December is the Start of Bird Feeding Season

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Winter bird feeding is a great way to observe and learn about our year-round bird residents such as black capped chickadees, nuthatches and blue jays.

This winter is also predicted to be a great year for seeing birds that visit Vermont in the winter, including evening and pine grosbeaks, and red polls. 

"Currently, limited food resources north of us will pull more birds south in search of cone seeds and berries," said Jillian Kilborn, Vermont Fish and Wildlife's bird project leader. 

Here are some basic bird feeding tips from Vermont Fish and Wildlife:

• Make your own feeding mixture to maximize the number of species visiting your yard.  Black oil sunflower seed is a favorite of many birds, but when mixed with "thistle" (or "nyjer") or cracked corn you will be sure to attract a wide variety of species.  Don't forget the suet to attract woodpeckers and even chickadees.
• Mix up the type of feeders you use.  Hopper feeders are great for large birds such as blue jays, while tube feeders are best for smaller birds.  Elevated tray feeders will attract birds that usually feed on the ground including juncos and larger bodied winter visitors such as evening grosbeaks.
• Place your feeders near natural habitat, or even add a habitat for birds to hide.  A Christmas tree is a great addition to a snowbank next to your feeder to provide quick cover. 
• Keep your feeders clean.  Only put out enough food for a day, and wash feeders every couple of weeks in a 10 percent bleach solution and let dry to prevent the spread of bacteria and disease.

If you decide to feed birds, remember:

• Feeding can expose birds to hazards they might otherwise avoid.  The risks of predation are higher close to people, especially from domestic cats -- the leading cause of bird deaths in North America.  Keep cats inside and take feeders down if predators become frequent visitors.  Also, we recommend placing feeders either within 3 feet of windows, or greater than 30 feet from windows.  This has been shown to minimize high speed window strikes.
• Don't feed birds when bears are active.  Most bears are in dens from December 1 to April 1, but some will delay hibernation or re-emerge to feed during periods of warmer weather. Remove bird feeders immediately if you see signs of bears or know a bear is active in your community.  Bears that learn to associate food with a house, even only once, will continue to return, potentially leading to property damage and dangerous encounters with people.  Also, it is illegal to feed bears in Vermont.
• Once you've started feeding the birds, keep your feeders stocked.  Although wild birds are not entirely dependent on bird feeders, they can become accustomed to this easy food source. If you wish to stop feeding during winter months, gradually taper off the amount of food you provide rather than stopping abruptly, giving the birds a chance to find other food sources. This is especially important when food is scarce in late winter or during periods of extreme weather. 
• Immediately remove feeders if there are reports of HPAI (Avian Influenza) or even a bacterial infection outbreak.  Concentrating birds at a feeder only contributes to the spread of diseases.  If you find a dead bird visit the Avian Influenza Wildlife Health Bulletin on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website for more information on when to report, and what to do.
• Report your observations!  While watching your bird feeders, you can participate in one or more bird monitoring projects by looking up the Great Backyard Bird Count and Project Feeder Watch and eBird -- all collect important information for understanding bird populations.

As winter sets in, find a comfortable spot inside where you can watch the birds visiting your feeders.  Figure out what birds they are, observe how they interact with each other, and see what they prefer to eat.  It's an easy way to learn more about the lives of the birds around you.

"With the extra visitors we anticipate in Vermont coming from the north this winter, you have a chance of seeing see some new, colorful surprises," said Kilborn.

Pittsfield Celebrates Arbor Day at Taconic

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:10PM / Saturday, May 02, 2026

Mayor Peter Marchetti presented the framed original cover art for the day's program. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Generations of Taconic students will pass the tree planted on Arbor Day 2026 as they enter school. 

Pittsfield's decades-long annual celebration was held at a city school for the first time. Different vocational trades at Taconic High School worked together to plant the Amelanchier, or flowering serviceberry, mark it with a plaque, record the ceremony, create artwork for the program's cover, and feed guests. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath said the students' participation reflects the spirit of Arbor Day perfectly: learning by doing, serving the community, and helping Pittsfield grow greener for generations to come.

"It's not unknown that trees help shade our homes, help clean our air and water, they support wildlife, and make our neighborhoods and public spaces more beautiful and resilient," he said. 

"And Arbor Day is our chance annually to honor that gift and to remember that when we plant something today, we are investing in the future of our green world."

The holiday was established 154 years ago by J. Sterling Morton and was first observed in Nebraska with the planting of more than a million trees.

CTE environmental science and technology teacher Morgan Lindemayer-Finck detailed the many skilled students who worked on the event: the sign commemorating this Arbor Day was made by the carpentry and advanced manufacturing program, specifically students Ronan MacDonald and Patrick Winn; the multimedia production program recorded the event, and the culinary department provided refreshments. 

The program's cover art was created by students Brigitte Quintana-Tenorio and Austin Sayers. The framed original was presented to Mayor Peter Marchetti.