Submit Your LoonCount Survey Today!
A rainy afternoon is the perfect time to submit your LoonCount survey (and all your fun loon stories) via LoonWeb while it's still fresh in your mind. Find out how at vtecostudies.org/howtoloon.
Uniting People and Science for Conservation
The Vermont Center for Ecostudies advances biodiversity conservation across the Americas through research, monitoring, and community engagement. We envision a society that sustains healthy ecosystems through science-based decision making.
Latest from the Blog
VCE’s Newest Project: Finding Out Where the Rusty Blackbirds Have Gone
Whether they veered around the net or caught on to our playback, it was a battle of wits to get Rusty Blackbirds to fall for the trap. It may have been easier to find their secretive nests than to capture the birds themselves!
Get Your Bed Sheet Ready! Moth Week Starts This Friday at Midnight
With a porch light, a draped bed sheet, and a phone, you too can explore Vermont’s astounding moth diversity, and help us develop a better understanding of the moths that call the Green Mountain State home.
Know Your 5: Bees That Pollinate Winter Squash
Insect-mediated pollination is crucial for squash fruiting. Squash blooms open for one day only, beginning pre-dawn and generally closing around noon, never to reopen. The more pollen deposited on the stigma, the better the fruit set. Here how to attract bees that can help.
Explore Our Impact
Scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals
34Years that VCE has led the charge to research, monitor, and conserve Bicknell's Thrush
55Vermont wild bee species targeted for urgent conservation in 9 “Important Bee Areas” identified by the Vermont Wild Bee Survey
147Territorial loon pairs recorded in Vermont by LoonWatch
900+Community scientists participating in VCE-led field studies
1 millionResearch-grade biodiversity records confirmed on iNaturalist Vermont
What We Do
With the help of hundreds of volunteers and partners, we lead monitoring and research projects focused on the status and ecology of birds, amphibians, insects, and other species. We then publish and share our findings with policymakers, land stewards, gardeners, and wildlife lovers so everyone can take science-backed action to protect biodiversity—from backyards to mountain peaks. Read about some of our current projects below.
Vermont Vernal Pool Monitoring and Atlas
Vernal pools are one of the Northeast’s most dramatic seasonal ecosystems, bursting with life as frogs and salamanders gather to breed. While vernal pools provide critical breeding habitat for charismatic species and serve as hidden powerhouses within forest ecosystems, they face an uncertain future in Vermont.
Learn more and join »
Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas
The Vermont Butterfly Atlas is a five-year survey that is completed every 20 years with the help of volunteer community scientists, who document the abundance and distribution of butterflies across Vermont.
Learn more and join »
Vermont Loon Conservation Project
Four decades ago, Vermont had only seven pairs of Common Loons left in the state. Now 115 nesting pairs call our lakes and ponds home, and the number continues to increase. This conservation triumph is the result of many organizations and people—including regular folks like you—working together.
Learn more and join »Events
Workshops, Webinars, Field Trips, and More
Attending an event with VCE staff members is a phenomenal way to expand your knowledge about our region’s natural wonders and get the latest research updates.
