A Field Guide to May 2016
The month of May is a show-off. Woodland wildflowers jump out of the ground and demand attention. Trees flower and leaves burst from long-dormant buds. Birds arrive on southern night winds and liven the dawn with a chorus of song. May shouts of life and rejuvenation.
Pacific Loon Spotted on Lake Dunmore
Pacific Loon sighted on Lake Dunmore this week by Mike Korkuc, our 2015 awardee of the Julie Nicholson Citizen Science Award.
Lifting the Curtain on Grassland Bird Migration
Grassland bird migration is a mystery that VCE is helping to unlock, thanks to the use of cutting edge technology….
Outdoor Radio: Amphibian Crossing Guards Help with Migration
Its an annual rite of spring for both amphibians and enthusiastic volunteers. Amphibians leave their underground winter home on rainy spring nights and migrate to nearby wetlands to reproduce. But along the way, they sometimes have to cross roads and if they’re lucky, crossing guards are there waiting to help.
Sandhill Cranes Make Surprise Visit to Windsor County
The unexpected Earth Day sighting of 3 Sandhill Cranes at the Windsor Prison farm may reflect the species’ recent increase in New England, and the possibility that this stately species will be more regularly found in the Upper Valley and beyond.
Vermont Butterfly Big Year Takes Flight
With the help of an army of citizen scientists, we aim to record every species of butterfly in Vermont this year. It’s a blend of science, education, competition, enjoyment, and a quest to monitor the changing nature of the state. Join the Big Year!
Loon Pairs Arriving on Vermont Lakes
With the ice giving way to open waters on Vermont lakes in April, Common Loons are returning to their breeding homes.The Common Loon is one of our most iconic expressions of life in the north. And you can help us keep it that way.
New eBook: The Birds of Hinsdale Setbacks and Bluffs, New Hampshire
Hector Galbraith, a venerable birder and ornithologist, examined a myriad of old documents dating to the early 1900s, as well as more recent and ongoing eBird datasets, to summarize avian occurrence, abundance and seasonality in his new ebook – The Birds of Hinsdale Setbacks and Bluffs, New Hampshire.
March Showers Bring April Flowers?
Wildflowers are blooming early with record warm temperatures this year. Learn how you can help monitor their phenology using iNaturalist Vermont.
March 2016 iNaturalist Vermont Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to Kyle Jones for winning the March 2016 iNaturalist Vermont photo-observation of the month contest.
A Field Guide to April 2016
April is the carnal month. The forest and wetlands return to life with cold desire. Here’s VCE’s Field Guide to April.
Increasing Nitrogen Loads Change Butterfly and Moth Communities
You may have known that excess nitrogen pollution detrimentally affects watershed health. New research shows that increased atmospheric nitrogen loads can also cause changes to plant, butterfly, and moth communities.
An Elm Tree Dating Service on Outdoor Radio
In this episode of Outdoor Radio, VCE biologists Sara Zahendra and Kent McFarland join scientists from the Nature Conservancy and local enthusiasts at the foot of a disease-resistant elm. Like an online elm dating site, they are matching resistant trees in hopes of restoring them to their former glory.
Painted Bunting Delights Vermont Bird Watchers
Bird watchers are flocking to Pittsfield, Vermont as news spreads of a male Painted Bunting visiting a feeder at a residence there. This represents the sixth state record for the species.
Record-breaking warmth continues in Vermont and around the globe
February 2016 continued the string of unusually warm months. Average global surface temperature ran a full 1.35 degrees above normal. In Vermont, the lack of a winter has meant little snow, tough times for ski areas, and some early bird arrivals.
February 2016 iNaturalist Vermont Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to Larry Clarfeld for winning the February 2016 iNaturalist Vermont photo-observation of the month contest.
2016 TechGrant Awarded to VCE
From birds to butterflies, vernal pools to zebra mussels, VCE biologists harness the power of technology to help solve conservation issues. A 2016 TechGrant award from the TechFoundation will now enable us to do even more.
Visit a Winter Deeryard with Outdoor Radio
This month on Outdoor Radio we visit a winter deeryard. White-tailed Deer use these special woodlands to help them survive Vermont winters. Hike with us to a small deeryard and learn what makes deeryards and deer winter adaptations special.
New Online Database Will Guide Conservation of Vernal Pools
It’s hard to protect a wetland you can’t find. A new online database containing nearly 60,000 vernal pool locations in…
Vermont eBird Shatters Weekend Count Records
Vermont eBirders were a big part of the 19th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, shattering the records set just last year. During the 3-day event, birders found 88 species and contributed 1,128 checklists to Vermont eBird, a project of the Vermont Atlas of Life.
Salt Pans and Elfin Forests: a Birding Tour de Force on Puerto Rico
A 2 1/2 day birding trip in western Puerto Rico, under the auspices of the Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña (SOPI), yielded 80 species and 13 of the island’s 20 endemics. A memorable experience was enjoyed by all 20 participants!
Puerto Rico Scorecard: Endemics 17, Bicknell’s Thrush 7
VCE’s second winter of Bicknell’s Thrush surveys across Puerto Rico has so far confirmed 7 birds, all in high-elevation forests of Cordillera Central. While the island may not qualify as an epicenter of the species’ overwintering distribution, it is important and reassuring to know they are regular, if rare.
Habitat? It’s critical.
The Vermont House Committee on Fish, Wildlife, and Water Resources currently is considering updates to the state’s threatened and endangered species act. This past Thursday, VCE’s Director of Science offered testimony on the proposed changes.
January 2016 iNaturalist Vermont Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to Shawneevt for winning the January 2016 iNaturalist Vermont Photo-observation of the Month contest. The image of a Red Squirrel feeding on an old apple, was the most popular photo-observation as measured by clicked ‘favs’.
A Field Guide to February
Early this month wildlife and the rest of us here in New England crossed a threshold – arbitrary yet not insignificant: 10 hours of daylight. Even though we’ve got lots more winter, the light brings about change. Here’s your Field Guide to February.
Vermont Forest Bird Monitoring Program Reveals Decline in Aerial Insectivores
Aerial insectivores have seen better times. For the last decade or so, ornithologists have noted steady declines in this diverse group of birds that feed almost exclusively on flying insects. Now, an analysis of 25 years of data from Vermont confirms this alarming trend.
Walk with the Fisher on Outdoor Radio
Join Outdoor Radio as they use the new-fallen snow to find the tracks of a Fisher and see what it was doing. Along they way, they’ll dispel a few myths about Fisher and learn about some amazing natural history and adaptations. Listen to the show and learn more…
December 2015 iNaturalist Vermont Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to James Welch for winning the December 2015 iNaturalist Vermont photo-observation of the month contest.
Champions Crowned for 5th Annual Vermont eBird County Quest
The 5th annual Vermont County eBird Quest pitted county versus county, birder against birder — all engaged in a friendly rivalry for top birding honors. Read the results of this remarkable effort.
On the conservation of tropical birds and the fruits of long-term research
VCE scientists began operating bird-banding stations in the cloud forests of the Dominican Republic 20 years ago. New research published yesterday reveals the value of long-term field work for conservation.
