About the Trail:

This trail is a highway-based trail (approximately 300 miles) which unifies and connects 88 birding sites along the Lake Champlain shoreline and uplands in Vermont and New York into a cohesive and marketable unit.

A high quality full color map and guide identifies birding sites throughout the Lake Champlain Basin and provides information about the sites and tips for better birding. Uniform way-finding signs are installed to identify each site as part of the birding trail. Interpretive signs will also be placed at sites to help reveal to visitors various natural and cultural history themes and messages. Other enhancements being constructed at some sites include boardwalks, viewing blinds, and platforms.

Goal of the Trail:

To make Lake Champlain and surrounding communities in New York and Vermont a premier national destination for birding, increasing nature tourism in the Lake Champlain Region, and conveying the value of conservation and recreation to community leaders and landowners. Whereby, attracting visitors who will spend money on birding and travel needs and tools.

Who is coordinating the Lake Champlain Birding Trail?

George D. Aiken RC&D Council, Inc, a non-profit formed a project steering committee made up of representatives from various state agencies, visitors bureaus, business owners, and other interested people. The Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau is administering funding.

The National Parks Service-Rivers Trails and Conservation Assistance program and Lake Champlain Byways program have been consulted for advice in the planning, and development of the Trail. Project coordination is by Ghostwriters Communications.

What bird species can be found along the Lake Champlain Birding Trail?

Many different bird species can be found throughout the Champlain Valley. During spring and fall migrations look for migrating waterfowl such as; Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, Common and Hooded Mergansers, Snow and Canada Geese and Northern Pintail. Some birds that summer in the far north call the Champlain Valley their winter home. Look for; Bohemian Waxwings, Snow Buntings, Common Redpolls, Snowy Owls and Rough-legged Hawks.

The Vermont Eagle Restoration Initiative will be releasing up to ten eagle chicks from a special hack box located at the Dead Creek WMA in Addison, VT.  Viewing opportunities will be available from the Route 17 viewing area.

Learn more about the project at http://www.cvps.com/eagles/

Sightings

March 1, 2009

This afternoon, we had a flock of Bohemian Waxwings in our Crabapple tree in Benson, VT.  At first, I thought the might be Cedar Waxwings... but, on close look, they are definitely Bohemian.  Gray breasts, rust tail, etc...  From what I understand from my internet searches, they are relatively rare this far east. 

Steve Arthur

Benson, VT

March 14, 2009

On small patch of open water at Champlain Bridge: 30-40 common goldeneyes, 10+/- common mergansers, 17 Canada geese, 1 immature bald eagle.

Have you seen anything interesting?  Submit sightings to info@lakechamplainbirding.org

1. Establish a network of themed travel.
2. Maximize the "Lake Champlain Experience" to attract new travelers and encourage existing travelers to stop and stay rather than just drive through.
3. Overcome jurisdictional boundaries for interpretation, marketing and resource protection by strengthening the role of the Lake as the unifying feature of the two-state, two-nation region.
4. Enhance the knowledge of visitors to birding sites about viewing ethics the site’s habitat(s) and species fund at the site.
5. Attract visitors who will spend money on lodging, food, guidebooks, tapes, local guide services, outdoor footwear and apparel, cameras, bicycle or canoe rentals and others.
6. Increase nature tourism in Lake Champlain Basin Communities of Vermont and New York and possibly Quebec.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN BIRDING TRAIL NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Do you enjoy this website's news and current sightings? Have you received the Trail map and guide and used it to navigate to birding sites? Do you find your way to great sites by seeing the birding trail identification signs?

These services and more may be coming to an end. You can help.

Send your contribution in any amount to:

Lake Champlain Birding Trail

PO Box 6004, Rutland, VT  05702

Anything you can do will make a difference!

The Lake Champlain Birding Trail
PO Box 6004

Rutland, VT 05702

(802) 747-7900

(802) 747-7989
info@lakechamplainbirding.org

© 2000 - 2009 The Lake Champlain Birding Trail
Special thanks to Ted Eubanks of Fermata Inc for use of
the Lake Champlain Sunrise at the top of these pages.

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