Did you miss a webinar or lecture? We record many of them so you can watch them anytime.
Lunchtime Learning Webinar Series
VCE's Community Science Outreach Naturalist, Julia Pupko, hosts a Lunchtime Learning session each Wednesday! Over the course of the hour, Julia gives a short lesson on how to use an aspect of iNaturalist through the lens of a seasonally-relevant Vermont natural history topic. Each webinar is recorded and posted to VCE's Vimeo (see link below). To tune in, check out our events page. View recorded webinars »
Meadows Abloom: Fall Wildflowers and Their Pollinators
September 10, 2020In late summer and early fall meadows come alive with wildflowers and insects. From the graceful pink Joe Pye Weed that blooms in mid-August to New England Aster, one of the last spectacles of the year, there is so much to see and enjoy in the fields near your home—maybe even right in your own backyard. In this webinar Liz Thompson, Director of Conservation Science for the Vermont Land Trust, and Kent McFarland, Conservation Biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, take viewers on a tour of a meadow in Jericho, Vermont. They focus in on the aster family and many pollinator species. After their presentation, viewers asked questions for 45 minutes (!) — we’ve left that in the video. Watch the webinar »
Bumble Bee Natural History and Conservation in Vermont
July 29, 2020VCE conservation biologist Kent McFarland presents the natural history and conservation status of the bumble bee species known to Vermont, highlighting results of the Vermont Bumble Bee Atlas, in this introductory lecture for the Salisbury, VT Conservation Commission. (Length: 1h 21m) Watch it on VCE's Vimeo channel »
eButterfly Webinar
May 21, 2020Are you a butterfly enthusiast or someone who enjoys watching these stunning insects float around your yard? Then, it’s time to learn about eButterfly! eButterfly is a crowd-sourced, citizen science tool that allows you to make checklists of the butterflies you encounter, collecting valuable data in the process. Watch the recording »
Loon Behavior and Rescues
May 20, 2020Eric Hanson will present a webinar focused on the behavior of loons. Loons are unique in that we can watch these interactions during every daylight hour. I will go over results of 25 years of banding research in Wisconsin by Dr. Walter Piper detailing what is happening during loon territorial interactions, when and where chicks return to, and other stories. In addition, I’ll share some rescue stories, some successful, some not, but always interesting. Watch the recording »
Brown Bag Lady Beetle Discussion
May 15, 2020During this lunchtime chat, Kent and Emily will discuss the current state of Vermont’s lady beetle species and explain why we need citizen scientists to help us find them. They will also briefly demonstrate how to add lady beetle sightings to the Vermont Lady Beetle Atlas on iNaturalist. Watch the recording »
All About Spring Migration
May 13, 2020Spring is an exhilarating time for naturalists, and especially for birders as our forests, fields and waterways fill with the sounds and colors of migrants. Join VCE Executive Director Chris Rimmer for a spring migration discussion! This webinar will provide an overview of spring migration, focusing on the songbirds (thrushes, warblers, orioles, tanagers, and sparrows) that grace us in May. Some are here to nest, while others merely pass through en route to boreal habitats further north. Emphasis will be on the dazzling diversity of different species, their migration strategies, and how to learn their identification. Watch the recording »
Vernal Pools: Wicked Big Puddles or Critical Wildlife Habitat
May 06, 2020Join VCE’s Steve Faccio for a vernal pool discussion! This webinar will focus on the ecology of vernal pools with an emphasis on the wildlife (both amphibians and invertebrates) that depend upon them to complete their life cycles. We will explore the characteristics of vernal pools and learn why ecologists consider them to be “keystone ecosystems.” The webinar will also feature a demonstration of VCE’s new Vermont Vernal Pool Atlas, an online database and interactive mapping tool for vernal pools in Vermont. Due to an issue that arose with Google's recording feature, the audio for this recording starts abruptly. Watch the recording »
Backyard Birding with eBird
April 22, 2020Are you eagerly awaiting the return of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to your feeder? Listening for the loon calls to return to your local lake? Noticing the abundance of spring migrants arriving in your neighborhood? Birding close-to-home is a great way to engage with nature and provide valuable citizen science documentation through Vermont eBird, a project of the Vermont Atlas of Life. Join VCE data technician and avid birder Nathaniel Sharp for a walkthrough of Vermont eBird with a focus on backyard birding on Wednesday, April 22nd at 9am. Feel free to come with questions on eBird or birding in general! Watch the recording. »
Bee Conservation in Vermont
April 15, 2020Do you have questions about Vermont’s bee populations? Then join us for a bee discussion! First, watch Spencer Hardy's most recent talk on bee conservation in Vermont and keep track of your questions. Then, join Spencer Thursday (4/16) morning at 9am for a Q&A session to have your questions answered. Sip coffee, discuss bees, and learn more about these important pollinators! Watch the recording. »
Becoming a Citizen Scientist with iNaturalist
April 08, 2020Looking for an excuse to step outside and explore the nature found in your backyard? Then give iNaturalist a try! iNaturalist is a crowd-sourced identification tool powered by A.I. that helps you identify the plants, animals, and fungi that share your neighborhood. Tune in on Wednesday, April 8th at 9am to learn all about using iNaturalist. Watch the recording. »
