Where are the Whip-poor-wills? 2018 Field Season Update
For more than a decade, VCE has led a project that takes place while most folks are fast asleep. Learn about our 2018 Whip-poor-will Project survey results, and find out how you can get involved!
Vernal Pools Through the Year
Picture a vernal pool in your mind’s eye and you’re instantly swept away to springtime. But here at VCE, our vernal pool research spans all seasons. Alex Wells, our VPMon Coordinator, provides this latest update on off-season vernal pool monitoring activities.
A Field Guide to December 2018
Fear not, during these short days and long nights of December, there’s still plenty of life in the fading light. So here’s some wintry natural history to keep you going.
Join the 119th Annual Christmas Bird Count in Vermont
The 119th Christmas Bird Count will take place from December 14 through January 5. This is perhaps the longest running citizen science project in Vermont. Find a count near you this season!
In Haiti, Mass Extinction Underway as Deforestation Nearly Complete
A recent study reveals an unprecedented biodiversity crisis in Haiti. At current rates of deforestation in this overpopulated country, all of its original primary forests—and the majority of species that inhabit them—will vanish within 20 years.
October 2018 Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to Joanne Russo for winning the October 2018 Vermont Atlas of Life iNaturalist photo-observation of the month, a beautiful Eastern Milksnake.
Field Guide to November 2018
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.
Outdoor Radio: Taking Pictures of Roadkill Can Help Protect Wildlife
There’s a story behind roadkill and people like you can help tell it. Thousands of accidents every year are caused by collisions with wildlife. How can we manage roadways so…
Give Your 2018 Philanthropy the Vermont Habitat Stamp of Approval
Have you purchased your 2018 Vermont Habitat Stamp yet? The Stamp is a great way to support wildlife and public land conservation (and it’s a cool bumper sticker, too!).
Loon Chicks on Caspian Lake: Flying, Feeding, and Finding A Friend
As the coordinator of the Vermont Loon Conservation Project, VCE’s Eric Hanson receives a good number and variety of stories from volunteer loon watchers. This month he shares VLCP volunteer Nina Sharp’s observations of loon chicks on Caspian Lake. It’s a good read!
Fox Sparrows: A Boreal Bird on the Move
Fox Sparrows are well known as an early spring and late fall migrant through New England. Recently, though, they have been present in relatively large numbers during the summer in western Maine and northern New Hampshire. An analysis of historical data suggests that the breeding range of Fox Sparrows has expanded southward by several hundred miles over the past 3 decades, and that they are now a regular breeding species in parts of New England.
Field Guide to October 2018
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.
