Members Only! Early Access Day: Fall Foliage
Saturday, October 4th
9:00am
Join us an hour before we open to walk our trails to enjoy the fall foliage! Beat the crowds and bring your camera to take in the gorgeous colors in the morning light. First, check in at the Welcome Center with your membership card, then walk the trails and the Formal Garden. Please note, the house will not be open until 10 AM when we open to the public.
For more information, contact Christine at 802-367-7964 or send an email.
Fall Wagon Rides
Family Fun at Hildene Farm
Sundays, October 5th, 12th, and 19th
10:30am - 2:30pm
The Hildene farm staff will host autumn wagon ride tours of the dene. Stops along the route include the greenhouse, pastures, orchard, wetland/floating boardwalk, apiary, animal barn (including alpaca, Randall cattle, pigs, sheep, rabbits and chickens), and vegetable and flower gardens. Come meet our animals and learn about Hildene’s diverse natural and cultivated ecosystems and sustainable farming practices. The tractor—drawn wagon rides will be making a continuous loop of the dene between 10:30am and 2:30pm. You may get on and off at any stop, as room permits.
Free with admission. All parking is at the Welcome Center; participants may walk or take the tram to the dene. For more information, please contact Stephanie at 802-367-7960 or send an email.
Bird Walk: Ring-necked Duck
Saturday, October 11th
8:00am - 10:00am
Join local birders to gather long-term data on the presence of birds, their abundance, and changes in populations. Meet in the Welcome Center parking lot. Appropriate for birders of all skill levels, the walks run along uneven terrain on forest and meadow trails and around the main house. Free. No registration required. Questions? Contact Stephanie at (802) 367-7960 or click to email .
The Ring-necked Duck is one of those birds who seem to be misnamed. Its most distinctive field mark is a white ring around the BILL, but it gets its name from a chestnut collar on the black neck which is rarely noticeable in the field. The male is a dark-colored duck with white/gray sides and belly; the female is a uniform dark brown with a distinct narrow white eye ring and bill ring. These birds gather in large mixed flocks during fall migration and are common on VT lakes. They breed further north and winter in the southern U.S. and Mexico. With the diverse habitat at Hildene, the Ring-necked Duck is on Hildene’s ‘Life List’ of ‘seen’ birds.
Members-Only Walk
Dellwood Cemetery Stroll with Shawn Harrington
9 am, Friday, October 24
Park on Hildene Road next to Dellwood where we will meet Shawn Harrington and explore the interesting history of the cemetery. Shawn is always amazing with his historical knowledge of Manchester, Hildene, and the cemetery.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes, plan for some mud, bring water, and wear sunscreen/bug spray. No need to RSVP.
For more information, contact Christine at 802-367-7964 or send an email.
Bird Walk: Blue Herons
9:00 - 10:30 am, Saturday, November 15
Meet at the Welcome Center parking lot. Join local birders to gather long-term data on the presence of birds, their abundance, and changes in populations. Appropriate for birders of all skill levels, the walks run along uneven terrain on forest and meadow trails and around the main house. No registration required. Questions? Contact Stephanie at (802) 367-7960.
It might seem strange to profile the blue/gray Great Blue Heron in November, but these birds are hardy and will stay around as long as there is open water for feeding on fish, frogs, cray fish, small rodents, turtles — anything within reach of their long, spear-like bills and long necks. The long legs match the long bills enabling herons to stalk tall along the edges of the waters and strike their quarry with incredible accuracy and speed. Their long necks have a special vertebra to help with bending and flexibility that allows them to swallow large prey whole. Great Blue Herons seen in flight flap slowly, have trailing legs, and carry their heads in an S shape.
Bird Walk: Brown Creeper
9:00 - 10:30 am, Saturday, December 6
Meet at the Welcome Center parking lot. Join local birders to gather long-term data on the presence of birds, their abundance, and changes in populations. Appropriate for birders of all skill levels, the walks run along uneven terrain on forest and meadow trails and around the main house. No registration required. Questions? Contact Stephanie at (802) 367-7960.
Seeing a Brown Creeper is always special! This slim bird, with a brown speckled back and white front, probes for insects in crevices of a tree trunk with its slender, downcurved bill. It uses its long, spine-tipped tail as a balancing tool. Brown Creepers build their hammock-shaped nests behind peeling flakes of bark. Sometimes hearing their high pitched, thin call is the only indication that Brown Creepers are about. They live throughout the U.S. and are year-round residents in Vermont.
