The Rutland Community Garden is a great spot for a quick birding trip as it is easily accessible and fairly level walking. It is an ideal spot to bring a child or to practice your own birding skills.

As the name implies, the garden is a twenty-five acre parcel of land within Rutland City where residents may cultivate their own vegetables for a small annual fee.  The city also, while not in the business of growing vegetables, has a well-managed tree nursery. These cultivated areas take up no more than an acre. The balance of the land supports approximately one mile of well-tended walking trails that pass through woods, besides a small meadow, and overlooking a beaver induced wetland.

Mourning DoveIt is not surprising that the diversity of habitat, extent, minimal disturbance and accessibility makes this former “Poor Farm” an inviting place to bird. Over a period of two years, eighty-eight species of birds have been documented in this urban “hotspot”.  The species range from ducks to warblers, from the expected to the highly unusual, whether it is a Tufted Titmouse or a Great Egret, a Warbling Vireo or a Green Heron.

A small kiosk provides information about the garden as well as a bird list of the species seen.

DIRECTIONS: The Rutland Community Garden is located on Woodstock Avenue (Route 4) in Rutland behind McDonalds. the preferred access is from the Big Lots parking area east of McDonalds. Park to the south facing the grove of white pines. The gently rising footpath ahead is the immediate access.

RESOURCES:
Birding Data at eBird
Google Map