![VCE's Wrap-up Mansfield Visit Fuels Optimism](https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/VCE_2019_Last-Visit-3092-280x200.jpg)
VCE’s Wrap-up Mansfield Visit Fuels Optimism
VCE’s wrap-up Mansfield banding session rekindled spirits and refueled optimism amidst recent sobering news about avian population declines. After a summer of relative scarcity on our ridgeline study site, we captured 82 birds. We now wish safe passage for the many migrants we all share and cherish.
![Mansfield Update: Avian Infiltrators from Northern Hardwoods](https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/VCE_8th_2019_Set-A-1790-280x200.jpg)
Mansfield Update: Avian Infiltrators from Northern Hardwoods
VCE’s final 2019 summer banding session on Mt. Mansfield was notable for the predominance of non-local birds and the absence of local breeders banded earlier in the season. Black-throated Blue Warblers stole the show.
![VCE's Mansfield Season Winding Down](https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/RoseLandon-Mansfield-Jul19-280x200.jpg)
VCE’s Mansfield Season Winding Down
Shorter days, a near absence of bird song, molting adults, and the appearance of post-breeding wanderers last week signaled seasonal changes underway on Mt. Mansfield, and the winding down of VCE’s 2019 banding season there.
![Mansfield Update: the Joys (and Pains) of Banding](https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Spencer_Playing-with-the-Hawk_getting-the-Claw1_CMG0821-280x200.jpg)
Mansfield Update: the Joys (and Pains) of Banding
VCE’s seventh banding session on Mansfield yielded our biggest total of the season (but still <50 birds), two very old Bicknell's Thrushes, and a female Sharp-shinned Hawk whose talons brought a grimace to Spencer Hardy's face.
![Mansfield Update: The Kids Are Coming](https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/VCE-MYWA-juv-0481-280x200.jpg)
Mansfield Update: The Kids Are Coming
Week 6 of VCE’s 2019 banding season on Mansfield brought a second consecutive bump in mist net captures, and the first appearance of locally-hatched juveniles. Human youngsters also highlighted the week.
![Mansfield Birds Rebound Modestly in Week 5](https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Ali_rain-guardian-0182-280x200.jpg)
Mansfield Birds Rebound Modestly in Week 5
Mist net captures on Mt. Mansfield rebounded modestly during week 5 of VCE’s 2019 banding season. While encouraging, overall numbers are still abnormally low. A scarcity of yearling birds suggests that recruitment has been low, possibly resulting from a poor 2018 breeding season.
![Mansfield One-month Update—Where Are All the Birds??](https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Bill_BITH-Release-4288-280x200.jpg)
Mansfield One-month Update—Where Are All the Birds??
One month in to VCE’s 28th field season on Mt. Mansfield, bird populations are as low as they’ve ever been. We’ve netted only 43% of the numbers we had at this date a year ago. What is going on??
![Avian Surprises on the Mt. Mansfield Ridgeline](https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Mourning-Warbler-02-280x200.jpg)
Avian Surprises on the Mt. Mansfield Ridgeline
VCE’s third visit of 2019 to the Mt. Mansfield ridgeline brought fine weather and some unusual avian encounters, including our first-ever mist net capture of a Mourning Warbler. Overall, activity continues to be low, with numbers of captures <50% of what they were a year ago, but it's far too early to push the proverbial panic button and declare "silent spring"!
![VCE's 28th Mansfield Season Begins on a Quiet, Chilly Note](https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/RCKI-in-hand-MSargent-Jun19-280x200.jpg)
VCE’s 28th Mansfield Season Begins on a Quiet, Chilly Note
VCE’s 28th field season studying the breeding birds on Mt. Mansfield ridgeline is off to a quiet and chilly start. Vocal activity has been subdued and mist net captures low, but inevitable avian surprises have kept banders’ spirits high.
![From Snowbanks to Cloud Forests: Chris Rimmer is Cuba Bound](https://vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CCR-Cuba-bound-thumbnail-280x200.jpg)
From Snowbanks to Cloud Forests: Chris Rimmer is Cuba Bound
VCE’s Chris Rimmer is bound for eastern Cuba. He’ll trade a foot-plus of new snow and subzero temperatures for humid cloud forests and Cuban Trogons.