A Mountain Birdwatch Adventure on Styles Peak
Styles Peak is a little-known mountain that is dwarfed by its more popular neighbor, Peru Peak. Yet hiking this survey route was quite pleasant and awarded me with its own unique experiences that make it just as worthy.
VCE’s 26th Year on Mt. Mansfield Off to a Wet Start
VCE’s 26th consecutive field season on Mt. Mansfield has been so far hampered by wet weather, but neither the birds or our resolve to monitor them have been affected. Our second visit of the young season yielded many mist net captures of birds banded in previous years, underscoring the value of this long-term demographic study.
Birds’ Feathers Reveal Their Winter Diet
A study led by VCE biologists and published in The Condor: Ornithological Applications used a new approach for determining what Bobolinks, a declining grassland bird, eat after they head south for the winter—analyzing the carbon compounds in their plumage, which are determined by the types of plants the birds consume while growing their feathers during their winter molt. Learn more…
iNaturalist Vermont Records 150,000th Biodiversity Observation
With a tap on his smartphone and a click to submit to iNaturalist Vermont, Noel Dodge added the 150,000th record. Learn more…
The First Loon Chicks of the Year
This time of year is always exciting with the hatching of the first loon chicks. VCE volunteers have observed at least five chicks this past week, including these chicks from Lower Symes Pond. See more great images…
iNaturalist Vermont Countdown to 150,000 Observations
With less than 700 observations to go, which iNaturalist Vermont user will be the lucky one to add the 150,000th observation to the popular site? iNaturalist Vermont has grown leaps and…
VCE Teams Up with Lawson’s Finest on Bit o’ Balsam Beer
Join us at Mad River Glen on June 17 for a celebration to launch Bit o’ Balsam American IPA, LFL’s brand new beer featuring wild-crafted Balsam Fir tips harvested at high elevations in the Green Mountains with proceeds going to Bicknell’s Thrush conservation.
Give Nesting Loons Space
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the Vermont Center for Ecostudies is asking boaters and anglers to give loons a hand this summer by enjoying them from a safe distance. Learn more…
The Balancing Act: Supporting Nesting Birds in Hayfields
In the forest-dominated landscape of the Vermont and New Hampshire Upper Valley, opportunities abound to lend a hand to grassland birds. Landowners queried experts about how to provide habitat for birds while producing forage in hayfields.
VAL Updating the Checklist of Vermont Moths
The checklist of Vermont moths is being updated by the Vermont Atlas of Life. Thanks to the tireless efforts of both professional and amateur Lepidopterists, nearly 400 new moth species have been found in Vermont since 1995. There are likely many more awaiting discovery.
Loon Banded in 1998 Found Again
I noticed a loon near shore with some flashes of color behind it. It was banded with colorful leg bands for identification. Later at home, I learned that the bird was banded in 1998 and is over 20 years old! Read more…
Bicknell’s Thrush: a bird of the mountaintops…and beyond?
Bicknell’s Thrush is an icon of our high mountain forests. But is that the only place we can find them? Scientists from VCE will take a broader look for Bicknell’s Thrush this summer, looking in some unusual and perhaps unexpected places.
