Why We Can’t Call the Bicknell’s Thrush Race Yet: A Peek Into How Migration Monitoring Works
We’ve decided to wait until the Pea Island data are uploaded and processed, which hopefully will be sometime in the next two weeks.
A Quick Trip to Birding Paradise
The D.R.’s biodiversity features hundreds of endemic species—ones you’ll find nowhere else on the planet—among them orchids, iguanas, frogs, ferns, and (happily for us) 33 extraordinary bird species.
Why Bicknell’s Thrush?
How one elusive bird inspired generations of biologists—and helped create Vermont Center for Ecostudies.
Field Guide to October 2025
Nature is putting on its final, colorful autumn show. Leaves are turning and falling, bees are buzzing around the asters, and mushrooms are putting out their final fruit. Don’t blink or you’ll miss it!
Field Guide to September 2025
As the weather begins to shift, we turn our attention to southward migration. From Green Darner Dragonflies to Bicknell’s Thrush, VCE scientists are uncovering the mysteries of migrating species and using this knowledge to help conservation efforts.
Field Report: How the Birds Are Doing on Mount Mansfield This Summer
Our Slate-Colored Junco capture numbers are half of what they were last year, although all of our other target species are visiting our nets at roughly the same or higher rates as 2024.
Field Guide to June 2025
With nice weather finally (finally?) upon us, many are turning their attention to outdoor adventure. While out exploring, may come across these early summer sights: montane birds at the trailhead or White Bog Orchids in a marsh or bog. Or wildlife may come to you, with a colony of house bats and their pups! This June’s guide gives you insight into their behaviors and life history.
2024 Updates from Mount Mansfield and Mount Washington
The summer of 2024 marked VCE’s 33rd season working atop Mount Mansfield, and its first summer season banding Bicknell’s Thrush on Mount Washington since 2011.
My Summer in Species: Illustrated
This summer, I worked with VCE as an interdisciplinary intern. By being able to dip my toes into a little bit of everything, I got to learn first-hand that there are so many ways to be a scientist, and so many wonderful subjects to study.
24th BirdsCaribbean International Conference: Conversations and Celebrations
Last month, two VCE scientists and our Executive Director Emeritus spent over a week in the Dominican Republic for the 24th BirdsCaribbean International conference. While there, they packed their schedules, sharing ideas with colleagues, listening to fascinating discussions, leading workshops, and—in Chris Rimmer’s case—giving a keynote and receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mount Mansfield 2024 Midseason Report
With six trips up to Mount Mansfield’s peak and five trips to Mount Washington under our belts, VCE’s banding team is well into our summer 2024 montane bird banding and monitoring efforts! Battling rain, wind, chill, and scorching heat has been the baseline for this summer, but although perfect weather has been elusive, the birds we seek have not.
The Next Generation of Mt. Mansfield Ridgeline Research at VCE
With all the buzz on bees and other pollinators lately, you may be wondering if VCE is still studying birds. Are we ever! Amongst the plethora of continuing and new research, our Bicknell’s Thrush research program is going strong and has expanded to explore additional questions and build on past discoveries.
