Birds of Vermont Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1987 |
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| Location | 900 Sherman Hollow Road Huntington, Vermont, United States |
| Type | Natural history |
The Birds of Vermont Museum (BOVM) is a special place in Huntington, Vermont, USA. It started in 1987. The museum's main goal is to teach people about birds and how important they are to nature. It does this by showing amazing, lifelike bird carvings. The museum is surrounded by a 100-acre bird sanctuary. You can see over 495 detailed woodcarvings made by Bob Spear, a talented Vermont naturalist and artist.
Contents
The Museum's Story
How the Birds of Vermont Museum Began
Bob Spear, who founded the Birds of Vermont Museum, started carving birds in the 1950s. He discovered that people could learn a lot about birds by looking at his carvings. They were often easier to study than real stuffed birds. In the 1960s, he began making carvings especially for school children.
After Bob retired in 1979, he focused on creating a large collection of bird carvings. He hoped to open a place where everyone could come to see them. Eight years later, in 1987, his dream came true. The museum opened with help from his family, friends, and other supporters. When it first opened, the museum had 231 carvings of nesting birds on one floor.
Growing the Collection and Programs
Since 1987, the museum has grown a lot. It now has two floors and eight more exhibits. In the early 1990s, a window for watching birds was added. New exhibits, classrooms, and a gift shop also opened on the first floor.
In 1998, Ingrid Rhind joined the museum staff. She later became the museum's curator, which means she takes care of the collections. Ingrid learned to carve birds from Bob Spear himself. By 2008, she had created six carvings for the wetland exhibit.
The museum also became a special place for birds. In 2004, it was named a Vermont Important Bird Area (IBA). This happened with the Green Mountain Audubon Center. A camera showing the bird feeders was added to the museum's website in 2005. In 2008, the museum joined Vermont eBird, a program for tracking bird sightings. Bob Spear, the museum's founder, passed away in 2014.
Explore the Exhibits
The museum has many exciting bird exhibits to explore. You can see a wetland diorama, which shows birds in a marshy area. There is also a winter diorama, showing birds in snowy scenes. An exhibit features raptors, like hawks and owls.
Other displays highlight endangered and extinct bird species. You can also learn about tropical birds. Two exhibits show birds found in the Lake Champlain Basin. The museum also has carvings of 260 of Vermont's nesting birds. These carvings show the birds in their natural habitats with accurate nests and eggs.
Fun Activities and Research
Programs for Visitors
Besides the amazing bird carvings, the Birds of Vermont Museum offers many activities. You can join bird walks on the museum's nature trails. There are also carving demonstrations where you can see how the birds are made. The museum hosts interesting lectures and art classes. It also displays artwork by local artists.
Researching Nature
The museum's varied habitat is perfect for research. Scientists and volunteers work on several projects here. They are creating a list of all the wildflowers. They also survey breeding birds and count bird species with the Green Mountain Audubon Center. An annual butterfly count takes place, and they are also making a list of all the mammals in the area.
Where to Find the Museum
The Birds of Vermont Museum is located on Sherman Hollow Road in Huntington, Vermont. It is about 6 miles south of Richmond village.
See also
- Wood carving
- National Audubon Society
- Vermont Institute of Natural Science
- Birdwatching
- American Birding Association
