ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Grab some seed and binoculars — Vermont is expected to get lots of visitors this year of the feathered variety.
Snow isn’t the only thing in the forecast this winter.
“Vermont’s in for a little bit of a treat this winter,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s Jillian Kilborn.
The winter finch forecast is calling for an irruption year. That’s what wildlife experts call it when we see an unusual influx of birds. It’s happening because some forests to our north in Canada are reported to have a poor seed crop this year.
It’s the opposite in New England, where there was an above-average cone crop this year, offering up a full buffet for the feathered critters.
“We’re already seeing some of the species that have shown up,” Kilborn said.
The last time this happened was five years ago, and this winter could be even better. And folks can help scientists keep track of them by using reporting systems like eBird. Kilborn says that it is particularly important as some species are on the decline.
“The amount of observations that come in from people out on the landscape birding really is at the foundation of how we track what’s going on with bird populations,” Kilborn said.
If you have a bird feeder, Kilborn recommends keeping it clean. If you don’t have a feeder but want to get a glimpse, look around softwood trees like spruce, white pine, fir, and cedar trees. Other species prefer winter fruiting plants and may seek out seeds.
“So these are the types of seeds they’ll pull out of something like that,” Kilborn said.
And for some species, our region is just a snacking stop on a longer journey. “Some of these species will go as far south as Florida,” Kilborn said.
So get outside this season and try to spot them as they stop in for a visit.
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