Trip Opportunities

Local birder Cedar Stanistreet is organizing some international trips in 2026. Please see the below information. Note: These are not SVAS trips.

Birding Colombia with Cedar Stanistreet

March 1-10, 2026

With over 1,900 avian species — more than any other country in the world — Colombia is a birder’s paradise waiting to be discovered. This program focuses on the country’s northern highlights, including the Caribbean region and the Santa Marta Mountains, famed for their high level of endemic species. Explore high elevation mountains, dry forest, and coastal habitats in search of an array of tropical avifauna, including flycatchers, hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans, and more.

For more info and to register, contact Cedar by email at cedar.stanistreet@gmail.com, or visit https://cedarstanistreet.com/birding

Ecuador Birding Trip with Cedar Stanistreet

From the Andes to the Amazon, an off-the-beaten-path tour of Ecuador with Cedar Stanistreet

Jan 10-18, 2026

Experience the full range of elevational habitats as we bird our way down the east slope of the Andes from Quito to the Amazon. We’ll visit locally-owned farms, reserves and lodges, and learn about their history and habitat restoration efforts, while seeking out all the incredibly diverse birdlife in this small country.

For more info and to register, contact Cedar by email at cedar.stanistreet@gmail.com, or visit https://cedarstanistreet.com/birding

Spring Birding Season is Here!

Our 2025 line up of spring bird walks and field trips is now available. To see the list of planned events, please click here: Bird Walks

2024 Christmas Bird Count

The 2024 Brattleboro CBC was held on Saturday, December 14th. Thank you to everyone who joined the count and/or the compilation potluck. Please click the link below to see this year's results:

Christmas Bird Count

Birding on the Farm

Join us on January 25 at Lucky 13 Farm in Winchester, NH for a guided bird walk.

For more details and to register: Workshops

Help Birds - Choose Bird Friendly Coffee!

One way to support migratory songbirds is to buy Smithsonian Bird Friendly Certified Coffee. Bird Friendly farms are paid a premium in exchange for providing quality habitat by maintaining foliage cover and not using pesticides. Species that have been shown to use Central American, South American, and Caribbean coffee farms as habitat include scarlet tanager, wood thrush, rose-breasted grosbeak, eastern wood pewee, ovenbird, golden-winged warbler, magnolia warbler and many others.

The Brattleboro Food Coop is now stocking Dean’s Beans MIGRATION CELEBRATION, which carries USDA Organic, Fair Trade Federation, and Smithsonian Bird Friendly certification. It tastes really good, especially this time of year :)

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society

Above: Top left: A male common eider viewed from Granit Pier. Top Right: Birders scope the waters from Niles Pond. Bottom Left: Great Cormorants along Bass Rocks. Bottom Right: A male bufflehead

Below: Top left: birders appreciate a Harlequin Duck up close from Granite Pier. Top right: Black Scoters swimming below Halibut Point State Park. Bottom left: a lone Brant at Granite Pier. Bottom right: birding along Bass Rocks.

Above: Top left: A White-winged Scoter Top right: A great cormorant viewed close up. Bottom left: the sun begins to set behind Halibut Point. Bottom right: A male Harlequin Duck.

Below: Left: A pair of Long-tailed ducks at Parker River NWR. Right: A male red-breasted Merganser.

Dead Creek Field Trip

We recently completed a much-anticipated field trip to the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area in Addison County, Vermont. We had an unseasonably warm day with abundant sunshine. The great weather and a great turnout of eager birders made for a wonderful day of birding. Highlights included more than 2,000 snow geese seen taking off from the Goose Viewing Area on Route 17. The flock took a dramatic flight over the Adirondacks, drawing plenty of "oohs" and "ahs" from the crowd.

We spent a couple of hours chasing some unexpected rarities that were reported from the Crown Point Bridge - a Northern Gannett and a Razorbill. Neither bird is a common find inland. Some of the group had some success with the razorbill, viewed at a great distance from some expert birder's spotting scopes. At least one member of the party saw the Gannett in flight while we were driving over the bridge.

Other exciting finds included white-winged scoters, horned grebes, snow buntings and great views of several Northern Harriers. We finished the day of birding at Gage Road, where we were treated to a stunning sunset and beautiful views of a couple of Short-eared Owls.