Saturday, August 8th
7:00 am – 9:30 am

This program is free and does not require admission. Appropriate for teens and adults.

Meet at the Welcome Center parking lot. Join local birders to gather long-term data on the presence of birds, their abundance, and changes in populations. Appropriate for birders of all skill levels, the walks run along uneven terrain on forest and meadow trails and around the main house. No registration required. Questions? Contact Stephanie at (802) 367-7960 or click to email.

Bird Note: Belted Kingfisher

August is the “finishing” month—time for birds to finish raising young, fatten up for migration, and prepare to leave Vermont’s breeding grounds. While many species look quite different from the birds we saw in spring, the Belted Kingfisher remains easy to recognize by its size, plumage, and loud rattling call.

Common along lakes, ponds, and streams, this white-breasted bird has a bluish-gray back, crest, and collar. One of the few bird species in which the female is more colorful than the male, she sports an additional rusty-brown belt across her belly. Watch for kingfishers perched over water or hovering before plunging headfirst to catch fish. Though many migrate south for winter, some remain in northern areas as long as the water stays open.