Mount Ascutney in spring ©Kent McFarland |
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On Wednesday, March 20th, at 5:24 PM EST, spring arrives in the North. The spring equinox marks the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator – an imaginary line in the sky above Earth’s equator – from south to north. It is also at the spring equinox that people worldwide can see the sun rise exactly due east and set exactly due west. While the sun may be predictable, March weather is not. In fact, March is appropriately named for the Roman god of war, Mars. March is a month of battles between warm and cold, between winter’s refusal to leave and spring’s insistence on coming. So, here are some signs of spring to look out for in this Field Guide to March.
Click here to read the full field guide to March.
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VCE Takes a Winter Excursion to the Dominican Republic
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The montane broadleaf cloud forests of the Dominican Republic host a high number of wintering Bicknell's Thrush ©Susan Hindinger
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A small VCE field team is back from a mid-winter excursion to the Dominican Republic! The team was dispatched to find our iconic, unofficial mascot, the Bicknell’s Thrush, on its wintering grounds and learn more about its migratory habits. More than a few surprises awaited our crew in this tale spun by Executive Director Susan Hindinger and Staff Biologist Kevin Tolan. Susan recounts the first week of the trip here, and Kevin brings it home the second week here.
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Get Ready for Biothon: Wings Over Vermont! |
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A Mustard White butterfly ©Kent McFarland
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Save the Date for VCE's spring fundraiser, Biothon: Wings over Vermont! The marathon ID challenge will go from 5 p.m. May 24th to 5 p.m. May 25th (rain date May 25-26) as the VCE staff look for every winged creature they can find (birds, bats, and all winged insects such as butterflies, bees, and dragonflies). Stay tuned for more details! |
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VCE Begins Historic Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas |
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Female Monarch Butterfly nectaring in the morning sun as it prepares for a day of migration ©Kent McFarland |
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Butterfly distributions were largely a mystery in Vermont before hundreds of community scientists joined us for the first Vermont Butterfly Atlas (2002-2007), which heralded a new era for their conservation. Twenty years later, we are poised to do it all again! The second Vermont Butterfly Atlas will enable us to detect changes in distribution and abundance, which can help inform effective conservation strategies for both common species and those in trouble. Join us as we search fields and fens, mountains and meadows, and even backyards, to document the status of Vermont butterflies.
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VCE biologist Kevin Tolan working with Eastern Meadowlarks on a misty Vermont morning © Jason Hill |
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VCE biologist Kevin Tolan will be giving a presentation on amphibian migration, along with Pete Kirby-Miller from the North Branch Nature Center, on March 15th. Help us welcome spring into the North and learn about a fascinating group of animals as well as how to help them as they emerge from hibernation. Register for the online event here.
The next Suds and Science event will take place both in-person at the Norwich Inn and online on April 4th. The featured scientist this month is VCE Biologist Desiree Narango, who will be discussing "habitat highways" for migratory birds across a full annual cycle. Find out more about Suds and Science here, or register to attend online here.
Kevin will be giving another online talk on April 6th about the history of grasslands in Vermont and how changes in land cover have affected grassland birds. This event is hosted by the Vermont Land Trust and can be found here.
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Photo-observation of the Month
by Craig Hunt
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A stunning portrait of a Barred Owl dusted with snow. © Craig Hunt |
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There’s more than one kind of “snowy” owl in Vermont! Craig’s stunning image of a Barred Owl dusted with snow offers an intimate glimpse at the facial discs surrounding the eyes that funnel sound toward this owl’s highly-sensitive ears. Barred Owls are able to use their heightened auditory abilities to listen for the faint sounds of shrews, mice, and other small mammals, even when they’re under the snow. When the snowpack is soft enough, Barred Owls often secure a meal by plunging talons-first, wings-splayed into the snow, leaving behind an unmistakable imprint and story of a life lost and a meal gained. The Barred Owl is the most frequently encountered owl species in Vermont, and though they often appear quite comfortable around people, it is important to give them space as you would any wild animal. Thanks to a long telephoto lens, Craig’s photo allows us to appreciate the astonishing details of this owl while it snoozes and relaxes on a snowy February day.
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If you'd like to support VCE's research, monitoring, and community engagement programs, you can do so on our website. Your gifts truly make a difference in our conservation efforts. Thank you!
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The Vermont Center for Ecostudies promotes wildlife conservation across the Americas using the combined strength of scientific research and community engagement. Find us online at vtecostudies.org
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