Q: Where are all my winter birds?
A: Flocks of wild winter birds, especially seedeaters such as American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, White-winged Crossbills, Red Crossbills, Common Redpolls, Pine Grosbeaks, and Evening Grosbeaks, tend to move to locations with abundant wild foods, such as conifer cones, ash and maple seeds, and weed seeds. Different bird species prefer different wild foods, yet plants produce varying amounts of seed from year to year. So, where favored wild seeds are abundant, those flocks will also discover and exploit local feeders. In some winters we may see flocks of goldfinches, in others we may see siskins or redpolls. The winter of 2003 brought Vermont lots of American Goldfinches and Purple Finches, but few Evening Grosbeaks and even fewer Common Redpolls.

Q: I have an injured bird and live in the Museum's local service region. What should I do?
A: Call Dr. Robert Hoppe, DVM, at the St. Johnsbury Animal Hospital, 802-748-5634. The hospital is located at 229 Portland Street in St. Johnsbury. Dr. Hoppe is equipped with a small animal surgical unit, has extensive bird treatment experience, and works with a person that rehabilitates birds preparing and releasing them back to the wild.

Q: I have an orphaned bird I found on the ground. What should I do?
A: Young birds, as they are developing their flight feathers, need to exercise their flight muscles by flapping their wings. Sometimes they "spill" out of the nest, and end up on a nearby branch or on the ground. These young birds are still being cared for by their parents, so they should be returned to the nest, if possible, or at least placed on a branch in proximity to the nest. And make every effort to keep your house cat indoors!

Q: Is it true that parent birds will abandon their young if the young are handled?
A: Birds (other than vultures) have a terrible sense of smell. It is NOT true that parent birds will abandon their young. You CAN pick them up and return them to their nest. But don't hang around the nest - parents will abandon the nest area if they feel threatened.

Q: From what kind of stone is the Fairbanks Museum building made?
A: The building is constructed of pink sandstone from quarries located in East Longmeadow, MA. Founder Franklin Fairbanks had it shipped from Massachusetts by railcars.

Q: Does the Museum have any extinct or endangered species?
A: The Museum has a pair of Carolina Parakeets, which became extinct in 1914, as well as two pairs of Passenger Pigeons, which also became extinct in 1914. The Museum also exhibits over 30 species of globally-endangered animals including the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Bengal Tiger, Gavial, and California Condor. Vermont endangered species on exhibit include the Canada Lynx, Common Loon, and Henslow's Sparrow, among quite a few others.

Q: How did the Museum acquire its large collection of animal specimens?
A: A majority of the Museum's animal specimens were collected in the late 19th century by either Franklin Fairbanks, the founder of the Museum, or by William Balch, who was the Museum's first taxidermist. It was common practice a century ago to "collect" specimens by shooting them, then preserving and mounting them in life-like positions. Today, our museum no longer "collects" specimens this way. We retain salvage and scientific collecting permits that allow us to receive road-kills and other specimens from sources such as Vermont Fish and Wildlife.

Q: How many hummingbirds are displayed at the Museum?
A: Franklin Fairbanks, the Museum's founder, had a great interest in birds, especially birds from other lands and hummingbirds. The hummingbird collection pre-dates the Museum's opening, and was a centerpiece of Franklin's personal bird collections in his Underclyffe mansion home. The Museum's collection is thought to be the largest collection of mounted hummingbirds in North America, with 131 species represented.