VCE biologists are available for media interviews on topics that include global warming, mercury toxicity, conservation biology, wildlife watching, citizen science, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians, and other wildlife.
Reach us directly through our Staff page here on the website or contact us for general media inquiries or to arrange for interviews. Below are recent news releases from VCE. Publication-quality images are available on request from and from some of the news release pages below.
New e-Butterfly Mobile App Uses AI to Make Butterfly Observations Accessible to All
July 26, 2024An international team of biologists, software engineers, and computer scientists at e-Butterfly.org released a butterfly monitoring mobile app assisted by artificial intelligence that helps users identify butterflies and share their observations directly from smartphones while out in the field. Read the press release »
New study links tree mast events with red squirrel range expansion, spelling disaster for nesting songbirds
May 24, 2024A new study published in Diversity and Distributions, authored by Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) Dr. Michael Hallworth, along with other VCE staff and collaborators, looks more closely at how tree seeds, such as cones and American beech nuts, govern where red squirrels occur within the landscape. Read the press release »
The Fish Lead Free Project Encourages VT Anglers to Protect Loons and Wildlife
May 22, 2024The Fish Lead Free Project launched by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) in partnership with local lake associations and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department aims to help anglers adopt loon-friendly fishing practices more easily. VCE and partners have installed collection tubes at boat access areas at 24 bodies of water across the state for anglers to easily and safely discard lead sinkers plus unwanted monofilament lines and hooks. By getting lead out of people’s tackle boxes, loon biologists hope to reduce future loon and other wildlife mortalities. Read the press release »
Blunt Trauma is Determined as Cause of Death for Vermont’s Oldest Loon
July 24, 2023Last month, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) announced the death of Vermont’s oldest known loon, a 31-year-old male from Newark Pond. At the time, VCE Vermont Loon Conservation Project biologist Eric Hanson was awaiting results from an autopsy report, hoping it would shed some light on the loon’s cause of death and overall health. Hanson received the results last week, and they show the loon was in excellent health at the time of its death and displayed injuries consistent with blunt trauma. Read the press release »
New Report Uses Big Data to Establish Vermont Biodiversity Baseline
June 12, 2023By 2100, Vermont is estimated to experience a net loss of 386 species (or 6%), under the current carbon emission scenario. This comes among several key findings outlined in a new report from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE). Their report marks the 10th Anniversary of the Vermont Atlas of Life, an ambitious project that harnesses the power of community science and professional biologists to discover, document, and map Vermont’s biodiversity. Read the press release »
After Two Decades of Searching, Biologist Discovers Rare Butterfly in Vermont
June 02, 2023A rare and elusive butterfly has been discovered for the first time in Vermont, flying this spring at one of the state’s protected natural areas. Bog elfin, patterned in brown and rust, and no bigger than a penny, had eluded detection in the state until one flew past a Vermont field biologist who had been searching for it for two decades. Read the press release »
Vermonters Invited to Help Search for Butterflies
March 27, 2023Vermonters now have another excuse to get outside on sunny days: to join a statewide survey of the most angelic insects—butterflies. The Vermont Center for Ecostudies is recruiting volunteers to help search fields and fens, mountains and meadows, and even their own backyards to help document the status of Vermont’s butterflies. Read the press release »
This Spring, Feed the Bees—Don’t Buy Them
March 06, 2023Concern about struggling bee populations has spawned an industry of mail-order wild bee suppliers that often target landowners. Despite good intentions, importing live bees into Vermont poses a significant threat to native species and is not recommended without carefully considering the risks and benefits. Read the press release »
State of Vermont’s Wild Bees Report Assesses Conservation Status for First Time
November 15, 2022Over 350 wild bee species call Vermont home, but 55 of those species urgently need conservation action. A new report from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), in collaboration with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VFWD), provides the first comprehensive assessment of Vermont’s bees. Read the press release »
VCE Announces New Executive Director
May 26, 2022After a comprehensive, six-month search, Susan Hindinger has been appointed as incoming Executive Director of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE). Hindinger has served as VCE’s Associate Director since 2014, adding operational leadership and helping to guide the organization’s growth. She will officially assume her new role on October 1, 2022, succeeding retiring founder Chris Rimmer. Keep Reading »
VCE Offers Free Bumble Bee Guide
June 02, 2022This first of its kind Guide to Bumble Bees of New England is available to download and print. The easy-to-use guide and accompanying illustrated plate may just spark a new hobby. Read the press release »
VCE Executive Director Chris Rimmer Receives Partners in Flight Lifetime Achievement Award
March 14, 2022On March 10, 2022, Rimmer received the David N. Pashley Lifetime Achievement award from Partners in Flight (PIF) to recognize his outstanding career, particularly his work in the Greater Antilles studying Bicknell’s Thrush (BITH). He is only the eighth person to have received this award. Read the press release »
VCE Bids Farewell to Founding Executive Director
January 26, 2022The Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) formally announced today the upcoming retirement of their co-founder and Executive Director, Chris Rimmer. VCE’s leadership team is currently preparing for the transition, as Rimmer expects to officially step down from his position Oct. 1, 2022. Read the press release »
VCE Receives Grant for Place-based Teacher Training
October 04, 2021The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation recently awarded VCE a $4,882 Wellborn Ecology Fund grant to create a place-based teacher education program set to begin during the summer of 2022. VCE's Director of Conservation Science Ryan Rebozo will lead the week-long workshop designed to help Upper Valley educators incorporate more place-based ecology lessons into their coursework. Read the press release »
Vermont Bird Conservation Priorities Supported by Federal Report (joint press release)
June 29, 2021Audubon Vermont, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department today announced the results of a review of a recently released report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that identifies bird species of highest priority. Read the press release »
VCE Receives Major Funding to Support Loon Conservation
June 24, 2021The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently awarded VCE a major five-year grant to support the Vermont Loon Conservation Project. Read the press release »
VCE Seeks Volunteers to Look for Lady Beetles
May 25, 2021VCE's Vermont Atlas of Life team seeks volunteers from all over the state to help search for Vermont's missing Lady Beetles during the Vermont Lady Beetle BioBlitz June 5 - 12, 2021. Read the press release »
VCE Announces Recipients of 2020 Community Science Awards
December 16, 2020VCE is pleased to announce the 2020 recipients of two annual awards that honor volunteer community scientists for their commitment to conserving Vermont’s wildlife. Read the press release »
VCE Welcomes Two New Members to its Board of Directors
December 26, 2019The Vermont Center for Ecostudies is pleased to welcome two new trustees to the organization’s Board of Directors. Joining the Board are Celia Chen and Stephanie McCaull. Learn more... »
New Study Reveals Extreme Upland Sandpiper Migration Patterns
VCE's recent paper describes surprising new information about migratory patterns of Upland Sandpipers. Find out more... »
Poison in the Pools: VCE and Colleagues Document Mercury in Vernal Pool Amphibians
VCE has a long history of investigating mercury concentrations in wildlife—particularly in montane ecosystems and Caribbean birds. Now, our groundbreaking investigation of mercury levels in vernal pool foodwebs has been published in the journal Ecotoxicology. Read the release. »
Short-term Effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Puerto Rico's Forest Birds
June 21, 2019A new study by VCE and colleagues compares occupancy of birds in forested areas across Puerto Rico during a winter before (2015) and shortly after (2018) the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Get the press release. »
VCE biologists and colleagues earn U.S. Forest Service International Research Partnership Award
May 01, 2019A team of 20 researchers and conservationists, including VCE biologists Kent McFarland and Sara Zahendra, have been awarded the prestigious International Research Partnership Award from Wings Across the Americas, the migratory species program of the U.S. Forest Service. Read the release. »
Eric Hanson wins Green Mountain Power-Zetterstrom Environmental Award
April 23, 2019Eric Hanson, VCE’s loon biologist since 1998 and the guiding force behind recovery of Vermont’s formerly endangered common loon, was presented the 2019 Green Mountain Power (GMP) Zetterstrom Environmental Award on April 23rd. Read all about it »
VCE Biologists Discover Migratory Patterns of Two North American Grassland Bird Species
January 30, 2019A new study by VCE biologists sheds light on the annual movements of two grassland bird species and yields surprising results that may help transform the way we manage grassland bird populations, both across international borders and throughout their annual cycle. Read the release »
Move over Monarchs: VCE and colleagues reveal astonishing dragonfly migration
December 19, 2018A new study describes the full life cycle of a common dragonfly, including an astonishing multi-generational migration of over 600 km (373 miles) on average, with some individuals covering more than 2,500 km (1,553 miles). Read the release »
Study Reveals Striking Decline of Vermont’s Bumble Bees
December 12, 2018A new study examining 100 years of bumble bee records reveals that almost half of Vermont’s species, which are vital pollinators, have either vanished or are in serious decline. Read the release »
Three VCE Biologists Appointed as Adjunct Faculty at UVM
September 06, 2018We are pleased to announce that three VCE biologists have been appointed as adjunct faculty in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont. Read the release. »
VCE Study Predicts Prime Habitat for Bicknell's Thrush
June 06, 2018An estimated 90% of the global population of Bicknell's Thrush winters on Hispaniola, where the destruction of forested habitats has been severe and is ongoing. A new study led by VCE biologist Kent McFarland and published in The Condor: Ornithological Applications identifies key habitat for females in the remaining fragmented, wet montane forests of the Dominican Republic through the use of statistical modelling methods Read the blog »
Success: Crossing Boundaries for Conservation
May 25, 2018The Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) announced today finalization of the Strategic Conservation Plan for Sierra de Bahoruco National Park in the Dominican Republic. The plan, which VCE helped to both fund and facilitate, aims to halt illegal deforestation and implement collaborative management of the park’s unique forested habitats for the benefit of plants, wildlife, and humans alike. Read the release »
New VCE Study Reveals Population Health of Mountain Songbirds
October 03, 2017A 16-year study of mountain forest songbirds across New York and New England, including thrushes, warblers and other iconic species, has documented their population changes. Although species like Black-capped Chickadee and Swainson’s Thrush have thrived in the mountains during recent decades, some species that depend on the region’s evergreen forests of spruce and fir – notably Blackpoll Warbler – appear to have undergone substantial declines. The State of Mountain Birds, a new report by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), documents the health of bird populations using data from a unique citizen-science project called Mountain Birdwatch (MBW). Read the news release »
New Study Reveals Population Estimate and Abundance Map for Rare Bicknell’s Thrush in the U.S.
August 21, 2017New research by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) has revealed that Bicknell’s Thrush likely have one of the smallest population sizes – about 71,000 adult birds – of any migratory songbird within the contiguous U.S. and Canada. These findings were published in the research journal Ecosphere by lead authors Jason Hill and John Lloyd. Full news release and images available here. »
VCE Director of Science Named Elective Member of American Ornithological Society
August 17, 2017EAST LANSING, MI — Dr. John Lloyd, the director of science at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), and 58 others were named Elective Members of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) at the opening of their annual conference earlier this month. Each is selected by their peers for their significant contributions to ornithology and/or service to the society. Lloyd becomes the third scientist at VCE to be named an Elective Member of the AOS; Kent McFarland was named an Elective Member in 2007 and Chris Rimmer has been an Elective Member since 2002 and a Fellow of the AOS since 2012. New Elective Members are nominated each year by current Elective Members, Fellows, or by AOS’ nominations committee, and are confirmed through a vote of the current Elective Members and Fellows. Full news release and images available here. »
VCE Awarded Migratory Bird Conservation Act Grant for Work in the Dominican Republic
July 25, 2017The Vermont Center for Ecostudies announced today that it has received funding from a Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grant to complete a strategic conservation plan for Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, one of the largest and most biodiverse areas in the West Indies and a critical wintering site for Bicknell's Thrush. News release and images available here. »
Vermont Launches Public Online Atlas of Damselflies and Dragonflies
April 21, 2017Scientists in Vermont today launched an online atlas of damselflies and dragonflies, allowing anyone to report, track, study, discover or simply enjoy the charismatic insects. The Vermont Damselfly and Dragonfly Atlas presents vivid photos, real-time distribution maps and written profiles for 143 species found everywhere from backyard ponds to remote bogs and swamps. News release and images available here. »
New Study Reveals Decline in Vermont Forest Birds
April 15, 2017A 25-year study of Vermont’s forest birds, including woodpeckers, warblers and other iconic species, has documented a 14.2 percent overall population decline during the period, raising concerns about birds and forests alike. News release and images available here. »
A Tiny Songbird Makes a Daring Oceanic Flight
April 01, 2015In one of the most ambitious feats of migration on the planet, a songbird weighing half an ounce, the blackpoll warbler, has been tracked making a non-stop, trans-Atlantic flight lasting up to three days. Read the news release »
Butterflies Meet Big Data and Social Media
The Vermont Center for Ecostudies and a team of biologists from the U.S. and Canada today launched an ambitious online project allowing scientists and the public to report, store, organize and view vast amounts of data on butterfly distribution across North America. Read more »
Biologists Discover New Threats to a Rare Migratory Songbird
NORWICH, VT – A rare songbird that breeds in the U.S. and Canada faces profound threats from illegal farming on its wintering grounds in the Dominican Republic, according to scientists and conservationists who recently encountered farms in one of the country’s premier national parks. Read more »
Vermont Bumblebees in Peril
NORWICH, VT - More than one-quarter of Vermont's bumble bee species, which are vital crop pollinators, have either vanished or are in serious decline, according to a new investigation from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE). Read more »
How Falcons Die: New Mortality Study from VCE
The peregrine falcon’s return from near extinction to the skies of the eastern U.S. is one of the great wildlife conservation success stories of the past 50 years. But a new study from VCE illuminates, with occasional irony, how some of these swift birds of prey prematurely perish. Read more »
VCE Joins New Approach to Protecting Rare Songbird
NORWICH, VT – Launching a new effort to protect the rare Bicknell’s Thrush, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and other conservation groups are taking the unusual step of funding a team of Dominican biologists to work in the migratory songbird’s Caribbean wintering habitat. Learn more »
Protecting an American Icon
May 08, 2008The Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) is launching an ambitious international study to help protect one of America’s iconic songbirds, the Bobolink, by examining what some of them ate last winter about 6,000 miles away. Read the release. »
