The VCE Blog

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Color-banded birds at Union Village Dam

May 13, 2016  |  John Lloyd

Our newest citizen-science initiative has officially started! This summer, VCE is asking citizen scientists to observe (and report upon) color-banded populations of Song Sparrows and Gray Catbirds at two locations in Central Vermont. This week at Thetford’s Union Village Dam Recreation Area, we marked and released several Song Sparrows, and we are eagerly awaiting the first re-sightings of these birds.

Vermont Cliff Tops and Overlooks Closed to Protect Nesting Peregrine Falcons

May 10, 2016  |  Vermont Center for Ecostudies

Hiking Vermont’s hillsides is a great way to enjoy a spring day, but you should check to see if the area you’re planning to hike or climb is open. Several cliff areas are currently closed to protect nesting Peregrine Falcons.

Keep an Eye Out for Turtles

May 5, 2016  |  Kent McFarland

It’s springtime and Vermont’s turtles on are on the move. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is asking for the public’s help in keeping them safe and report your sightings.

A New Opportunity for Citizen Scientists: Resighting Color-banded Birds

May 3, 2016  |  Jason Hill (he/him)

Want to be a field ornithologist? Here’s your chance. We invite all citizen scientists, regardless of their ability or birding experience, to participate in this collaborative endeavor.

April 2016 iNaturalist Vermont Photo-observation of the Month

May 2, 2016  |  Kent McFarland

Congratulations to Erika Mitchell for winning the April 2016 iNaturalist Vermont photo-observation of the month contest.

A Field Guide to May 2016

May 2, 2016  |  Kent McFarland

The month of May is a show-off. Woodland wildflowers jump out of the ground and demand attention. Trees flower and leaves burst from long-dormant buds. Birds arrive on southern night winds and liven the dawn with a chorus of song. May shouts of life and rejuvenation.

Pacific Loon Spotted on Lake Dunmore

April 28, 2016  |  Eric Hanson

Pacific Loon sighted on Lake Dunmore this week by Mike Korkuc, our 2015 awardee of the Julie Nicholson Citizen Science Award.

Jason Hill, Brett Sandercock (Kansas State University), and Clay Graham prepare to relase an Upland Sandpiper wearing a solar-powered GPS tag at Konza Prairie, Kansas. © Jason Hill

Lifting the Curtain on Grassland Bird Migration

April 27, 2016  |  Jason Hill (he/him)

Grassland bird migration is a mystery that VCE is helping to unlock, thanks to the use of cutting edge technology. This summer VCE biologists, Roz Renfrew and Jason Hill, are…

Outdoor Radio: Amphibian Crossing Guards Help with Migration

April 25, 2016  |  Kent McFarland

Its an annual rite of spring for both amphibians and enthusiastic volunteers. Amphibians leave their underground winter home on rainy spring nights and migrate to nearby wetlands to reproduce. But along the way, they sometimes have to cross roads and if they’re lucky, crossing guards are there waiting to help.

Sandhill Cranes Make Surprise Visit to Windsor County

April 24, 2016  |  Chris Rimmer

The unexpected Earth Day sighting of 3 Sandhill Cranes at the Windsor Prison farm may reflect the species’ recent increase in New England, and the possibility that this stately species will be more regularly found in the Upper Valley and beyond.

Vermont Butterfly Big Year Takes Flight

April 21, 2016  |  Vermont Center for Ecostudies

With the help of an army of citizen scientists, we aim to record every species of butterfly in Vermont this year. It’s a blend of science, education, competition, enjoyment, and a quest to monitor the changing nature of the state. Join the Big Year!

Loon Pairs Arriving on Vermont Lakes

April 13, 2016  |  Kent McFarland

With the ice giving way to open waters on Vermont lakes in April, Common Loons are returning to their breeding homes.The Common Loon is one of our most iconic expressions of life in the north. And you can help us keep it that way.