MONTPELIER, VTFor many Vermonters, late fall means time spent in the woods hunting deer. Yet, while sitting patiently in deer stands , or sneaking silently through the woods, hunters also see plenty of other wildlife, including a variety of birds.
John Buck is Vermont Fish & Wildlife's bird biologist and an avid deer hunter. Although many of Vermont's birds have migrated out of the state by November, many species remain and can still be observed during the late fall.
Buck encourages deer hunters to watch for common species such as blue jays or ravens, and for even less common species, such as a northern shrike. Even Vermont's state bird, the hermit thrush, may still be spotted foraging through the leafless forest in November if snow is late to arrive.
"It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to hunt deer and those qualities lend themselves well to birding. Deer hunters are among the most observant and knowledgeable birders I have met," said Buck. "Whether it is having a chickadee sit on my shoulder or watching a barred owl take a pass at a red squirrel, some of my most memorable birding experiences have been while sitting quietly in my deer stand."
According to a recent study from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, people who both hunt and birdwatch are more likely to support conservation than any other group, either by donating to conservation organizations or by working to improve wildlife habitat on their property.
This finding doesn't surprise Buck, who has been working with hunters and birders at various points in his career. "Hunters and birders both possess a deep understanding of the need for habitat for all of the species that inhabit Vermont's landscape," said Buck. "This connections is vitally important to our understanding of the natural world and our place within it."
Buck encourages hunters to note the birds they see while out hunting this fall and to submit these sightings to the Fish & Wildlife Department's facebook page, with photos if possible.
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