VTF&W
Bird feeding
December is the start of bird feeding season. Here are some basic bird feeding tips from Vermont Fish and Wildlife:
— Make your own feeding mixture to maximize the number of species visiting your yard. Black oil sunflower seed is a favorite of many birds, but when mixed with “thistle” (or “nyjer”) or cracked corn, you will be sure to attract a wide variety of species. Don’t forget the suet to attract woodpeckers and even chickadees.
— Mix up the type of feeders you use. Hopper feeders are great for large birds such as blue jays, while tube feeders are best for smaller birds. Elevated tray feeders will attract birds that usually feed on the ground, including juncos and larger bodied winter visitors such as evening grosbeaks.
— Place your feeders near natural habitat, or even add a habitat for birds to hide. A Christmas tree is a great addition to a snowbank next to your feeder to provide quick cover.
— Keep your feeders clean. Only put out enough food for a day, and wash feeders every couple of weeks in a 10% bleach solution and let dry to prevent the spread of bacteria and disease.
If you decide to feed birds, remember:
— Feeding can expose birds to hazards they might otherwise avoid. The risks of predation are higher close to people, especially from domestic cats — the leading cause of bird deaths in North America. Keep cats inside and take feeders down if predators become frequent visitors.
— Don’t feed birds when bears are active. Most bears are in dens from Dec. 1 to April 1, but some will delay hibernation or re-emerge to feed during periods of warmer weather. Remove bird feeders immediately if you see signs of bears or know a bear is active in your community. Bears that learn to associate food with a house will continue to return, potentially leading to property damage and dangerous encounters with people. Further, it is illegal to feed bears in Vermont.
— Once you’ve started feeding the birds, keep your feeders stocked. Although wild birds are not entirely dependent on bird feeders, they can become accustomed to this easy food source. If you wish to stop feeding during winter months, gradually taper off the amount of food you provide rather than stopping abruptly, giving the birds a chance to find other food sources. This is especially important when food is scarce in late winter or during periods of extreme weather.
— Finally, report your observations. While watching your bird feeders, you can participate in one or more bird monitoring projects by looking up the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the Great Backyard Bird Count and Project Feeder Watch and eBird — all collect important information for understanding bird populations.
As winter sets in, find a comfortable spot inside where you can watch the birds visiting your feeders. Figure out what birds they are, observe how they interact with each other, and see what they prefer to eat.
AROUND TOWN
Lost ski areas
STOWE — Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum’s newest exhibit “Searching for Vermont’s Lost Ski Areas” begins with an opening party from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at 1 South Main St. in Stowe.
The museum’s search for information about Vermont’s “lost” ski areas, those that at one time operated a mechanical tow, has taken more than 20 years. One-hundred-seventy-five “lost” areas from Vernon to Newport have been identified and located on a map created for the exhibit. “Lost and found” ski areas, and 20 areas still in operation today, are also identified.
Drawing from information, photographs and memorabilia in the museum’s collection, and with help from local historical societies, Part I of “Searching for Vermont’s Lost Ski Areas” features 70 “lost” areas between the Massachusetts border and Route 4, from small community tows to bigger areas with multiple lifts.
Of those 70, Woodstock, Snow Valley, Dutch Hill, Hogback and Mount Ascutney are highlighted. Visitors will learn about the installation of the first rope tow in the United States, snow trains and the beginnings of ski tourism, the first snowmaking system in the state, and Vermont’s first Sno-Cat skiing operation.
The search for more information about Vermont’s lost ski areas is ongoing and the museum welcomes input from those who have memories and photos to share. More information may be found at www.vtssm.org online. Part I of this exhibit runs through mid-October 2024. Part II of the exhibit will push further north and will open next season.
ATHENA Gala
BARRE — This year’s fifth annual Vermont ATHENA Leadership Awards Gala has been rescheduled and relocated. It will now be on Saturday, Dec. 2, hosted at the Barre Elks Lodge. The ATHENA Award judges are reviewing this year’s 17 Leadership and seven Young Professional Leadership nominations and will select three finalists from each category to be recognized and honored at the Gala, where recipients will be announced and presented their awards. Gala thanks sponsors supporting Vermont’s women leaders; sponsorship levels include Nike Goddess ($3,500); Bia Goddess ($1,750); Tyche Goddess ($1,000); and Gala Table ($250).
Do you have an item you would like to see in Community News? A milestone? A public announcement? A short news release about something entertaining going on in your town? Simply email the information to us at news@timesargus.com. Be sure to put For Community News in the subject line. (Note: We do reserve the right to edit for length.)
