Dorset Vermont, A Beautiful Colonial New England Town in Southern Vermont

What is it about Dorset that people love so much?

Maybe it's the peace and quiet. Perhaps it's the white clapboard New England architecture, the well-kept houses overlooking the town green. For some people, it's the mountains and clean country air. For others, it's Dorset's role in the American Revolution.

Maybe it's our back roads, birds and wildlife, maple covered hillsides, walking trails and stone walls. It might be our handful of country inns and sophisticated restaurants, our summer theatre, artists and artisans, nearby music festivals and fairs, or our wonderful year-round outdoor activities… or the interesting people who live here.

For almost 150 years (since 1868, when the first "summer people" came to Dorset), visitors have discovered countless reasons to love our little town. Fascinating day trips, including museum visits, cheese tours and dirt road adventures, will make your visit memorable. See map.

Welcome to Dorset!

June 2009 Bird Notes

Sitting in the "Catbird Seat"

The Gray Catbird is a mimic that can sound like a cat meowing (thus the name) or imitate others in the thrush family such as the Brown Thrasher, American Robin or Mockingbird. The slim gray catbird sports a black cap, long tail and chestnut feathers under the tail. Although skulking and secretive when nesting, it will find a high perch for courtship singing. The Gray Catbird population spreads across the U.S. except the western coast. It winters in Central America.

Sitting in the 'catbird seat' means having a superior or advantageous position, (as in the top of a bush!). In seems to have originated during baseball days in the 1940s, when "Red Barber announce(d) the Dodger games over the radio and he use(d) (the) expression... 'sitting in the catbird seat' (to) mean 'sitting pretty', as a batter would be with three balls and no strikes on him."

See Previous Bird Notes

For more information about birding in the Dorset
and surrounding area email the .

Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 121 · Dorset VT 05251
chamber@dorsetvt.com