The VCE Blog

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Not Just Bees: How to Support All Types of Pollinators in Your Garden

April 20, 2026  |  Amber Jones

When you think of pollinators, what is the first thing you think of? What would you say if I told you that flies and beetles were also pollinators? How about wasps? Here’s how to help conserve even the least appreciated ones in your backyard.

Mysterious No More: What’s Pollinating the White Bog Orchid

April 6, 2026  |  Vermont Center for Ecostudies

North America is home to over 200 species of wild orchid, but for such a beloved group of plants, it’s remarkable how little we know about their insect relationships. Half of our orchids have no known pollinator. That’s where studies like mine—plus help from volunteers like you—can help fill the gap. 

Field Guide to April 2026

April 2, 2026  |  Vermont Center for Ecostudies

After the long winter, flowers, colors, and insects are finally emerging in the Northeast. Our April Field Guide will give you a crash course on the blooms, bees, butterflies, (and ticks!) of early spring.

Don’t Buy Those Baby Bees

March 31, 2026  |  Spencer Hardy

A few bees from the internet aren’t likely to help your garden. In fact, there is a chance that box of bees could harm the wild, native bees that already inhabit your neighborhood.

The Federal Government Is Funding Conservation Work…for Now

March 12, 2026  |  Emily Anderson

When it comes to nail-biting spectacles, federal budgeting rarely makes most folks’ top 10 list. However, the 2026 budgeting process caused a fair bit of drama and anxiety, especially for…

Field Guide to March 2026

March 2, 2026  |  Vermont Center for Ecostudies

Hibernation spans a broad physiological spectrum, from being completely conked out for 10 months underground to rousing occasionally to hunt or even breed in the deep snow of February. Here’s what, where, and how to find signs of life in this month’s most extreme conditions.

How to Find and Confirm Vernal Pools in Your Neighborhood

February 26, 2026  |  Kevin Tolan

A proposed rule change puts unconfirmed vernal pools in Vermont in peril. Reporting vernal pools to the Vermont Vernal Pool Atlas ensures that they’re afforded regulatory protection. And you probably have one right in your neighborhood!

How Your Winter Drinks Affect Our Wintering Songbirds

February 20, 2026  |  Michael Hallworth

The vast majority of our New England songbird species spend most of their year in the tropics, overwintering in places where coffee and cocoa are grown.

The Unique Impact of Solar Farms on Grassland Birds

February 11, 2026  |  Jason Hill (he/him)

Clear-eyed conversations about where solar development occurs, how impacts are mitigated, and what success looks like for wildlife are essential if we hope to meet our energy goals without losing species that are already in decline.

Field Guide to February 2026

February 3, 2026  |  Vermont Center for Ecostudies

Hibernation spans a broad physiological spectrum, from being completely conked out for 10 months underground to rousing occasionally to hunt or even breed in the deep snow of February. Here’s what, where, and how to find signs of life in this month’s most extreme conditions.

Got Caterpillars? New Research Finds They’re Essential for Eastern Bluebirds

January 23, 2026  |  Desiree Narango (she/her)

How important are insects to bird diets? Are some insects more important than others? These are questions I’m asked regularly—and for good reason. Much of my research focuses on studying…

Field Guide to January 2026

January 2, 2026  |  Vermont Center for Ecostudies

In the deep freeze of a New England January, bees are likely overwintering in your brush piles, birds are feeding on (slightly) fermented winter fruits, and you might spot a Fir Wave from your seat on the ski lift.