Learn Online with VCE
We’ll cover a variety of fascinating natural history topics presented by both VCE staff and conservation collaborators. Check back often, as we’ll be adding new webinars and other events throughout the year.
All webinars will be conducted through Zoom and are free for everyone. Please note that events will be recorded and made available afterward on VCE’s Multimedia Resources page for those who are unable to attend.
If you’d like to support this webinar series and VCE’s wildlife conservation work, please consider a contribution. Donate easily and securely online anytime!
Mission Identify Webinar
January 25, 2022Have you ever wondered how to identify amphibian egg masses, bumblebees, or other frequently spotted species? Are you eager to hone your ID skills and contribute to research using community science platforms like iNaturalist and eButterfly? We want to invite you to our first identification workshop of the year! This crash course will teach you everything you need to know about using the Identify feature on iNaturalist and eButterfly, as well as some useful tips for identifying commonly observed species. Our goal is for everyone who attends to walk away feeling more confident in their ability to contribute to crowd-sourced community science projects through identifying species. This event will take place on January 25 at 7 PM on Zoom. Please register here. »
Upper Valley Land Trust Lunch & Learn: Meadow Management for Ground Nesting Birds
January 20, 2022Do you own or manage grasslands, fields, or hay fields? Do you consider the life cycles of grassland birds when you decide when to manage your fields? Join UVLT and Vermont Center for Ecostudies Kevin Tolan to learn about the Bobolinks and other grassland birds that are in danger from a lack of suitable nesting habitat. Learn how you can adjust your field maintenance to support grassland birds. Click here to register »
Altitudinal and Latitudinal Movement in Montane Birds
January 11, 2022Climate change is causing mountains to warm twice as fast as the rest of the world, and mountaintops perhaps at five times the global rate. Not good! What does this mean for the plants and birds which call these regions home? They are already shifting poleward and to higher elevations. Models for the northeastern US predict that more than 50% of balsam fir forest will be lost due, taking the existing breeding-bird species with them by the end of this century. Let’s learn from Dr. Hill, as he digs into ten years of community science data gathered from more than 700 high-elevation sampling locations as part of the Mountain Birdwatch program. Dr. Hill will discuss the predicted rates of elevational and latitudinal shifts in northeastern US breeding-bird species, including Bicknell’s Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler, and White-throated Sparrow. Take action! Learn how this research can inform and spur on targeted, regional conservation and management measures. This event is run by The Linnaean Society of New York. This presentation is FREE and open to the public. Watch the recording. »
Mission Identify
January 01, 2022There is no better time to identify observations from other naturalists than when the weather outside is frightful and the nights are long and dark. Spending time identifying observations not only helps other naturalists learn--it also helps ensure that the Vermont Atlas of Life team has access to high-quality biodiversity data on iNaturalist and eButterfly! From January through February, join our mission and let’s see who can identify the most observations. Every ID helps! Maybe you can be a top 10 identifier! Of course, we all have to be careful and only identify those observations in which we can positively identify! But everyone can help no matter how much experience you have. Visit the VAL website to learn more. »
Lunchtime Learning Series
Wednesdays | 12:00 PM Join VCE's Community Science Outreach Naturalist Julia Pupko each week on Wednesday from 12 - 1 p.m. for Lunchtime Learning! Over the course of the hour, Julia will give a short lesson on how to use a feature of iNaturalist through the lens of a seasonally-relevant Vermont natural history topic, and will answer any questions you may have. Sign up for the series by clicking the registration link. You can also check out previous Lunchtime Learning webinars on VCE's Multimedia web page (https://vtecostudies.org/resource-center/multimedia). Click here to register. »
Suds & Science is Now Online
Hosted by VCE biologist Jason Hill, Suds & Science is definitely not a lecture–it’s a community discussion led by a scientist where you meet other fans of science, engage with an expert through compelling personal narratives, and gain an understanding of someone’s scientific research. So what can you expect in this virtual series–an online PowerPoint presentation? Absolutely not! Jason will interview the scientists about the intersection of their lives and their research. You’ll have the chance to pose questions when you register, and Jason will incorporate your questions into the conversation. You’ll also have the chance to comment and ask questions throughout the conversation–not just at the end. And since we’re meeting virtually, everyone will have to BYOB.
Interested? Of course you are, and it’s easy to participate. Simply click on the “Register Here!” link underneath the talk description in the schedule below. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. You do not need a Zoom account to participate. If you have any questions, just reach out to Jason via email.
Check out our 2022 Suds & Science schedule by visiting “News” >> “Suds & Science”
Interested in having a VCE conservation biologist speak at your event, or lead a field outing?
Please fill out our Speaker Request Form to start the process.
Example Presentations Available in 2021:
Presenter: Julia Pupko
Title: Lady Beetles of Vermont: Invasions, Extirpations, and Discoveries
Presentation Summary: Native lady beetles play an important role as biological pest control agents. However, native beetle populations have been in decline across North America due to a number of factors. Vermont’s lady beetles seem to be following continental trends of decline, but due to lack of modern data, we do not understand what native lady beetles remain in Vermont, how their populations are doing, or what conservation initiatives may need to be implemented. The Vermont Atlas of Life (VAL) team at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies created the Vermont Lady Beetle Atlas to find answers to some of these questions, and is calling on community naturalists to join us in our search. Listen in to learn more about Vermont’s incredible lady beetle species, what the Vermont Lady Beetle Atlas has found thus far, and how you can participate in this research using iNaturalist.
Presenter: Spencer Hardy
Title: Exploring Vermont’s Wild Bees: Natural History, Identification, and Conservation.
Presentation Summary: When most people think of bees, they imagine the famous Honey Bee (Apis melifera), yet that is just one of more than 300 species of bees found in the state. Since 2019, the Vermont Wild Bee Survey has been criss-crossing the state to document these important pollinators. We have found dozens of species not previously known from the state and are amassing a rich database that will be invaluable to conservation planners for years to come. Hear more about this project–including our most exciting findings, ideas on conserving vulnerable bees, and ways you can join our future monitoring efforts.
Presenter: Kevin Tolan
Title: Eastern Meadowlarks in Vermont: Ecology and Conservation of an Imperiled Grassland Bird
Presentation Summary: Eastern Meadowlarks in the Northeast are rapidly declining; based on the latest USGS Breeding Bird Survey results, they’re undergoing an estimated 8.7% annual decline in Vermont. With their recent designation of Threatened in New Hampshire, and imminent listing in Vermont, now is a golden opportunity for targeted survey efforts. The Vermont Center for Ecostudies is partnering up with New Hampshire Audubon to launch a bi-state “blitz” this spring to encourage birders and community scientists to target areas of grassland habitat with the goal of seeking out meadowlarks. Join VCE and our collaborators to learn about these imperiled songbirds and what you can do to help keep them on the Vermont landscape.
