The Vermont Center for Ecostudies advances the conservation of wildlife through research, monitoring and citizen engagement.

2008 was a banner year for VCE in every way. Not only did we maintain our core wildlife projects and diversify our ambitious research agenda, but we kept our citizens scientists engaged, solidified partnerships with scores of professional colleagues, and offered hands-on field training to young conservationists

from Vermont to Hispaniola. Importantly, we ended our fiscal year in the black and are poised to weather the current economic storm in solid shape. As you will see in this report, contributions from hundreds of individuals like you constitute

our financial lifeblood. VCE will continue to need your help as we expand our conservation efforts in Vermont,

the Northeast and beyond.

We sincerely thank all our supporters.

VCE Staff

Chris Rimmer

Steve Faccio

Eric Hanson

Julie Hart

Melissa MacKenzie

Kent McFarland

Jessica Miller

Rosalind Renfrew

VCE Board

David Key

Jeff Marshall

John Peiffer

Chris Rimmer

Contact Us

PO Box 420

Norwich, VT 05055 www.vtecostudies.org

2008 Annual Report

“Field Notes, Vol. 1, Issue 2, is solid evidence that VCE has made exhilarating steps to becoming a thoughtful, well-structured organization.” ~VCE Supporter

2008 Highlights

VCE secured funding to launch Vermont’s first statewide mapping of vernal pools; only one other state has completed a similar statewide inventory. Results will facilitate conservation of these critical but vulnerable wetland habitats in Vermont.

The Forest Bird Monitoring Program completed its 20th year of monitoring Vermont’s interior forest bird populations.

Citizen Scientists volunteered over 200 hours at National and Historic Parks in New England, observing a total of 2,012 individual birds of 94 species.

VCE partnered with the National Biological Information Infrastructure to create an innovative internet tool that will digitally bring together invertebrate specimens housed across Vermont. With the click of a mouse, individuals will be able to access valuable information from over two

million Vermont invertebrate specimen records.

VCE’s Mountain Birdwatch Program brought together stakeholders across New England and Canada to pilot a ground-breaking range wide monitoring protocol that will set the standard for North America.

150 Mountain Birdwatch volunteers spent over 1,200 hours hiking the mountains of Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire and Maine to monitor high elevation song birds.

“I loved your VCE Field Notes—read every bit of it—a really great account of what you are doing—very interesting, very professional” ~VCE Supporter

2008 Highlights

VCE partnered with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department to list two species of butterfly in the White Mountains as either threatened or endangered and created educational materials aimed at informing thousands of visitors.

VCE assigned a “conservation status” to every butterfly species in Vermont for the Nongame and Natural Heritage office.

VCE brought 4 Haitian and Dominican biologists to Vermont to learn conservation field techniques that will help conserve some of Vermont’s song-birds on their wintering grounds.

VCE brought together scientists and natural resource managers from throughout the breeding range of Bicknell Thrush’s to develop a Conservation Action Plan for the species. This type of stakeholder collaboration sets a new standard for conservation partnerships.

Vermont’s loon population continued its 25-year upward trajectory, as a record high 86 pairs occupied lake territories statewide. Three of the 61 loon pairs that attempted to breed were first-time nesters. Volunteers counted a record 225 loons on Loonwatch day in mid-July.

VCE received a prestigious National Geographic Society grant that led to an intensive study of the Bobolink in its mid west breeding area and South American wintering grounds.

“As an avid birder it is comforting for me to know that crucial environmental research continues not only here in Vermont, but beyond its borders.” ~VCE Volunteer

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

Contracts and Grants

Programs and Lectures

Contributions Investments

2008 Revenue*

* VCE 2008 financials are currently being audited by an independent firm.

Restricted Project Income

Federal Contracts 55,491

State Contracts 80,995

Other Grants/Contracts 86,567

Program Income 3,897

Donations

Individual Gifts 250,024

Business Gifts 6,284

Foundation Gifts 182,350

Gifts in Kind 403

Investments 3,417

Total Income 669,428

General Administration

18%

Fundraising 5%

Projects 76%

Project Development

1%

2008 Expenses*

Personnel Expenses

Salaries and Wages 310,169.44

Paid Benefits 42,453.38

Staff Development 832.92

Business Expenses 722.42

Contract Services 42,892.06

Supplies 13,999.59

Telephone 3,700.95

Computer Network 3,068.33

Printing & Copying 8,004.67

Marketing and Mailing Costs 6,199.49

Travel Costs 30,678.15

Meeting & Entertainment 1,265.29

Equipment and Depreciation 14,576.00

Facilities Expense 7,863.00

Insurance 2,628.88

Interest and Bank Fees 720.68

Miscellaneous Expense 1,051.65

Total Expense 490,826.90

VCE Contributors Susan and Gerald James Marcus WhiteAnonymous Elizabeth Karet Marv and Kathie WidnessStephen Amos, ANSES Elizabeth Kennedy Ben Williams and Margaret Darrow WilliamsKathleen S. Anderson Christopher Kibbe Michael and Kira WinslowTheodore and Anne Atkinson Maeve Kim Jeanne WisnerBanjo Dan Dean and Martha King Kristine and Scott WoelberC. Peter Bankart Mary and John Kipp Paul R. YoungBill and Susan Bartlet Lindsay Knowlton Mike and Barb ZimmermanLilias and David Barton Mary A. LaitresCassandra Beauvais John Leonard VCE Conservation SupporterKristin and Michael Belding Ann Lewis Anonymous (4)Ross T. Bell Ellison Lieberman In Memory of Ellen Marie WirthBarbara Benton St. Gelais Ilona Lind In Memory of Dr. Herbert Patterson Beam, Sr.Thomas Berriman Peter and Elizabeth Luca In Memory of Deb MillerJudith Bevans W. Scott MacLachlan, DMV In Memory of Henry LewisGilbert Bolsterle Thomas and Joyce MacNair In Memory of R. Allyn Culver IIRichard and Nancy Bouffard Marcia T. Madeira In Memory of Robert A. FinsthwaitJen Brooks-Wooding Ellen Maloney In Memory of Lisa RimmerAnnie and Jason Brueck Padraic Martin & Alice McGarey-Martin In Memory of Mary and SanfordPatricia Campbell Alan Marwine In Memory of Jack LinehanJohn and Connie Carpenter Robert and Nancy McCaffrey In Honor of Walter E. Bordon IIIJohn and Deb Caulo Perrine McConnel In Honor of Amanda Henchel and Dan GoossenCioffredi and Associates Physical Therapy Matthew Medler In Honor of Judy PetersonDon Clark David Mehlman In Honor of Anne, Jim, Jonathan & Daniel CummingsMargaret Clark Mark Milazzo Abbott and Kristin AbbottArthur Clarke Stauffer and Elinor Miller Margaret AckersonImpi Cole Susan and Bill Minard Clay and Elizabeth AdamsVirginia and Albert Collins Mimi Neff Aetna FoundationWendy Tilghman Conquest & Charles Conquest Jeannette and Robert Nordham Charles and Jill AgnewKen Copenhaver Joseph and Barbara O'Donnell Ted AllenDan and Whit's General Store John and Kristine O'Leary Robert and Karen AllenRalph A. and Nancy J. Darrah Christopher Owen Julia Alvarez and Bill EichnerBetsy Day Pane e Salute Lee and Carmen AndersonDiane Demers David Pashley Steve AntellIn Memory of Susan J. DesAutels Noah Perlut and Stacey Neumann Terri ArmataCourtney Dobyns Dave and Lyn Perrin Jean ArrowsmithG. Richard and Bonita Dundas Jim and Faith Pivirotto Charles AstburyPat Dwyer George Plumb Frances AversaJanet and Bob Dyer Hugh and Rosanne Putnam Charles AversaJean Eisenhart Mitzi Queen Anne AversaMarvin and Susan Elliott Margaret M. Ramsdell William BadgerCatherine Emery David and Sarah Reeves Anne V. BadgleyCharlotte Encinares William and Patricia Renfro Walter and Virginia BaileyJune Ficker Zoe Richards and Joshua Brown David BaldwinDavid, Julie, Hannah and Emily Filiberti David and Shirley Richardson Amy BannonStan and Janet Flink Eileen Riley Thomas C. BarberPolly Foley Jean Roberts Barber & Lanier Funeral HomeC.J. Frankiewicz Roanne Rogerson Virginia BarlowEhrhard Frost Judy Rosovsky Bill and Susan BarnardJudith and George Fuller Ray and Cynny Rouleau H. Gardiner BarnumLiam and Ann Gannon Joey and Jack Saia James Barry and Mary Quinton-BarryLiz and Alan Gee Sara Jean Sangdahl Katherine and Robert BatesonPaula A. Gills Susan Sawyer David Baxter and Anne AndersonDavid Govatski Bridget Scott Giff BeatonPeter and Pamela Grace Douglas Sherman Louis Bigliani and Anne KrementzEllen Hayes and Michael Gray Shiretown Books Jonathan Binhammer and Linda GarrettDavid and Margaret Green Richard Slosberg Joanie BinnsDenise Griffin Yvonne Straus and Enrique Bueno Tom BjorkmanShirley "Kit" Griggs Denis and Susan Stricker John and Cindy BlackburnGeorge and Charlotte Hall Linda and Bruno Studer David BlocksteinJoan Harlowe and Brian Kelly Mary Swartz Michael BlustDiane Hart Tom and Karen Sweeney John and Joan BokBea Harvey Steve and Margi Swett Margaret BordenWinston Harvey Swift Properties, Inc. Karen BowlesJudy and Ozzie Henchel Deborah Clark and Tim Traver King and Tina BoydNancy Hersom Robert and Susan Tucker Ann Pibal and Colin BrantLibby Hillhouse Neil and Barbara Ulman Margaret BriggsSusan and Todd Hindinger Paul and Shirley Wagner John Brodhead and Gina CampoliDon and Mabel Houghton Barbara Walker Ski Bromley, LLCSusan Houston Christopher and Cynthia Watters Mr. and Mrs. Henry I. Brown, IIIElinor Pitt Ives and Paul Ives Michael Wells Charles and Wynne Browne

VCE wishes to thank its contributors and partners.

You make our conservation work possible.

Lois and David Budbill John and Joan Harding Mr. and Mrs. Francis W. MurrayHolly B. Bull and Family The Hardy Family Ed and Liz NefMary and Douglas Burnham Brian Harrington Donna and Bruce NelsonTom and Trudy Calabrese Mari L. Harter Julie NicholsonMargaret Calder Polly and Chuck Hebble Frances NilesCris Heyer Camarra Kevin Hemeon Susan Nooney, CPA-LLC Miller and Candon, LLC Terri Petnow and Andrew Herrschaft Northland Construction Co., Inc.David Capen Patricia Highberg Joanne and Richard NortonJosette and Steve Carter Daniel Hildreth Gertrude NotmanMichael and Anne Cassidy David and Laura Hill-Eubanks Mr. and Mrs. Donald D. Notman, Jr.Charles Chamberlain Beth Hindmarsh Gerald and Claire O'ConnorJanice and Robert Chapman Alicia Hingston Joan and Robert OgdenPriscilla and William Chester Robert Holley Katherine Olgiati and Dory RiceJohn and Melanie Clarke Peter and Kim Holzberger Rodney and Meghan OlsenMarcie Clutter Susan Houston Shawn O'Neil and Scott BloomBrendan B. Collins Kristin Graham and Tom Hulleberg Elinor and George OsbornConcept2, Inc. Fund Margaret Hunt Margo and Joe Osherenko FoundationDoyt and Gracia Conn Anne and David Ivey George W. Peck IVDavid and Nancy Corkum Betty Jillson Vicki and John PeifferPete Corradino Win and Rita Johnson Dr. Robert and Jane PerrinBill and Ginger Cotton Thomas A. Johnston, DMD Joan and Martin PersonMark Council Terri Donovan and Peter Jones Natalie PetersRuth Crawford Sarah Jones Thomas PetersonAnne J. Cummings Kyle Jones and Jennifer Megyesi Donald Peterson Erika and Brian Dade Todd Katzner Sue and Jerry PetersonAndy and Judy Dales Kearney Brothers Carpentry Nancy and Lynn PetersonMary F. Daly Sherman and Laura Kent Karl PfeifferChip and Alisa Darmstadt Monica Ray and Albert Key, Jr. Meghan and Curtis PfeifferMarilyse de Boissezon Hamm Meredith Kimbell Nicole PfisterJennifer Dembinski Marjorie and Edward Kirschbaum Roy PilcherHazel Carby and Michael Denning Barbara Kohn Carol Jean PinneyRandy Dettmers Ellen and Gerrit Kouwenhoven Nancy PotakClosey Dickey Toby P. Kravitz, DDS Frederick and Eleanor PrattMatthew and Monica DiMagno Mark Krenitsky Van Purcell and Lisa Miller PurcellDomus, Inc. Bill and Dianne Kudrez Karen Pushee and Mark GreenbergAnne and Derek Drummond Rudolph Kugler Putney Mountain AssociationEllen and Louis Dupont Jamie Labbe and Jennifer Cohun Quali-Dent, IncJo-Ann and Norman Ecker Jo Lafayette Joan RandallRobert Engel Lake Carmi Campers Association, Inc. Stewart Randall and Mary PhinneyGilda Faccio Judy Lam and RS Blackburn Laura and Bruce ReadJ. Henry and Mollie Fair, Jr. Patty Lambert Edward RedpathJanice Falabella Peter Larsen Pendennis and Barbara Reed, Jr.Federal Executive Association of Vermont Sally Laughlin Craig RepaszAbbott Fenn David and Patricia Lawlor Terrell RichCarolee and Edwin Ferguson Gale Lawrence Diana RichardsonAlice Fleer Edwina Leo David and Mary RimmerPatricia Folsom Gert Lepine Jennie RobbinsJames J. Ford, Jr. Katherine and Peter Lessing Gary W. Roberts, Winter Wren Recreational Guide John and Christine Fournier Rob and Linda Libby Mr. and Mrs. Walter RodigerConrad Frey Brian and Sandi Lincoln Richard and Kathryn Roosa and FamilyJack and Sarah Frost Katherine Linton Kenneth and Anne RosenbergCarolyn and Milton Frye Linda Leddy and Trevor Lloyd-Evans William and Nancy RossGalbraith Environmental Sciences Lois Lorimer Jim and Chris RuncieElizabeth and Clinton Gardner Gordon MacFarland Beth RundquistBarbara Gibbs Sally Mansur Hull Carl and Debra RungeJonathan Gibson and Eliza Mabry John and Carolyn Marsh Elisabeth RussellArthur Gilman Gerry and Chryl Martin Rutland County Audubon SocietyElizabeth Gilmore Nancy and Lawrence Master Florence and Burton SandokSusan and Robert Goodby Katherine McCabe and Rod Griffin W. SargentStephen and Mary Gorman Finn McFarland and Gabby Waltz Monroe and Edwina ScharffGould & Quinn Real Estate Mark and Mary McGrath Albert and Barrie SchultheisClive Gray Holly McKenzie and Robert Martin Scott Schwenk and Roxanne BogartPhil Gray Mrs. J. H. McKnight Carolyn Carr and Jonathan SellmanJanet C. Green Edward and Lynn McNamara Jerome and Diana SenturiaSusan and Dean Greenberg William Mercia Mavis and Ad ShawRobert and Suzanne Griffiths Frank Miller Li ShenDieter W. Gump Jean Miller Barrett M. Singer CompanyEdward Hack Gilles and Jacqueline Molleur PJ and Tina SkehanSteve and Sunita Halasz Cathy Molloy Marisa Smith KrausHand Motors Nancy Moran William and Diane SnyderJan and Dave Hapke Thomas Morrissey Olaf Soltau

Jeb and Susan Spaulding Jenepher Lingelbach University of New BrunswickSt. Johnsbury Animal Hospital Jeff and Terry Marshall University of VermontPeter and Mary Stangel Thomas Marshall Foundation UPM-KymmeneStark Mountain Woodworking Company Mascoma Savings Bank Foundation US Fish & WildlifePeter and Sandra Stettenheim Michael McGean USDA Forest Service Northeastern Research StationJane and Josiah Stevenson New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Vermont Environmental Research AssociatesLee and Mary Stewart Robin Nuse and Arthur Gardiner Vermont Fish & WildlifeRuth Stewart Patricia and Richard Nye Vermont Monitoring CooperativeMrs. Jenifer Stewart Missy and Sam Palmisano Vermont Watershed GrantDorothy Stowe Darlene and Ernest Palola Waterman FoundationMr. and Mrs. David Strachan Judy Peterson White Mountain National ForestHorace and Shirley Strong Lorna Chang PostSusan Sussman and Scudder Parker Resource Systems GroupEdmond Swanberg and Victoria Rhodin Charles and Clare RimmerGerry and Paul Sweterlitsch The Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation, Inc.John and Lucy Taylor Shrewsbury Outing Club MembersRollin S. Tebbetts Stettenheim FoundationTrapp Family Lodge, Inc. Stewart FoundationSteve Trombulak Susan M. TaylorTrust Company of Vermont Telaka Foundation, Inc.Rod and Betty Vallee Georgena TerrySusie Vancura Terry Precision Bicycles for Women, Inc.George and Patricia von Trapp Wendling FundHoward and Linda Wagner Carter and Lissa WinstanleyAlison Wagner William C. and Joanna M. Wright FundMargery WalkerJames and Patricia Wasserman VCE Conservation PartnersThomas and Paulette Watson American Bird ConservancyLinda and Tom Wells Appalachian Conservation BiologyFrancis and Patricia Whitcomb Appalachian Mountain ClubWhite River Family Eyecare, P.C. Arrowwood EnvironmentalRuth Whiting Barre Public Works DepartmentMary Crane and Paul Wieczoreck Baxter State ParkRon and Norma Wiesen Bird Studies CanadaRobert Williamson Canadian Wildlife ServiceAdam Winstanley Central Vermont Public ServicePatricia Wright Coaticook River Water Power CompanySteve Wright Cornell UniversityPaula Yankauskas and Dale Martin Davis Conservation FoundationConnie and Mark Youngstrom East Haven Development Company

Ecostudies InstituteVCE Zadock Thompson Society Ecosystems Research Group

Anonymous (3) Environment CanadaIn Memory of Maxwell "Sandy" McKenzie Essex Timber CompanyEllen Brooks Four Winds Nature InstituteCarter and John Bryan Great Bay HydroThe Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation Green Mountain National ForestChapman Foundation Green Mountain PowerGeorge Clark Hardwick Electric DepartmentAnne and Sidney Craven ME Dept of Inland Fisheries & WildlifeGerrit and Deborah Crosby Morrisville Water and LightDr. Kevin D. and Valerie Crowley Mount Mainsfield CompanyMr. and Mrs. Charles Curtis National Geographic SocietyEugene B. & Nina L. Doggett Charitable Fund National Park ServiceJudy Geer and Dick Dreissigacker New Brunswick Dept of Natural ResourcesEddy Foundation New Hampshire AudubonJohn and Margot Ernst New Hampshire Charitable FoundationAnne Felton Spencer New Page CorporationLuisa and Charles Finberg Norcross Wildlife FoundationSherrell Gilmartin North Branch Nature CenterGlobal Resource Options, Inc. (groSolar) North Carolina State UniversityJames Goetz NYS Dept of Environmental ConservationMaurice and Georgine Goodman Fund Parks CanadaDrs. Karen and Peter Hanson Regroupoement Quebec OiseauxHenderson's Café Patrons Smithsonian Migratory Bird CenterGale S. Hurd State University of New York, ESFCarolyn Jackson Stratton Mountain ResortThe Robert K. & Annabel Joyce Jones Foundation, Inc. The Nature ConservancyRobin and David Key Trans Canada HydroBarry and Warren King Tufts University Wildlife Veterinary ClinicEmily Landecker Foundation, Inc. University of Massachusetts

VCE apologizes for any mistakes or omissions.

All pictures are courtesy of VCE staff and friends.

“Thanks for the opportunity to make this donation in memory of my dad. He would have loved what VCE is doing! Thanks again!” ~VCE Supporter

This report was printed on 50% post-consumer, FSC-certified paper.

If you would like to volunteer as a Citizen Scientist, please call Julie at

802-649-1431 x6