Posts by Kent McFarland 
iNaturalist Vermont October Photo-observation Winner
The September winners, Susan and Dean Greenberg, chose a slate of amazing October photo-observations from iNaturalist Vermont, a project of the Vermont Atlas of Life, for popular vote. It was a…
Record Year for New Bird Species in Vermont
With birdwatchers combing Vermont for new birds for more than a century now, finding a new species in the state might seem like a folly. But observers discovered and carefully reported…
Outdoor Radio: Tracking the Northern Saw-whet Owl
One of the most common owls in forests across northern North America during the breeding season, Northern Saw-whet Owls are nocturnal and seldom seen. But you may hear them. Listen for…
Vermont eBird County Quest Heats Up
With less than two months to go, the 4th annual Vermont County eBird Quest is heating up. Western rivals Addison and Chittenden counties are knotted at 243 species each. And eastern…
The Natural and UnNatural Life of Loons
VCE loon biologist, Eric Hanson, recently spoke to a crowd at our monthly Suds & Science series at the Norwich Inn. Eric discussed the “natural and unnatural history” of the Common…
Take a Time Out for Turtles: Volunteers Needed for Nesting Beach Clean Up Day
The annual spiny softshell turtle beach cleanup day is on Saturday, October 21, and Vermont Fish & Wildlife is looking for volunteers to help. Participants are asked to arrive at…
August iNaturalist Vermont Photo-observation Winner
To celebrate our wonderful plants and your amazing iNaturalist Vermont photo-observations, Sue Elliot, July’s winner, chose six wonderful photo-observations from August. Voters chose the beautiful Cardinal Flowers captured by Joshua…
‘Green wave’ explains migratory bird routes
1.7 million crowd-sourced bird checklists from eBird used to construct a detailed picture of species occurrence for each week of the year to help explain bird migration patterns Migratory songbirds…
Field Report: Final 2014 Bird Banding on Mt. Mansfield
VCE wrapped up its 2014 mountain bird field season with an overnight visit to our Mt. Mansfield ridgeline study site on Tuesday. Arriving at the upper toll road parking lot…
Loons Post Record Year for Nesting Success, Bald Eagle Nesting Down
Vermont’s loon population had a record year for nesting success, producing 65 fledglings, or chicks that survived to leave the nest, on lakes and ponds throughout the state. Loons faced…
A Sad Centennial
A sad 100th anniversary tomorrow. On September 1, 1914, the last passenger pigeon in the world, Martha, died in the Cincinnati Zoo; her death cemented the extinction of the passenger…
After 90 Percent Decline, Federal Protection Sought for Monarch Butterfly
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Food Safety as co-lead petitioners joined by the Xerces Society and renowned monarch scientist Dr. Lincoln Brower filed a legal petition…
