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!

May 2008 Bird Notes

Osprey

The Osprey is a large bird of prey with a white head and belly, dark back and wings. A dark strip from its eye towards is back is visible even in a flying bird, but the M, bent shape of the wings is a better clue to identifying this bird in flight. This fish-eating specialist has barbed pads on the soles of its feet to help it grip slippery fish. Osperys return to VT usually by mid-April to breed generally occupying the same nest year after year.

Breeding Osprey had disappeared from VT in the early 70s due to thin, weak egg shells from the pesticide, DDT and loss of suitable nesting sites. T Since 1988, the VT Fish and Wildlife Department and the Central VT Public Service have worked cooperatively to install artificial nesting platforms mostly in the northwestern part of the state. In 2006 there were 82 active nests in VT. The species has now been removed from the state's endangered species list.

But it's May now and all our migratory species are flocking back to their breeding grounds. Look high, look low, listen and enjoy Vermont's spring flowers, budding trees, calling frogs, courting birds and silent butterflies.

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