Four months down – eight to go! The spring migration is in full swing and the numbers prove it. As of April 30, Rutland County tallied 147 species for this year’s County Quest! What is remarkable about this number is that it is 23 species more than at the same time last year.
Rutland County has squeaked ahead of Bennington by two species, putting us in fourth place. Addison County remains in first place.
Some of April’s highlights include two Sandhill Cranes spotted in Mount Tabor by Nancy Brown, three Bonaparte’s Gulls on Chittenden Reservoir by Joel Flewelling, and a Great Egret in Pittsford by C. J. Frankiewicz.
a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet flashes its crownBy the end of May, all the birds that should be here will probably have arrived. So it’s going to depend on diligent eBirders to find those birds that are not consistently observed such as Least Bittern, Yellow-bellied and Olive-sided flycatchers, Philadelphia Vireo, and Tennessee Warbler. To find these species, this is good time to brush up on birding by ear skills. A good resource for doing that is at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds online bird guide.
Knowing habitat preferences will also help locate the harder to find species. Pull out those dusty bird reference books and put them to good use. And consider visiting one of Rutland County’s Birding Hotspots to begin your search for rarities.
Click here for the latest standings and eBird news and to report your sightings! And, remember, the only bird that counts is the eBirded one!
UPDATE: We have four winners! Lane Vargas of Rutland spotted a Baltimore Oriole at West Rutland Marsh on May 1 and C. J. Frankewicz observed a Wood Thrush in Shrewsbury on May 2. Henry Wilton for a Chestnut-sided Warbler in West Rutland. Roy Pilcher for a Scarlet Tanager in West Haven. Each wins a bag of Birds and Beans Coffee. Congratulations!