Vermont State Parks

Looking through binoculars at a bird in the distance. Staying close to home during the COVID-19 pandemic makes any neighborhood feel small. My young daughter and I like to get out for daily adventures looking for new things to discover close to home, and it helps to have something new to focus on with each adventure, to refresh the experience even when we are visiting the same places each time.  These spring days are perfect for bird watching walks. Bird watching is exciting this time of year because all the migratory birds are returning to Vermont. Every day we see and hear a new arrival in our neighborhood. It is fun to keep track and watch for the arriving birds who spent their winter in the south.  I like making a big deal about this adventure by packing small backpacks with items we might need while birdwatching. I have a couple small bird field guides we like to carry, and we usually bring water bottles, snacks, and a notebook and pencil so we can docum...

The loon rescue using the new airboat Loon enthusiast and VT State Parks Program Host, Eric Hanson, took part in an exciting loon rescue just before the new year. Eric posted the following story on his blog for Vermont Center for Ecostudies : A wounded loon could not take flight from his home in Lake Eligo, (Greensboro, VT) when it began to freeze over. This little bird endured a week of less and less open water while fending off bald eagle attacks until his hole finally froze over completely. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Dept. Game Warden, Russ Shopland, came to the rescue using a newly acquired airboat to scoop up the injured loon. (the rescue team took this opportunity to do a practice run of a thin ice rescue) The loon during recovery in Eric's bathtub After the rescue, Eric nursed the loon in his bathtub, feeding him minnows while his wing was healing and sent us the following update: The loon had an old break in his wing as an x-ray from Lamoille Valley Vets sho...

A fall view from Big Deer State Park of Peacham Pond Off-season camping and day use is a magical experience. The parks have a stillness that you can't get in the summer. Many animals are hibernating, there is little rustling of the trees, the bugs are gone, and you can sometimes go a whole day without bumping into another visitor. The best part is that it is FREE! Both day use and camping in Vermont State Parks in the off season are free to all visitors. The only thing visitors need to do is park outside the gate, and for camping, make sure you fill out a request form in advance of your stay. During this time of year, the views are wonderful (since many trees are leafless), winter sports like snowshoeing and cross-country season begin, and at night, the campfire never felt so good. A bohemian waxwing Some fun activities to do in the parks this time of year include: birding, tracking, finding bird nests, and hiking! Keep an eye out for grouse, tu...

Fall migration is often an overlooked time of year for bird watching. It may be less intense than spring migration, but be assured, with all kinds of birds heading south from the boreal forests north of us, you are bound to see something special. In Vermont, fall birding is marked by warbler fallouts in woodlands and fields, spiraling raptors ascending mountain breezes, and waves of migrating waterbirds resting along the shores of our larger lakes. With all that in store, join in the fun for a weekend immersed in birds, surrounded by the beauty of northern Vermont and inspired by others eager to hone their birding skills. Led by two sisters passionate about Vermont wildlife, Bridget and Amy Butler, will be the guides for this weekend which is sure to be both relaxing and stimulating. Enjoy evening slide shows and conversations on fall migration, bird identification, and bird language. During the day, refine your skills in the field on foot and by kayak or canoe. This program is appr...

A loon with a snack Maidstone State Park is hosting a loon packed weekend. Activites begin with an interpretive walk on Friday (starting at the B-loop bathhouse at 8:00 PM) and slide show. The next morning, get ready to head out on the lake, via canoe or kayak (both available for rent), and observe these unique creatures in their natural habitat. Other activities include: a sand castle contest, a sack race, a movie at dusk, fishing and hiking opportunities, and more! Programs are free with paid park entry, but if you want to camp, make your reservations by calling the park directly, 802-676-3930. A pair of loons on Spectacle Pond in Brighton State Park In addition, you can help contribute to the Annual Statewide Loon Count. On Saturday, July 16th visit some beatiful ponds and record your findings for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. "Many of the unassigned lakes are small and will likely not have loons, but it is still important to check them occasionally. However, the...

Birds Seen at Bomoseen State Park, Salisbury, April 15, 2011 Despite the chilly morning, Bomoseen State Park produced 35 species including a singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a singing Field Sparrow. Fox Sparrows were singing as well.  Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are back in full force. A pair of Black-capped Chickadees were excavating a broken tree stump. The lake is mostly open. Four Northern Shovelers (three male and one female) and a pair of Green-winged Teal were resting at the edge of some remaining ice at Crystal Beach. At the Lake Bomoseen/Hubbardton Marshes IBA at the north end of the lake, a Pied-billed Grebe and 78 Ring-necked Ducks were present among others. Bird list: Canada Goose 4 Wood Duck 2 Mallard 5 Bufflehead 1 Hooded Merganser 2 Common Merganser 16 Ruffed Grouse 1 Wild Turkey 7 Turkey Vulture 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Mourning Dove 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 6 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Blue Jay ...