For the Birds

Chip and Anson invite Matt Young on the show virtually to talk about the Finch Research Network and the Finch Forecast for New England and New York.

Chip and Anson talk about a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a southern species that was spotted during the Christmas Bird Count in Middlesex near the town hall.

Chip and Anson wrap up the year discussing some of the highlights of bird sightings in Vermont. More than 73,000 checklists were submitted to eBird from Vermont this year 292 species were spotted according to the site.

Chip and Anson talk about the Christmas bird counts which are already underway. The counting period started December 14th and Island Pond has already done theirs.

Chip and Anson talk about a Dickcissel sighting. The Dickcissel is a midwestern bird with a unique song that occasionally makes its way over to Vermont, and this time was spotted in Waterbury which is quite rare. The guys also talk about the annual Christmas Bird Count which happens all over the Western Hemisphere.

During the warm weather, Anson got out to walk a bit and spotted a Pine Grosbeak, a less common bird in Vermont of the Finch family. Chip talks a bit about a new book called The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman. You can request a copy at your local bookstore.

Happy Thanksgiving! Chip and Anson talk this festive week about everyone's favorite festive bird, the wild Turkey. Chip and Anson also revisit the finch conversation from a few weeks ago and talk about Red Crossbills Chip has been seeing feasting on white pine.

A very rare duck for Central Vermont, the Barrow's Goldeneye, was spotted at Berlin pond this week, making it one of the first spots in Washington county. This species is more often found out west and in Vermont we find their realtives the Common Goldeneye and the Bufflehead.

Anson and Chip also discuss some sightings of the Snowy Owl coming back into the state for winter.

Chip talks about a unique spot by a birder this week in Shelburne, the Purple Sandpiper (which isn't purple). This bird is pretty rare for Vermont, they tend to favor rocky coasts at this time of year.

Anson and Chip talk about the winter finch forecast by the Finch Research Network, a new organization dedicated to studying finches. This year the finch forecast for Vermont is looking pretty good due to a lack of certain cone crops in Canada where finches nest and availability of certain insects. Look out for the Evening Grosbeak, the Red-breasted Nuthatch, the Pine Siskin, and the Common Redpoll.