OLLI AT UVM PRESENTS

The Four Brothers Islands support the largest nesting colony of herons, egrets, terns, gulls, and cormorants in Lake Champlain. On this special trip, we will board the new UVM Research Vessel, the Marcelle Melosira and motor from Burlington to the nesting islands to observe the action at the colony. We will explore the nesting colonies from the research vessel and discuss the nesting ecology of each species, their population trends, and some of the management challenges facing the islands.

Suggested Reading: The All About Birds Website has great information about the species that we will see on the trip. Check out both the identification page as well as the life history page for each species:

• Caspian Tern
• Great Blue Heron
• Great Egret
• Black-crowned Night-Heron
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Ring-billed Gull

Suggested Materials: Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars as only a limited number will be available for use.