Outreach for Earth Stewardship

05/27/2026

Who says you have to get up early to go birding? Evenings at Shelburne Farms are a great time as well.

05/19/2026

Chimney Swifts have returned to the farm and we love watching and listening to them.

05/18/2026

Spring has sprung, the sun is shining and grassland species begin another cycle of their life’s work.

05/15/2026

Anubis outside checking out the dandelions. Visitor stopped by to investigate.

05/14/2026

Cheery songs from a Brown Thrasher on a gray day.

05/07/2026

Anderson, a little late to the party. Hopefully the Black Vulture becomes your spark bird and you realize there’s no need to mount a deep pockets expedition to Columbia to enjoy the wonder of birds.

05/05/2026

Pollinator garden starting to come alive.

04/30/2026

Spring chorus.

01/03/2026

Barred Owls thrive in these areas.

A friend and colleague who works to protect wetlands asked if I could help spread the word about an executive order that opens wetlands to development in designated growth areas (and in some cases beyond, see Interactive Map at the link below). Under this new rule, wetlands within these designated growth areas that are not mapped (many) would not be protected at all, and Class II wetlands that are mapped would have their protective buffers cut from 50 ft. to 25 ft. As you know, wetlands provide many important ecological functions, including habitat for our herptiles. The Agency of Natural Resources is now gathering comments on this proposed change. I spoke in opposition to these changes at a recent public hearing. Those hearings are over, but comments on the proposed changes to the rules can be submitted by email. I know of a number of town conservation commissions that intend to write letters in opposition to these changes.

The proposed rules and materials for review are on the Wetlands Rulemaking site at https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/wetlands/wetlands-rulemaking

Written comments will be accepted until January 14, 2026, and should be sent to WetlandsRulemakingComment at vermont.gov.

Katie Reilley took the beaver pond photo. Many beaver ponds don’t show up on our wetlands maps. As a result they would not be protected in designated growth areas.