ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (WCAX) - Grab some seed and binoculars — Vermont is expected to get lots of visitors this year of the feathered variety.

Snow isn’t the only thing in the forecast this winter.

“Vermont’s in for a little bit of a treat this winter,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s Jillian Kilborn.

The winter finch forecast is calling for an irruption year. That’s what wildlife experts call it when we see an unusual influx of birds. It’s happening because some forests to our north in Canada are reported to have a poor seed crop this year.

It’s the opposite in New England, where there was an above-average cone crop this year, offering up a full buffet for the feathered critters.

“We’re already seeing some of the species that have shown up,” Kilborn said.

The last time this happened was

See Full Page