Posts by Kent McFarland 
Muskrat Feeding Wins November Photo-Observation Contest
Stick season posed a challenge for photo of the month, but as always iNaturalist Vermont photographers came through. It was a close vote, but a crisp photograph of a Muskrat…
Snowy Owl Invasion: 2011 versus 2013
The last big Snowy Owl invasion was in 2011 (top map), but it was much more widespread than the one underway now (bottom map). Note how it is mostly focused…
Vote for the November Photo-observation of the Month
With October’s foliage extravaganza long over, the brown and gray month of November posed a challenge for photo of the month. As always iNaturalist Vermont photographers came through. They captured…
Vermont Atlas of Life Map of the Week: Rusty-patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis)
As recently as the 1990s the Rusty-patched Bumble Bee was a relatively common bee in Vermont. They were probably found in every town of Vermont. The Vermont Bumble Bee Survey,…
Vermont Atlas of Life Map of the Week: Rough-legged Hawk
Keen birders have spotted the annual arrival of Rough-legged Hawk, a buteo of the north that winters here in Vermont. They are most often found in the Champlain Valley where…
Vermont Atlas of Life Map of the Week: Paper Birches
With the leaves dropping fast, the intricate peeling bark of birch trees becomes more noticeable. Many people don’t realize that we have two types of paper birch in Vermont, Paper…
Vermont Atlas of Life Map of the Day: It’s What the Fox Says
Fox Sparrows are coming to a feeder near you! Check out the Vermont eBird data from contributors like you. Some are now showing up in the Champlain Valley and soon…
Vermont Atlas of Life Photo-observation of the Month
Our September guest photo-editor, Andrée Sanborn, selected some amazing photos from over 2,000 observations submitted to the Vermont Atlas of Life during September. The most popular photo-observation by vote was…
Abscission and Marcescence in the Woods
Across the hillsides many deciduous trees have lost their leaves, but some still sport a full golden-brown canopy shining brightly. Most of these are oak or beech trees. They have…
Help Us Map Red Oak Distribution Throughout Vermont
If you’ve driven interstate 91 through Vermont from the border of Massachusetts in the south to the international border in the north with an eye on the trees along the…
Vermont Atlas of Life New Partner: Merck Forest and Farmland Center
We’d like to welcome Merck Forest and Farmland Center (MFFC) as the newest partner with the Vermont Atlas of Life. MFFC is an education non-profit, which strives to teach, demonstrate,…
Help VCE Upgrade the Loon Nest-Warning Signs
Hearing the ghostly call of the loon coming through the evening mist is one of the quintessential experiences of being on Vermont’s lakes and ponds. A major reason we can…
