2016 TechGrant Awarded to VCE
From birds to butterflies, vernal pools to zebra mussels, VCE biologists harness the power of technology to help solve conservation issues. A 2016 TechGrant award from the TechFoundation will now enable us to do even more.
Visit a Winter Deeryard with Outdoor Radio
This month on Outdoor Radio we visit a winter deeryard. White-tailed Deer use these special woodlands to help them survive Vermont winters. Hike with us to a small deeryard and learn what makes deeryards and deer winter adaptations special.
New Online Database Will Guide Conservation of Vernal Pools
It’s hard to protect a wetland you can’t find. A new online database containing nearly 60,000 vernal pool locations in eight states and two Canadian provinces is now available to…
Vermont eBird Shatters Weekend Count Records
Vermont eBirders were a big part of the 19th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, shattering the records set just last year. During the 3-day event, birders found 88 species and contributed 1,128 checklists to Vermont eBird, a project of the Vermont Atlas of Life.
Salt Pans and Elfin Forests: a Birding Tour de Force on Puerto Rico
A 2 1/2 day birding trip in western Puerto Rico, under the auspices of the Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña (SOPI), yielded 80 species and 13 of the island’s 20 endemics. A memorable experience was enjoyed by all 20 participants!
Puerto Rico Scorecard: Endemics 17, Bicknell’s Thrush 7
VCE’s second winter of Bicknell’s Thrush surveys across Puerto Rico has so far confirmed 7 birds, all in high-elevation forests of Cordillera Central. While the island may not qualify as an epicenter of the species’ overwintering distribution, it is important and reassuring to know they are regular, if rare.
Habitat? It’s critical.
The Vermont House Committee on Fish, Wildlife, and Water Resources currently is considering updates to the state’s threatened and endangered species act. This past Thursday, VCE’s Director of Science offered testimony on the proposed changes.
January 2016 iNaturalist Vermont Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to Shawneevt for winning the January 2016 iNaturalist Vermont Photo-observation of the Month contest. The image of a Red Squirrel feeding on an old apple, was the most popular photo-observation as measured by clicked ‘favs’.
A Field Guide to February
Early this month wildlife and the rest of us here in New England crossed a threshold – arbitrary yet not insignificant: 10 hours of daylight. Even though we’ve got lots more winter, the light brings about change. Here’s your Field Guide to February.
Vermont Forest Bird Monitoring Program Reveals Decline in Aerial Insectivores
Aerial insectivores have seen better times. For the last decade or so, ornithologists have noted steady declines in this diverse group of birds that feed almost exclusively on flying insects. Now, an analysis of 25 years of data from Vermont confirms this alarming trend.
Walk with the Fisher on Outdoor Radio
Join Outdoor Radio as they use the new-fallen snow to find the tracks of a Fisher and see what it was doing. Along they way, they’ll dispel a few myths about Fisher and learn about some amazing natural history and adaptations. Listen to the show and learn more…
December 2015 iNaturalist Vermont Photo-observation of the Month
Congratulations to James Welch for winning the December 2015 iNaturalist Vermont photo-observation of the month contest.
