >
> > I have no idea how they compare to the binos being discussed, but I am
> very
> > happy with them.
> >
> > I haven’t been out much because of the ice around my house here in
> > Hookerville/Cabot. I haven’t seen any spring harbingers. No RWBBs; “my”
> > woodcock isn’t back yet, but he usually arrives mid March. Juncos aren’t
> > here yet either.
> >
> > Kim
>
Date: 2/28/24 8:07 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] binos and FOY birds
My partner has the Nikon Monarch 8x42s and likes them very much. I tried them, but they didn’t work as well for me. (Binoculars are very individual!) So I got the Vortex pair.
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> On Feb 28, 2024, at 11:01 AM, Kim Sargeant <grammiekims...> wrote:
>
> I bought my Nikon Monarch 8x42 in 2005 for a special trip and I love them.
> At the time I compared them to a pair of Leicas, but the slight difference
> in them was not worth the extra $1000.
>
> I have no idea how they compare to the binos being discussed, but I am very
> happy with them.
>
> I haven’t been out much because of the ice around my house here in
> Hookerville/Cabot. I haven’t seen any spring harbingers. No RWBBs; “my”
> woodcock isn’t back yet, but he usually arrives mid March. Juncos aren’t
> here yet either.
>
> Kim
Date: 2/28/24 8:03 am From: Barbara Powers <barkiepvt...> Subject: [VTBIRD] BWD Magazine
BWD Magazine (Bird Watcher’s Digest) is still available. I’ve received 5 issues. The contact information is: BWD Magazine
PO Box 3396
Terre Haute, IN 47803
<customerservice...>
Both Bill I and Bill II died as well as their mother within a very short time. The magazine in its old form closed but after a few months a group got together and started it again in a different format. It’s really terrific now. A year’s subscription is $26.00. It comes every two months. It’s available in paper and online.
Barbara Powers
Manchester Center
Sent from my iPad
Date: 2/28/24 8:03 am From: Kim Sargeant <grammiekims...> Subject: [VTBIRD] binos and FOY birds
I bought my Nikon Monarch 8x42 in 2005 for a special trip and I love them.
At the time I compared them to a pair of Leicas, but the slight difference
in them was not worth the extra $1000.
I have no idea how they compare to the binos being discussed, but I am very
happy with them.
I haven’t been out much because of the ice around my house here in
Hookerville/Cabot. I haven’t seen any spring harbingers. No RWBBs; “my”
woodcock isn’t back yet, but he usually arrives mid March. Juncos aren’t
here yet either.
Date: 2/28/24 5:12 am From: Ted Levin <tedlevin1966...> Subject: [VTBIRD] 28 February 2024: Hurricane Hill, WRJ
6:29 a.m. Pileated drumming and calling. Juncos trilling. Chickadees and titmice whistling. Browner creeper and golden-crowned kinglets whispering (and visible). Redwings (males) and have been around for more than a week. A flock of 40+ passed through on the 20th. Several drift between feeding stations.Both Bohemian and cedar waxwings have moved on ... but a few robins remain hacking away at withered apples and tiny crabapples. Though their flocks are smaller, red crossbills are still here. Breeding? No sign yet. Oh, a lonely bluebird on an electric line. Plus, a flock of seven fly-over common mergansers.
Date: 2/28/24 5:07 am From: Graham Bates <batesg...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Binoculars
I 100% recommend the Vortex...I have the 8x42 VIpers, and the lifetime
warranty is awesome. I had an issue and sent my pair in for repair...they
were deemed not repairable, and so they sent me a brand new pair!
Graham
On Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 6:48 AM Eugenia Cooke <euge24241...> wrote:
> We have the Vortex Viper 8x42 binos and love them.
>
> On Tue, Feb 27, 2024, 3:51 PM David Guertin <dave...> wrote:
>
> > Hi Connie,
> >
> > I agree with the 8x42 suggestion. You might check out this review
> > article from the Cornell Lab of O:
> >
> >
> >
> https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/the-cornell-lab-review-affordable-full-size-8x42-binoculars/ > >
> > There are a lot of good recommendations there at a range of price
> > points. They list the MSRP, but the actual prices will tend to be lower
> > than that. FWIW, I have the Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42, which is one of
> > their top recommendations, and have loved them over years of hard use.
> >
> > Dave G.
> >
> > On 2/27/24 14:43, Connie Caldes wrote:
> > > Hello all! I mentioned in a previous email that I am new to the
> > Burlington Vermont area. I love birds and I’ve always watched them at the
> > feeder and in the woods and in my current field, but I am looking forward
> > to getting out in the spring. I have an old pair of Minolta binoculars
> that
> > will do but I want to invest in a new pair of birding binoculars. I have
> a
> > new shoulder strap for comfort. Does anyone have any suggestions? I
> think
> > I can spend up to about $500. I’m definitely not going for the $2000
> > Swarovski binoculars. I’ve noticed the Vortex Optics Viper HD 10 x 42 and
> > the Vortex Optics Diamondback HD 8 x 42 being recommended. I’ve also seen
> > some Nikon recommendations. Some say the 8 x 42 is ideal for birding,
> but I
> > really don’t know.
> > >
> > > Thanks for any experience you might be willing to share on this topic.
> > >
> > > Connie
> > >
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> > >
> > >> On Feb 27, 2024, at 11:22 AM, Jim Block <jim...>
> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> I put some photos from the last two months on my blog: Barrow's
> > Goldeneye,
> > >> Pine Siskins, Horned Larks, Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings, owls, eagles,
> > and
> > >> hawks, and many birds in flight. You can see them here:
> > >>
> > >> https://jimblockphoto.com/2024/02/birds-of-winter/ > > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Jim Block
> > >>
> > >> Etna, NH
> > >>
> > >>
> >
>
We have the Vortex Viper 8x42 binos and love them.
On Tue, Feb 27, 2024, 3:51 PM David Guertin <dave...> wrote:
> Hi Connie,
>
> I agree with the 8x42 suggestion. You might check out this review
> article from the Cornell Lab of O:
>
>
> https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/the-cornell-lab-review-affordable-full-size-8x42-binoculars/ >
> There are a lot of good recommendations there at a range of price
> points. They list the MSRP, but the actual prices will tend to be lower
> than that. FWIW, I have the Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42, which is one of
> their top recommendations, and have loved them over years of hard use.
>
> Dave G.
>
> On 2/27/24 14:43, Connie Caldes wrote:
> > Hello all! I mentioned in a previous email that I am new to the
> Burlington Vermont area. I love birds and I’ve always watched them at the
> feeder and in the woods and in my current field, but I am looking forward
> to getting out in the spring. I have an old pair of Minolta binoculars that
> will do but I want to invest in a new pair of birding binoculars. I have a
> new shoulder strap for comfort. Does anyone have any suggestions? I think
> I can spend up to about $500. I’m definitely not going for the $2000
> Swarovski binoculars. I’ve noticed the Vortex Optics Viper HD 10 x 42 and
> the Vortex Optics Diamondback HD 8 x 42 being recommended. I’ve also seen
> some Nikon recommendations. Some say the 8 x 42 is ideal for birding, but I
> really don’t know.
> >
> > Thanks for any experience you might be willing to share on this topic.
> >
> > Connie
> >
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On Feb 27, 2024, at 11:22 AM, Jim Block <jim...> wrote:
> >>
> >> I put some photos from the last two months on my blog: Barrow's
> Goldeneye,
> >> Pine Siskins, Horned Larks, Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings, owls, eagles,
> and
> >> hawks, and many birds in flight. You can see them here:
> >>
> >> https://jimblockphoto.com/2024/02/birds-of-winter/ > >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Jim Block
> >>
> >> Etna, NH
> >>
> >>
>
I've subscribed to BWD since it reformatted about two years ago. Nice
publication, but wish I had known about it Birdwatchers Magazine before its
demise.
On Wed, Feb 28, 2024, 6:16 AM Grace Nelson <
<000003f90bfe1fe2-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I see there are print and digital subscriptions available to Bird Watchers
> Digest:
> https://bwdmagazine.com/ >
> Sample article and BWD background by Scott Weidensaul:
>
> https://bwdmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/bwd_sample_articles_opt3.pdf > JULY/AUGUST 2022
> .
> Grace Nelson
> Jericho
>
>
> > On Feb 27, 2024, at 7:23 PM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
> >
> > Just subscribe. The old little format is no longer, and the new one is
> what you’ll get.
> > Maeve
> >
> >> On Feb 27, 2024, at 6:57 PM, <kj813...> <
> <0000002d57029402-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> >>
> >> How do we get the newer version? Kay in Hinesburg
> >>
> >>
> >> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
> >>
> >>
> >> On Monday, February 26, 2024, 6:03 PM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> The new and improved Bird Watcher’s Digest is enjoyable: bigger and
> better photos than the old smaller format, longer articles. etc.
> >> Maeve
> >>
> >>> On Feb 26, 2024, at 5:47 PM, David Book <
> <0000005c520ea7e6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Sounds like a disaster and very sad. Can you recommend another
> publication other than Cornell's and the Digest that might replace
> Birdwatching? ThanksDavid
> >>> On Monday, February 26, 2024 at 05:38:09 PM EST, Maeve Kim <
> <maevekim7...> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I wouldn’t hold my breath for a refund - or, for contributors, any
> payment.
> >>>
> >>> I just unearthed the note from July 2023. In part:
> >>>
> >>> As many of you may know, The BeBop Channel Corporation acquired
> Madavor Media LLC, the company for which your work was contracted, in
> February 2023. Shortly after the acquisition, we discovered the true depth
> and context of a massive irresponsible practice by Madavor of continuing to
> contract freelancers -- even though the company had insufficient funds to
> honor those commitments -- in order to keep its publishing business going.
> Upon finding this out, we immediately terminated the majority of the senior
> leadership of Madavor Media LLC and halted the hiring of freelancers. We
> also developed a payment plan to try, in good faith, to get all of you some
> of the money that you were owed, albeit in very small increments due to
> budgetary constraints.
> >>>
> >>> I don’t think Madavor was the original owner. I seem to remember
> corresponding with another company in the early days of the magazine.
> >>>
> >>> Maeve
> >>>
> >>>> On Feb 26, 2024, at 5:28 PM, David Book <
> <0000005c520ea7e6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Thank you, Maeve, for the info about one of my favorites. I
> thoroughly enjoyed reading your articles as well as Pete Dunne's and other.
> I miss it also. I guess no refund for those of us who had extended
> subscriptions?
> >>>> On Monday, February 26, 2024 at 05:16:07 PM EST, Maeve Kim <
> <maevekim7...> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Yes. Sadly, the magazine stopped after the spring 2023 issue. I’m a
> contributor so I got two explanatory notes from the new owner suggesting
> something negative about the previous owners, but I’ve forgotten the
> details. I miss that magazine!
> >>>> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> >>>>
> >>>>> On Feb 26, 2024, at 4:08 PM, David Book <
> <0000005c520ea7e6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Does anyone know if Birdwatching Magazine has ceased publication. I
> have not received an issue since June and their customer service number has
> been disconected.David
> >>>>> On Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 10:13:17 AM EST, Maeve Kim <
> <maevekim7...> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> ebird records show that’s true, Kay. Right now there are many red
> “teardrops” close to the lake, a few a bit farther east, and none east of
> the spine of the Green Mountains.
> >>>>> Maeve
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> On Feb 24, 2024, at 10:04 AM, <kj813...> <
> <0000002d57029402-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Hi Maeve - Do you think they appear sooner in the Champlain Valley,
> closer to the lake, than in slightly higher elevations such as where I live
> in the "shadow of Camel's Hump" in Hinesburg and where you are in
> Jericho?Best, Kay
> >>>>>> On Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 09:59:21 AM EST, Maeve Kim <
> <maevekim7...> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> It’s not the earliest date; that was last year, when a male
> Red-winged Blackbird showed up on 2/19. But there does seem to be a trend.
> In the last 31 years, I’ve seen these spring firsts in February nine times
> and six of those early sightings were since 2016. One year I saw my first
> RWBB in January, on Hawkins Road in Ferrisburgh. The other 21 years, the
> firsts have been in March.
> >>>>>> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
>
Date: 2/28/24 3:41 am From: Sue Wetmore <000006207b3956ac-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Binoculars
Yes the Vortex binoculars are great and their warranty is for a lifetime.
Sue Wetmore
Sent from my iPod
> On Feb 27, 2024, at 5:00 PM, Rich Kelley <rich...> wrote:
>
> I'd agree with 8x42s as a good general-purpose size. I wouldn’t suggest much of anything under 40s.
>
> It'd probably be a good idea to find a group walk and ask to try out a few different models. The fit/comfort/preference can vary a lot from one individual to another.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vermont Birds <VTBIRD...> On Behalf Of David Guertin
> Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 3:51 PM
> To: <VTBIRD...>
> Subject: [VTBIRD] Binoculars
>
> Hi Connie,
>
> I agree with the 8x42 suggestion. You might check out this review article from the Cornell Lab of O:
>
> https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/the-cornell-lab-review-affordable-full-size-8x42-binoculars/ >
> There are a lot of good recommendations there at a range of price points. They list the MSRP, but the actual prices will tend to be lower than that. FWIW, I have the Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42, which is one of their top recommendations, and have loved them over years of hard use.
>
> Dave G.
>
>> On 2/27/24 14:43, Connie Caldes wrote:
>> Hello all! I mentioned in a previous email that I am new to the Burlington Vermont area. I love birds and I’ve always watched them at the feeder and in the woods and in my current field, but I am looking forward to getting out in the spring. I have an old pair of Minolta binoculars that will do but I want to invest in a new pair of birding binoculars. I have a new shoulder strap for comfort. Does anyone have any suggestions? I think I can spend up to about $500. I’m definitely not going for the $2000 Swarovski binoculars. I’ve noticed the Vortex Optics Viper HD 10 x 42 and the Vortex Optics Diamondback HD 8 x 42 being recommended. I’ve also seen some Nikon recommendations. Some say the 8 x 42 is ideal for birding, but I really don’t know.
>>
>> Thanks for any experience you might be willing to share on this topic.
>>
>> Connie
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>>> On Feb 27, 2024, at 11:22 AM, Jim Block <jim...> wrote:
>>>
>>> I put some photos from the last two months on my blog: Barrow's
>>> Goldeneye, Pine Siskins, Horned Larks, Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings,
>>> owls, eagles, and hawks, and many birds in flight. You can see them here:
>>>
>>> https://jim/ >>> blockphoto.com%2F2024%2F02%2Fbirds-of-winter%2F&data=05%7C02%7Crich%4
>>> 0WESTSWANTON.COM%7C636e9248dabe4e13840908dc37d5c2e2%7C01a5aaa3c2634a2
>>> a979be0175eff7ed6%7C0%7C0%7C638446638451660339%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3
>>> d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%
>>> 7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=qAWXmDsTiwR8acUwmuqb6ghOOuue22c64mmMQUDTFxk%3D&res
>>> erved=0
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Jim Block
>>>
>>> Etna, NH
>>>
>>>
> On Feb 27, 2024, at 7:23 PM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>
> Just subscribe. The old little format is no longer, and the new one is what you’ll get.
> Maeve
>
>> On Feb 27, 2024, at 6:57 PM, <kj813...> <0000002d57029402-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> How do we get the newer version? Kay in Hinesburg
>>
>>
>> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
>>
>>
>> On Monday, February 26, 2024, 6:03 PM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>>
>> The new and improved Bird Watcher’s Digest is enjoyable: bigger and better photos than the old smaller format, longer articles. etc.
>> Maeve
>>
>>> On Feb 26, 2024, at 5:47 PM, David Book <0000005c520ea7e6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Sounds like a disaster and very sad. Can you recommend another publication other than Cornell's and the Digest that might replace Birdwatching? ThanksDavid
>>> On Monday, February 26, 2024 at 05:38:09 PM EST, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>>>
>>> I wouldn’t hold my breath for a refund - or, for contributors, any payment.
>>>
>>> I just unearthed the note from July 2023. In part:
>>>
>>> As many of you may know, The BeBop Channel Corporation acquired Madavor Media LLC, the company for which your work was contracted, in February 2023. Shortly after the acquisition, we discovered the true depth and context of a massive irresponsible practice by Madavor of continuing to contract freelancers -- even though the company had insufficient funds to honor those commitments -- in order to keep its publishing business going. Upon finding this out, we immediately terminated the majority of the senior leadership of Madavor Media LLC and halted the hiring of freelancers. We also developed a payment plan to try, in good faith, to get all of you some of the money that you were owed, albeit in very small increments due to budgetary constraints.
>>>
>>> I don’t think Madavor was the original owner. I seem to remember corresponding with another company in the early days of the magazine.
>>>
>>> Maeve
>>>
>>>> On Feb 26, 2024, at 5:28 PM, David Book <0000005c520ea7e6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Thank you, Maeve, for the info about one of my favorites. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your articles as well as Pete Dunne's and other. I miss it also. I guess no refund for those of us who had extended subscriptions?
>>>> On Monday, February 26, 2024 at 05:16:07 PM EST, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Yes. Sadly, the magazine stopped after the spring 2023 issue. I’m a contributor so I got two explanatory notes from the new owner suggesting something negative about the previous owners, but I’ve forgotten the details. I miss that magazine!
>>>> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
>>>>
>>>>> On Feb 26, 2024, at 4:08 PM, David Book <0000005c520ea7e6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Does anyone know if Birdwatching Magazine has ceased publication. I have not received an issue since June and their customer service number has been disconected.David
>>>>> On Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 10:13:17 AM EST, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> ebird records show that’s true, Kay. Right now there are many red “teardrops” close to the lake, a few a bit farther east, and none east of the spine of the Green Mountains.
>>>>> Maeve
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Feb 24, 2024, at 10:04 AM, <kj813...> <0000002d57029402-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Maeve - Do you think they appear sooner in the Champlain Valley, closer to the lake, than in slightly higher elevations such as where I live in the "shadow of Camel's Hump" in Hinesburg and where you are in Jericho?Best, Kay
>>>>>> On Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 09:59:21 AM EST, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It’s not the earliest date; that was last year, when a male Red-winged Blackbird showed up on 2/19. But there does seem to be a trend. In the last 31 years, I’ve seen these spring firsts in February nine times and six of those early sightings were since 2016. One year I saw my first RWBB in January, on Hawkins Road in Ferrisburgh. The other 21 years, the firsts have been in March.
>>>>>> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>