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Birds at Catamount Community Forest
Birdwatching at Catamount Community Forest Catamount Community Forest is a top local birdwatching destination thanks to the diversity of habitat types that can be encountered on a single walk. The contiguous forest canopy on the northern parcel supports interior forest species, while the young forest or open scrub/shrub habitat in forest management areas and the power-line cut host forest edge species. As you move south and cross Governor Chittenden Rd to Catamount's southern parcel, you'll pass by ponds, wetlands, and open grassland habitats, each of which supports a different suite of birds. Keep your eye out for bird watching events each spring and fall sponsored by community partners including the Green Mountain Audubon Center, North Branch Nature Center, and the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Check the Catamount Outdoor Family Center Events Calendar for upcoming events, or rent a pair of binoculars from the hub and create your own itinerary. Catamount Community Forest Birdwatching Resources
Breeding Bird Monitoring & Citizen Science Community volunteers have monitored breeding birds at Catamount for several decades going back to at least the 90s! Today, volunteer programs area actively monitoring the breeding success of Bobolinks, Wood Ducks, Tree Swallows, Eastern Bluebirds, and more. Bobolink Monitoring The Bobolink monitoring project is the longest running breeding bird monitoring project at Catamount Community Forest, dating back long before it was conserved as Town Forest. The group monitors Bobolink nesting on the southern parcel, in and around 'Field C', the easternmost hay field, which is mowed on a special schedule to encourage and accommodate successful nesting of Bobolinks, Savannah Sparrows, and other grassland birds of conservation concern. This project is affiliated with Green Mountain Audubon Society, with support from the Vermont Center for Eco studies. Project NestWatch Project NestWatch is a nationwide nest-monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds. This citizen science project is run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The nestwatchers at Catamount Community Forest primarily monitor a set of birdboxes installed on field and wetland edges to encourage breeding of Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebirds, but sometimes boxes are occupied by bossy House Wrens instead. Wood Ducks Three new Wood Duck nesting boxes were installed by community members at Catamount Community Forest between 2022 and 2023 thanks to financial support from Green Mountain Audubon Society. Catamount now hosts one duck box at each of the smaller ponds on the northern parcel, and two boxes (including one pre-existing box) at the larger pond on the southern parcel. 2024 was the first year in which eggs were laid in all three of the new boxes. Two Wood Duck nesting boxes are also maintained at Mud Pond Conservation Area.  Catamount_Bird_Habitat_Assessment(1).pdf Catamount Community Forest Trifold Birdwatching Checklist BOBOLINKS_AT_CATAMOUNT_SUMMER_2025(1).pdf BOBOLINKS_AT_CATAMOUNT_SUMMER_2024_(1).pdf BOBOLINKS_AT_CATAMOUNT_COMMUNITY_FOREST_2023.pdf 2025NestWatchStats_Report___CherylDorschner(1).pdf 2024NestWatchStatsHighlightsSHORTESTV3___CherylDorschner.pdf Duck_Box_Nesting_Data_2025.pdf Catamount_Wood_Duck_Signs.pdf Bobolink Monitoring Group.jpg |
