When Porcupines Dance
This past winter, Steve Faccio employed game cams to video-record activity at two different porcupine dens to see how frequently, if at all, fishers (and other predators) visited the dens. Read on to find out what he learned and watch the action unfold!
Mammal Big Year: Winter Update
Mammals are on the move, and Pete Kerby-Miller is tracking them. Find out what they found in this Mammal Big Year Winter Update!
A Giant Leap Northward for a Butterfly
Our study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution this week shows an unusually rapid northward range shift by the Eastern Giant Swallowtail.
Field Guide to March 2021
In early March, snowbanks and frosty mornings remind us it’s still winter–but by month’s end longer days and warmer winds prevail. On March 20, the vernal equinox marks the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Here are some signs of spring to look for in the natural world to tide you over until warmer weather truly arrives.
February 2021 Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to Susan Elliott for winning the February 2021 Photo-observation of the Month for the Vermont Atlas of Life on…
Loon Rescue in January on Maidstone Lake
On January 28, Eric Hanson received an email about a loon in distress on snow- and ice-covered Maidstone Lake in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Read on for details about this loon rescue, written by VCE volunteers.
January 2021 Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to Bryan Pfeiffer for winning the January 2021 Photo-observation of the Month for the Vermont Atlas of Life…
Field Guide to February 2021
Even though there’s lots more winter ahead, February heralds hints of spring around the corner. From Star-nosed Moles to returning Red-winged Blackbirds, this month’s field guide to wildlife around you is sure to keep your spirits high, no matter what that sleepy woodchuck predicted.
A (Mammal) Big Year
Pete Kerby-Miller, VCE’s Mountain Ecology Technician, is attempting to photograph every mammal species known to Vermont in 2021. The gauntlet has been thrown down!
2020: an Unforgettable Year for Birding in Norwich
Birders in Norwich pulled out all the stops during 2020, documenting 190 species in a year that is unlikely to ever be rivaled. Yet, the 2021 challenge flag is down with a call for 195 species, 2,500 eBird checklists, and at least 5 new species. Join the Norwich 2021 Bird Quest!
Vermont Birders Rally During 10th Annual eBird County Quest
From the first day of 2020 when eBirders reported an incredible 81 bird species, to the discovery of a Crested Caracara in Woodstock, Vermont birders scoured fields and fens, mountains and meadows, lakes and lawns to find as many bird species as possible during the 10th annual Vermont eBird County Quest. In the process, they also collected invaluable data for science and conservation.
Naturalists Help the Vermont Atlas of Life on iNaturalist Build Biodiversity Big Data in 2020
From the first observation of 2020, a Gray Fox still celebrating the New Year at 4:30 AM, to Great Mullein leaves poking out of the snow shared at twilight on the last day of the year, naturalists added nearly 175,000 biodiversity records to our rapidly growing database of life in Vermont. Read on for highlights from an amazing year!
December 2020 Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to Daron Tansley for winning the December 2020 Photo-observation of the Month for the Vermont Atlas of Life on…
Embracing the Community: It’s time to take the “citizen” out of citizen science
VCE takes another step toward our commitment to making our organization more inclusive and welcoming.
Field Guide to January 2021
Although the days are slowly growing longer, life in the Northeast now finds itself in the coldest depths of winter. January is about survival. Wildlife that doesn’t migrate adapts instead in order to make it to spring. Here’s a few tidbits of natural history happening outdoors this month around you.
Craig Provost: A Birding Quest for the Ages
In June 2020, lifelong birder Craig Provost achieved an extraordinary milestone that precious few Vermont birders will ever realize, becoming just the second person in history to document 150 species in all of Vermont’s 14 counties, each within a single calendar year!
Big Biodiversity Data Now at Your Fingertips
The Vermont Center for Ecostudies launched an ambitious online project that allows anyone to explore vast amounts of data on…
Gifts for the Conservation-minded People on Your Gift-giving List
The holidays are stressful enough without the added burden of having to think outside the box (and quickly) to make sure you have something for everyone. We at VCE would like to help you out this season by providing some creative, conservation-themed solutions to your gift-giving dilemmas!
Unwavering Commitment to Mountain Birds: Jason Crooks Receives VCE’s Inaugural Community Scientist of the Year Award
Although MBW participation fell to its lowest level since we started keeping track in 2001, one observer still managed to safely and compliantly survey three routes.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Nature: JoAnne Russo Receives VCE’s 2020 Julie Nicholson Community Science Award
Joanne Russo’s contributions to better understanding the conservation status of Vermont’s wildlife (especially moths) have been extraordinary–and for this, the staff and board of VCE are proud to present JoAnne with the 2020 Julie Nicholson Community Scientist Award.
Vermont Winter Finch Report 2020
Way back in August, there were murmurings in the birding world of increased numbers of Purple Finches and Red-breasted Nuthatches in northern North America, with some trickling farther south than their usual late-summer range.
Host a Motus Tower On Your Property and Help Track Tagged Wildlife
If you own property in Vermont or New Hampshire, you have an incredible opportunity this winter to benefit wildlife populations and make a real contribution to conservation science by hosting a Motus tower.
Field Guide to December 2020
December is off to a gentle start this year; the annual blanket of snow and ice has yet to drape across the land. Cozy up with our Field Guide and a warm cup of tea to learn how species from birds to bats and mice to moose face the coming cold-weather challenges.
November 2020 Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to Joshua Lincoln for winning the November 2020 Photo-observation of the Month for the Vermont Atlas of Life on…
October 2020 Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulation to Pete Kerby-Miller for winning the October 2020 Photo-observation of the Month for the Vermont Atlas of Life on…
Outdoor Radio: Hunting for Invasive Jumping Worms
Jumping worms, AKA crazy worms, jumpers or snake worms, are invasive earthworms recently found in Vermont and threaten forest health. Join Outdoor Radio as they search the forest floor looking for invasive species of worms.
Field Guide to November 2020
As leaves continue to fall and the first flakes begin to fly, the oncoming cold weather seems to bring nature to a standstill. On the contrary, there remains a lot to be discovered in Vermont during this transitional period. Learn more in our Field Guide to November.
A Misplaced Avian Visitor from the West
Most birders (present company definitely included) are shameless thrill-seekers; nothing electrifies us like the unexpected appearance of a rarity. To…
Field Guide to October 2020
October is a month of change. The forested hills fade from green to a kaleidoscope of red and gold that dazzles the eyes. Here’s your field guide to some moments that you might not otherwise notice during these few precious weeks.
September 2020 Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to Tom Norton for winning the September 2020 Photo-observation of the Month for the Vermont Atlas of Life on iNaturalist.
