A Vermont forest losing the last of its foliage in early November © Kent McFarland

“Stick Season,” as we call this gray, leafless time in New England, is anything but lifeless. With November comes the rushed activity of wildlife either preparing for their winter stay or leaving Vermont for their winter location. There is a sense of fall finality as the last deciduous trees drop their leaves. November also hails some of Vermont's winter migrants, coming just in time to catch the first flakes.

Learn more in our Field Guide to November.

Taking Stock for Conservation

Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) © Kent McFarland

The gift of appreciated stocks or other securities can be a tax-wise way to support charitable organizations. Compared to donating cash or selling securities and contributing the after-tax proceeds, giving stock may allow you to increase your conservation impact as well as your tax deduction. 

If you’re considering a stock gift for 2023, your financial and tax advisors can help you determine if this is a good strategy for you. If you have questions about giving a gift of stock to VCE, give us a call. We're happy to help!

Often celebrated for its ethereal voice and its special place as Vermont’s state bird, the Hermit Thrush showcases a stunning palette of neutral tones when viewed up close. © Craig Hunt

Congratulations to Craig Hunt for winning the October 2023 Photo-observation of the Month for the Vermont Atlas of Life on iNaturalist! His head-on portrait of a handsome Hermit Thrush received the most faves of any iNaturalist observation in Vermont during the past month.

Unlike the other thrush species that migrate through or raise young in Vermont, the Hermit Thrush holds a special place in the state—not just as the State Bird but also as the only thrush in its genus that can be found here in the depths of winter. Thanks to the mountains of community science data that birders across the state provide through Vermont eBird, we can visualize with bar charts and graphs like this one when different species are most likely to be encountered. While most Hermit Thrushes head to more southern locales during the winter, a few hardy individuals stick around in slightly warmer or lower-elevation sites in Vermont. If you’re thinking of joining your local Christmas Bird Count this year, consider seeking out areas with some open water and late-season fruiting plants that could provide a safe haven for one of these tough thrushes. Until their flute-like songs ring through the forest once more, Vermont birders can keep an ear out for the distinctive “chup” calls of Hermit Thrushes in hopes of an up-close encounter like the one featured here.

New Research on Northern Waterthrushes Shows How Geolocator Data Can Be Used in Innovative Ways

By Michael T. Hallworth

Northern Waterthrush © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

VCE Data Scientist Michael T. Hallworth co-authored a paper published in the Journal of Field Ornithology last month. This exciting research centers on the Northern Waterthrush and offers new insights into their migratory routes. The work highlights how light-level geolocator data can be used in new, innovative ways to determine the sex of some individuals and estimate nesting phenology from birds captured on non-breeding grounds.

Making the Case for Adding New Pollinating Insects to Species of Greatest Conservation Need Lists

by Spencer Hardy and Kent McFarland

VCE Conservation Biologist Kent McFarland © Alex Johnson

A team of biologists from the Northeast, including VCE’s Spencer Hardy and Kent McFarland, released a paper making the case for including more pollinators as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in State Wildlife Action Plans. The SGCN lists are blueprints for conserving each state’s fish and wildlife and are scheduled to be updated in 2025. Using case studies from four northeastern states, the authors demonstrate that enough data now exist for many pollinators–including bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and flower flies–to be considered for inclusion on SGCN lists. Doing so will increase funding available for surveys, habitat protection and enhancement, and other conservation activities that will benefit this important guild. Read the preprint paper on BioRxiv.org. 

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.