Participants meet at the time posted. Walks may be through wet areas. Sturdy, waterproof footwear and dressing in layers for cool, rainy conditions are suggested. Bring water. Walks are scheduled for two hours on weekends and 90 minutes during the week (unless otherwise noted).
Saturday, April 30, is Lake Champlain Day with Pat Folsom. Participants are to meet at Shaw’s in Waitsfield at 7 a.m. for an all-day trip to the Champlain Valley.
On Thursday, May 5, walk the Mad River Path, Meadow Road, with Jeannie Elias. Participants are to meet at Waitsfield Laundromat (Fiddler’s Green) parking lot at 7 a.m., rain or shine. Participants will walk the Mad River Path, looking for migrants along the river and in adjoining woods and fields.
On Sunday, May 8, walk Camel’s Hump State Forest, Gaulin Boulevard, with Alison Wagner. Participants are to meet at Shaw’s in Waitsfield at 7 a.m. to carpool over Route 17. This walk starts at the end of Dick Gaulin Boulevard, off Route 17, just south of the intersection of Route 17 and Gore Road. Parking is very limited. The group will meet leader Alison Wagner at the birding site at 7:30 a.m. This is a moderate uphill hike. Migrants should be plentiful. Note that this is a three-hour walk.
On Thursday, May 12, walk Phen Basin with Jeannie Elias. Meet at the end of Phen Basin Road (off Bragg Hill Road) at 7 a.m. for a walk through woods to beaver ponds. Wear waterproof boots; a walking stick might be helpful.
On Saturday, May 14, we will walk Knoll Farm with Ann Day and Nancy Turner. Meet at Knoll Farm on Bragg Hill Road at 8 a.m. Wear sturdy footwear.
On Sunday, May 15, a Gulf Crossing documentary directed by Jackson Childs will be shown at the Big Picture Theater in Waitsfield at 1 p.m. Every spring many bird species that have spent their winter in Central or South America are welcomed. Learn more about their journey across the Gulf of Mexico without rest as they push north to nesting sites. The event is free.
On Thursday, May 19, walk the Mad River Path at Big Picture Loop with Jeannie Elias. Meet at the Big Picture parking lot at 7:30 a.m. This is also an event in the Mad River Path’s Walk and Roll Event.
On
Saturday, May 21, the Mad Birders will travel to the Hildene Walk and Peony
Festival with Patti Haynes. Meet at Shaw’s at 5:15 a.m. to carpool to
Manchester, VT, for this first-time Mad Birder adventure. This will be an all-day
trip. The Vermont Bird Place & Sky Watch and local birders meet to conduct
a survey of the wild birds present on the grounds of Hildene. For more
information, please call Randy Schmidt at (802) 362-2270 or email
On Sunday, May 22, birders will travel to Center Fayston with Jeannie Elias. Meet at Shaw’s at 7:30 a.m. to carpool to the Center Fayston site. Wear sturdy footwear.
Thursday, May 26, travel to Freeman Hill with Jeannie Elias. Meet at the cemetery on Freeman Hill Road, Moretown, at 7 a.m. for a walk on this quiet dirt road.
On Sunday, May 29, travel to Ward Hill with Fred and Chris Pratt. Meet at Pratt’s on Route 100, Duxbury, at 7:30 a.m. to carpool to Ward Hill. This is one of the most popular walks through varied habitat. This is a three-hour walk.
Walks are free for Mad Birders with a
donation for others. Annual memberships are available. For details on
membership, contact Pat Folsom (496-3663,
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