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 to show off amazing, lifelike bird carvings. These carvings help people learn how important birds are to our ecosystem. Today, the museum is surrounded by a 100-acre (0.40 km2) bird sanctuary. It displays over 495 very accurate woodcarvings. These were made by Bob Spear, a famous Vermont naturalist and master woodcarver.
Contents
The Museum's Story: How It Began
Who Started the Museum?
The Birds of Vermont Museum was founded by a man named Bob Spear. He loved birds and started carving them in the 1950s. Bob realized that people could learn a lot about birds by looking at his detailed carvings. They were even better than looking at stuffed birds!
Teaching with Carvings
In the 1960s, Bob began carving birds especially for school children. He used them to teach kids about different bird species. When Bob retired in 1979, he decided to create a large collection of carvings. His dream was to open a place where everyone could come to see them and learn about birds.
Opening Day and Growth
Eight years later, in 1987, Bob's dream came true! With help from his family, friends, and other supporters, the museum opened its doors. On opening day, there were 231 carvings of nesting birds on display.
Since then, the museum has grown a lot. It now has two floors and eight more exhibits. In the early 1990s, a special window was added for watching birds. They also added classrooms and a gift shop. Bob Spear passed away in 2014, but his amazing work lives on.
What Can You See? Amazing Bird Exhibits
The museum has many cool exhibits where you can see different kinds of birds.
- Wetland and Winter Scenes: Imagine seeing birds in their natural homes! There are exhibits showing birds in wetland areas and during winter.
- Birds of Prey: Get up close to powerful raptors like hawks and owls.
- Rare Birds: Learn about endangered and extinct bird species.
- Tropical Birds: Discover colorful birds from warmer climates.
- Lake Champlain Birds: See birds that live around Lake Champlain.
- Vermont's Nesting Birds: This is a huge display! It shows 260 types of birds that nest in Vermont. Each carving is placed in its natural habitats with accurate nests and eggs.
Fun Activities and Learning Programs
Besides looking at the amazing carvings, the Birds of Vermont Museum offers many ways to learn and have fun.
- Bird Walks: Join a guide and walk along the museum's nature trails to spot real birds.
- Carving Demonstrations: Watch how these incredible bird carvings are made.
- Lectures and Art Classes: Attend talks about birds or take a class to create your own art.
- Local Art: See artwork by talented artists from the area.
Helping with Research
The museum's varied natural areas are perfect for scientific research. Scientists and volunteers work on projects like:
- Counting different types of wildflowers.
- Studying breeding birds.
- Counting bird species (with the Green Mountain Audubon Center).
- An annual butterfly count.
- Keeping track of different mammals in the area.
Where to Find the Museum
The Birds of Vermont Museum is located on Sherman Hollow Road in Huntington, Vermont. It's about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Richmond village.
See also
- Wood carving
- National Audubon Society
- Vermont Institute of Natural Science
- Birdwatching
- American Birding Association
