Danby, VT– Smokey House Center is excited to announce its final birding walk of the season, set for Saturday, June 14 from 8:00AM – 10:00AM. Led by local birder and forester, Lee Allen, this walk will explore the diverse habitats of Smokey House Center’s 5,000 acre property. Participants will learn how to identify both local and migratory bird species, discuss habitat conservation, and gain insight into how Smokey House’s land management practices support biodiversity.
This event marks the end of a successful series of birding workshops, with three walks already held this spring. These workshops have ranged from beginner-friendly birding techniques to using bird apps and technology—helping participants integrate modern tools into their birding experience.
Lee Allen, who has led these walks, notes that “whatever the weather, Smokey House is always birdy. I expect that this Saturday will be no exception.”
So far during the walks this year, participants have spotted or heard over 60 species ranging from year round residents such as Black-capped Chickadees and American Goldfinches to long distance migrants including Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows now nesting in Smokey House Center’s grasslands. The landscape diversity of the area underlies its importance as a bird conservation area. Smokey House Center’s birding walks provide a unique opportunity to connect with nature and other local birders.
Those interested in the event on June 14 should meet at the Conference Barn at 426 Danby Mountain Rd at 8:00AM. Bring a pair of binoculars or borrow a pair from Smokey House.
This event is co-sponsored by the Rutland County Audubon Society and is open to all skill levels. Whether you are an experienced birder or just beginning, this is an excellent opportunity to engage with Vermont’s wildlife.
For more information about this event visit Smokey House’s website at www.smokeyhouse.org or by emailing danielle@smokeyhouse.org.
About Smokey House Center:
For the past fifty years, Smokey House Center has been successfully dedicated to its mission of maintaining a working landscape that promotes sustainable agricultural and forestry practices while engaging people in meaningful ways.
About Living Lab:
The Living Lab at Smokey House Center exists to conduct applied research and demonstration that focuses on better understanding the ecological, economic, and social impacts of farming and forestry. This work is approached through a collaborative lens that emphasizes the importance of long-term partnerships, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and bottom-up local capacity building. Research, education, and outreach efforts at the Living Lab aim to build ecological and economic resiliency into regional food and forest systems in a way that demonstrates global solutions while securing local community benefits. At the core of this approach is our dedication to continuing the legacy of hands-on learning and work opportunities for underserved youth that has been so central to Smokey House’s mission since its genesis.
