WOODSTOCK CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
"The good people of
Woodstock have less incentive than others to yearn
for heaven."
Attributed to Senator Jacob
Collamer (1791-1865)
TWO BARNARD, VERMONT, B &
Bs
ALL ATWITTER WITH BIRDING, TRACKING
OUTINGS
NOW AVAILABLE TO THEIR
GUESTS
Stunning Documentary Winged
Migration Expected To Woo
First-time and
Experienced Birders to Vermont's Green
Mountains
BARNARD, Vermont, August 2003 - Two bed &
breakfast neighbors in Barnard, Vermont, are all
atwitter. Here's why.
Inn at Chelsea Farm and
The Fan House have enlisted the services of a
local Audubon Society leader as well as those of
an animal tracker to introduce bed & breakfast
guests to the year-round wonders and mysteries of
Vermont's abundant bird and wildlife. Reminiscent
of the stunning new documentary, Winged Migration,
guests may, for example, experience in October the
spectacle of 10,000 snow geese heading south. Or
in January they may don snowshoes to witness where
bear have defined their territory.
Per couple
rates for bird watching or animal tracking are
$110 ($90 per single) for a half day, $160 ($135
per single) for a full day. For winter outings
snowshoes can be rented locally. Nightly
accommodation rates vary by season, starting at
$95 (inclusive of daily breakfast, exclusive of
taxes and gratuities), for two people sharing a
room with private bath. For information please
contact: Inn at Chelsea Farm, 802/234-9888
(Emmy@sover.net; www.InnatChelseaFarm.com) or The
Fan House 802/234-9096 (Swidness@aol.com;
www.TheFanHouse.com).
Marv Elliott birds
year-round. John Barnes sleuths in winter on
snowshoes, following the wilderness for signs of
bear, beaver, moose and more. Elliott's birding
philosophy balances a competitive effort to
identify as many birds as possible with the
realistic attitude that having one memorable
moment is better than two fleeting glimpses.
"Building a long life list is best done one bird
at a time," he says. Barnes approaches the animal
world as a treasure hunt, revealing "the infinite
clues our wild friends exhibit - if we take the
time to see."
Elliott's calendar includes hawk
watching in September, and in October --
reminiscent of Winged Migration - viewing 10,000
snow geese taking flight at one time. December
brings the 100-year-old Audubon Christmas bird
counts, including eastern bluebirds and cedar
waxwings. In January he looks for tree sparrows,
snow buntings, horned larks and Lapland longspurs,
as well as rough-legged hawks in both light and
dark phases as they put on a spectacular show
riding the winter wind and hovering over a field
searching for dinner. Bald eagles also congregate
around Lake Champlain's open water. February
offers the barred owl, downy and hairy woodpecker,
golden crowned kinglet and other species that
don't migrate south.
In March ducks and grebes
are breeding, which means full breeding plumage
for the males and various antics as they display
for the females. Wood ducks are along unthawed
shorelines, hooded mergansers in open
water.
Great blue herons and osprey surface in
April. May is prime birding month when a
three-hour walk can produce 50 species. Phoebes
and Wilson's snipe are busy nesting in June. In
July birders follow the sound of hungry babies in
their nests. These are some of the best views of
birds to be enjoyed all year. August's fruits draw
cedar waxwings red-eyed vireos, white-throated
sparrows, ovenbird, chestnut sided warblers,
winter wren and many others
PRESS CONTACT: Sara Widness, Widness Public
Relations
802-234-9096; sara@widnesspr.com
