Cape May Birding Extravaganza
Cape May Point Cape May, NJ, United StatesJoin Chip Darmstadt to explore this extraordinary birdwatching paradise during one of its most exciting times to visit. With over 430 total species observed, and over 330 species seen this time of year, Cape May is home some of the greatest avian biodiversity in the northeast. Early September in Cape May offers a bit of everything: migratory songbirds in the shrubs and forests, migratory birds of prey cruising overhead, and migratory shorebirds along the beaches and backwaters. Wading birds stalk the saltmarshes, while waterfowl and seldom-seen pelagic birds float on the open ocean. Though less than a day’s drive from NBNC, Cape May is a whole new and exciting world of birds rarely if ever encountered in Vermont!
Friday Morning Fall Bird Walks
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin us for a weekly morning bird walks at NBNC! Learn about bird identification, ecology, and life history during these casual strolls with staff in search of fall migratory songbirds. Registration is not required. Please be prepared to follow masking and social distancing guidelines.
Saw-whet Owl Banding Demonstration
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontNBNC is part of a national network of scientists working to better understand the migration of the Northern Saw-whet Owl, a common yet elusive member of our Vermont forests. Join NBNC biologists as they capture, tag, and release these pint-sized owls. NBNC naturalists and educators will also discuss the highlights of recent research here and across the country, then share what’s been discovered about this mysterious little predator. Open to all ages.
Saw-whet Owl Banding Demonstration
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontMonday, October 18 8 – 9:30 pm Registration required | Admission by donation (of any amount) at the door NBNC is part of a national network of scientists working to better understand the migration of the Northern Saw-whet Owl, a common yet elusive member of our Vermont forests. Join NBNC biologists as they capture, tag,…
Travelers Circle Storytelling Night & Potluck
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin us for an evening of stories and a shared community meal. We encourage everyone to contribute a short story of their travels (though there is no pressure to speak), and "travel" may entail a trip to the store or a trip across the world! The experience is a bit like jamming on musical instruments: what you hear inspires what you share.
Pride Hike with Audubon Vermont at North Branch River Park
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontPride Hikes: North Branch River Park Hosted by Audubon Vermont, Pride Center of Vermont, and Outright Vermont Saturday, November 13 | 10:00am - 12:00pm | Montpelier, Vermont Location: North Branch…
Robin’s Nest Nature Playgroup – Fall Session
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontRobin’s Nest Nature Playgroup is a free, weekly activity for families to gather, learn, and play in nature. Guided by the idea that children need to spend ample time outdoors, we offer a community experience in the world of nature and will model ways the natural environment can be used as a tool for learning and play.
Art Gallery Reception – Susan Bull Riley
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontPlease join us at North Branch Nature Center for an evening celebrating Susan Bull Riley's inspirational oil and watercolor paintings. Refreshments and a warm fire will be available outside after touring the gallery and meeting the artist. Masks will be required indoors. This exhibit is a delightful mixture of moments in nature. A stroll through the gallery evokes the feeling of a summer walk through the Vermont countryside, with all that one encounters along the way. You’ll meet pitcher plants, apple trees, waxwings, and owls between sweeping views of the Worcester Range and quiet moments along a shady creek. These paintings reflect my desire to translate the intensity of my feelings for the natural world into images that speak to others.
The Winter Finch Forecast with Tyler Hoar – Naturalist Journeys Online Presentation Series
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThis presentation dives into the art and science of the Winter Finch Forecast. Tyler will provide an overview of each winter finch species, their current movements, and where we'll expect them to show up in the Northeast this season. From crossbills to grosbeaks and siskins to redpolls, the nomadic movements of winter finches depends on the interplay of weather, cone production, insect distributions, logging regimes, and more. This talk will also share a brief history of the Winter Finch Forecast, how it’s compiled and goals going forward.
Christmas Bird Count – 61st Annual Plainfield Circle
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin the nation's largest and longest-running citizen science project. The Christmas Bird Count, organized by the National Audubon Society, has been getting birdwatchers outside recording species in their backyards and towns for over a century! This project has become a powerful tool for understanding the rise and fall of bird populations over time. NBNC organizes and compiles the Plainfield count, which encompasses a 7.5-mile radius around Plainfield, including the towns of Montpelier, East Montpelier, Calais, Orange, Barre, Plainfield, and Marshfield. One of the oldest circles in Vermont, this count has occurred annually since 1960! The Plainfield count occurs on Saturday, December 18.
Nature Book Club – Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin us as we read Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass, and discuss an indigenous perspective on connecting to the natural world, botany, and teaching. We will meet bi-weekly through January and February, and discuss different sections of the book at each meeting. Led by NBNC Teacher-Naturalist Fiona Modrak.
“Spooning” with Nature – Woodcarving with Ken Benton
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontLearn the story behind the wood as we go from log to spoon. We’ll follow the process covering tree identification, natural history, ethical harvest and processing from the round into billets. Moving indoors, we’ll learn to read the grain while laying out patterns and carving away all wood that isn’t spoon. By the end of the day you’ll come away with a nearly finished spoon with a built in story to tell dinner guests while serving food. Bring your own fixed blade knife and come dressed for the weather. Led by NBNC Teacher-Naturalist Ken Benton
