Learn About Hawks and Eagles in Vermont
Family Vacation Fun at Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Jul 14, 2009
One of New England’s many unknown treasures is the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee, close to that other natural wonder, Quechee Gorge. The face of VINS is its Raptor Center. Injured birds, especially raptors such as eagles, hawks and owls, are brought here from around the U.S. for treatment prior to re-release into the wild. Those that cannot be released because of severe injuries are kept at VINS in large specially designed enclosures. There they provide up-close examples for educating the public about these large and little-understood birds.
Although mainly concerned with raptors, VINS also cares for other avians, including a set of baby birds displaced when a tree with their nest was cut by a logger.
See Bald Eagles Up Close
Most people have never seen a Bald Eagle up close, and even fewer have had the chance to see a Great Horned Owl, Broad Winged Hawk or American Kestrel. Here they can be seen in as close to their natural habitat as their guardians can make it.
Each enclosure is marked with a sign telling where the bird was found, its approximate age and the source and nature of the injury that brought them to Quechee. Two of the bald eagles (a male and a female) are missing their wing tips and are unable to fly, while a third (a male from Alaska) also has wing injuries and works here as a program bird.
Live Flying Birds of Prey
Program birds – that is, birds that work with their care-taker/instructors – are an integral part of the VINS mission. Bird shows allow visitors to see birds in flight, much closer than would be possible in nature. Instructors, meanwhile, teach adults and kids about the capacities and habits of a number of birds, showing how the shape of the wings of different birds varies and how those differences influence their flight and hunting patterns.
See and hear the differences between a Harris Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Red Tail Hawk and American Kestrel as they fly between keepers and overhead. Shows are presented every day at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. On Friday through Sunday there is an additional show at 1:30 pm.
Nature Trails, Picnics and More
In addition to the attraction of visiting live raptors, there is much more to the center. Its new location (it was formerly on a hillside in nearby Woodstock) has given it the acreage for an expansive Nature Trail system that meanders through a forest and along a backwater of the Ottaquechee River, and includes bird blinds for close examination of local birds. Another special section called Fledgling Corner has exhibits on other local species such as frogs, fish and turtles. The Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden adds beauty to the center, also showing visitors what plants they can add to attract these to their own yards.
While this place is fascinating for adults, it is a wonderland for kids. They encourage families to bring lunches and to use the picnic tables and tent, or to sit on the lawns and enjoy the fresh air. But be careful to avoid the marked off area where snapping turtles dug into an embankment and laid their eggs this spring. Watch for the crawl-out about September. The Institute also has a number of science and nature programs for school-age children throughout the year, all listed on their website.
Getting to VINS
VINS is located on Route 4 in Quechee, Vermont. From I-91 take exit 9 at Plainfield on Route 12 to Route 4, or from I-89 take exit 1 onto Route 4 to Quechee. The Nature Center is open daily May 1 through the end of October from 10am until 5 pm. Woodstock, just down the road a few miles has more outdoor adventure.
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