WEST BRATTLEBORO-Spring in Vermont means one thing: mud season! It's also a perfect time to discover how to meaningfully contribute to science and conservation in the community.
All are invited to join Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center for their Mud Season Speaker Series at Brooks Memorial Library, featuring experts and enthusiasts who will share stories, tips, and inspiration for getting involved in community science. Explore how fellow community members are making a difference by observing wildlife, eradicating invasive plants, and assisting in BEEC's annual Salamander Crossing initiative and Beaver Brigade action team.
"Whether you're a seasoned naturalist or a curious beginner, you'll leave inspired and equipped to make a meaningful impact," organizers said in a news release. "This event is a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and find meaningful ways to engage with the natural world and with BEEC, our community's nature sanctuary."
On Monday, March 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., herpetologist Jim Andrews will give a talk on vernal pool reptiles and amphibians and how to help document them. He will introduce Vermont's unique amphibians and reptiles, highlighting rare and common species that need documentation and explaining how citizen observations help scientists track and protect these species.
An online webinar on Tuesday, March 25, at 7 p.m. features award-winning environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb, whose talk "Paved Paradise: The Ecological Impacts of America's Road System," will discuss how roads affect wildlife migration, biodiversity, and ecosystems and what conservationists are doing to mitigate the damage. Goldfarb is the author of Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping The Future of Our Planet, named one of the notable books of 2023 by The New York Times, and Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, winner of the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.
On Tuesday, April 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., renowned ornithologist and illustrator David Allen Sibley will give a talk entitled "Birding for Science: Uncovering the Mysteries of Our Feathered Neighbors." Sibley will reveal how birdwatchers can contribute to scientific discoveries and conservation efforts.
Registration for these talks is preferred but not required; walk-ins are welcome. Join BEEC in discovering how to become a community scientist and make a real impact on conservation efforts in Vermont. For more information, visit beec.org or call 802-257-5785.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.