Sun, May 05
|Highgate
Birding on Farms
Join us in birding on farms in the Franklin County Region! Learn how farmers are taking steps to improve habitat for wildlife on their land.
Time & Location
May 05, 2024, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Highgate, 3552 Gore Rd, Highgate Center, VT 05459, USA
About the event
Join Friends of Northern Lake Champlain in partnership with the Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District in our two-part Birding on Farms Outings!
Land management practices implemented on farm fields across Vermont have a wide range of impacts on birds, their habitat, and their food. The intersection between agriculture and birds is a complex one, however, farms can offer diverse habitats, food, shelter, and nesting sites when the land is managed with birds in mind. Not only do birds benefit from bird-friendly management, but humans reap the benefit of improved water quality from practices such as riparian buffers, native tree and shrub plantings, pollinator plantings, and much more.
Date: Sunday, May 5th
Limit of 20 participants. Birders of all experience levels are welcome!
Time: 9am-11am, starting from the parking area
Location: 3552 Gore Rd, Highgate Center, VT 05459
Led by Bridget Butler of FNLC, birding will take place on the Choiniere Family’s farm in Highgate Center, VT. Parking will be available in the barnyard behind the main barn. The property is mostly agricultural fields with some forest and riparian corridors. There is potential for a variety of species including the rare Upland Sandpiper.
Trail Information: The trails will be a mix of gravel farm road and grassed paths. Both trail types have sections of uneven surfacing, including areas of rutting and mud/soft ground. The gravel section does include a change in slope within the first quarter of a mile-downhill going out, uphill coming back. There will be minimal shade on most of the trails, so bringing sun protection and plenty of water is highly recommended. Tick protection measures are encouraged, as we will be close to tick habitat on some trail sections. There are no benches available along the farm road or grassed paths, so sitting pads or blankets are recommended.
Accessibility: No public restrooms are available. There are two gas stations in Highgate Center with restrooms. They’re both right at the turn on to Gore Rd coming from the south, roughly 10 minutes from the site of the outing. Cellular service in this part of Highgate can be spotty, and we will be close to the Canadian border, so data roaming is a possibility for some. Field guides will be available to assist with bird identification as well as extra binoculars.