Where Conversation Flows
By Zac Cota, AmeriCorps Teacher-Naturalist Article from the winter edition of our “Field Marks” newsletter A constant “toot”echoes across North Branch’s star-lit field: the call of the Northern Saw-whet Owl. This one’s not an actual owl, but an audio lure used to attract these robin-sized predators. Throughout October and November, our bird-banding station is reconfigured…
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With sunny skies and warm temperatures, Saturday’s weather was a perfect day for the 58th annual Plainfield Christmas Bird Count. Forty-six volunteers from Plainfield, Barre, Montpelier, East Montpelier, Plainfield, Calais, Marshfield, Orange, and Middlesex totaled up a staggering 4,117 birds over the course of the day. This total, more than 300 birds greater than last…
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By Mary Zentara, Forest Preschool Director & Co-Teacher Article from the winter edition of our “Field Marks” newsletter When you take a walk at North Branch Nature Center, you’re bound to hear bird calls and the burble of our namesake river. But just as importantly, your ears will also be delighted by murmurs of…
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At a BioBlitz, conservation meets community, and nature takes center stage. We invited Dr. Steven Shepard of the Natural Curiosity Podcast to NBNC back in July, and we are delighted to feature his podcast episode about our Montpelier BioBlitz. Grab a cup of coffee, and listen to NBNC staff explaining the importance of nature alongside…
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By Amy Butler * This post was written on October 28 for the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Blog On a cold and blustery October morning in northern Vermont, 15 public preschool children tumble about their indoor classroom space getting ready for a morning in the forest. Winter coats, neck warmers, snow pants, mittens…
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By Zac Cota It was the soggy sort of autumn day that we adults sometimes call “gloomy,” but the first graders at Union Elementary were completely undeterred. After studying the work of Andy Goldsworthy, famous for his ephemeral nature art, we set out to make some art of our own. Arriving in the woods, pairs…
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Last weekend a group of young naturalists traveled with NBNC naturalists Zac Cota and Sean Beckett to the Northeast Kingdom to explore Vermont’s boreal zone. We spent time birding, catching dragonflies, discovering carnivorous bog plants, and banding Northern Saw-whet Owls. Thank you to the Vermont River Conservancy for letting us stay at their beautiful new cabin in…
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North Branch Nature Center has a rich history of leading world-class expeditions to the planet’s wildest destinations. In 2019, join NBNC on life-changing adventures to Ecuador,Costa Rica, and Yellowstone. Whether it’s macaws in the rainforest or grizzlies in the mountains, witness nature’s most enchanting faces and places with NBNC. “The best part? Seeing the magnificent…
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After two months of dissecting micro-moths, mailing vials of plant bits, and convening experts to hem and haw over stranger specimens, we bring you the exciting results of the Montpelier BioBlitz 2018. We knew there would be new species for our city, county, and maybe even state, but never did we expect such a diversity…
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Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars are all over the nature center trails this week! With two beady eye spots, these thumb-sized caterpillars avoid depredation by mimicking the head of a snake. Here in Vermont we have two species of Tiger Swallowtails, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, and the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail. Telling the adults apart by sight…
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713 Elm Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05602
(802) 229-6206
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Office Open Monday-Friday from 9 am to 4 pm
Trails Open 24/7
