The Best Way to Explore Vermont’s Natural Nooks
With the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas! Pick a natural area you’ve always wanted to explore, or find a place right nearby. Either way, while hunting for butterflies, you’ll find some incredible green corners you never would have seen otherwise.
Uniting People and Science for Conservation
The Vermont Center for Ecostudies advances wildlife 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
Field Guide to July 2026
July is abundant—gardens bloom and buzz with insects, loon calls echo across lakes, berries ripen in the mountains.
Know Your 5: Wild Bees That Pollinate Tomatillos and Other Ground Cherries
Ground cherries and tomatillos are in the genus Physalis, which also includes at least one native species in Vermont. With five Physalis associated native bees, this genus presents an opportunity to support several rare bees with a commercial crop.
They’re Alive! Banded Birds Flock to Mount Mansfield for Our 34th Season
For the last three years, this moment has defined the beginning of my summer. It’s our first evening on Mansfield, and the Bicknell’s Thrush are singing their evening chorus before settling in for the night as the sun sets on Lake Champlain.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
