I'm happy to announce that the VINS Campus Index, our iNaturalist project aimed at documenting the biodiversity of our nature center, this afternoon reached 500 species! This includes 182 plants, 177 invertebrates, 61 birds, 51 fungi, 16 mammals, 6 amphibians, and 4 reptiles.

VINS is excited to announce its first iNaturalist photo contest! Everyone, from professional photographers to casual observers of nature with a camera in their hands, is invited to participate! All you have to do submit a photo that you took of a wild animal or plant at VINS, and you could win an awesome VINS-related prize to take home! Here are some guidelines: 1. You must create an iNaturalist account to participate. Click "Register" in the upper right of this page to get started. 2. Come to VINS and take a picture of a plant, animal, or fungus anytime throughout the month of June. (It must be living in the wild, though--no photos of our exhibit raptors!) 3. Post your picture on your iNaturalist account. Include as much info as you can--try to identify it, but if you can't, we'll help you! 4. Look through the other observations in the VINS Campus Index project, and click "Favorite" to vote in the contest! There is no limit on how many photos you may submit, or for how many photos you may cast your vote! The more pictures you post, the better your chances! Winners will be announced here and on our Facebook page in July: https://www.facebook.com/VINS.VT/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Watch this space for updates as the month progresses, and Good Luck!

Happy Earth Day 2017! If you find yourself out and about in the Quechee area today, consider stopping by and helping observe and identify all the new sprouting spring growth! We will be teaching visitors to use iNaturalist, and helping fill out the diversity of species on our campus. Our vernal pool has been particularly active in the past few days--come see what frogs, turtles, or maybe salamanders you can find today!