The February candidates for Observation of the Month have been selected by Kyle Jones. Thanks to the plethora of amazing sightings by Vermont naturalists, there was no trouble at all finding enough candidates—the challenge was figuring out how to choose only four. Just like last month, if you are reading this, you are one of the judges. Look at the observations listed below and vote by adding a comment to this message with your selection. The observation with the most votes wins.

Vote for February! Voting closes in one week.

1. http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197106
2. http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/206312
3. http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/206015
4. http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/205300

Would you like to select the finalists for the upcoming March vote? The first to claim the prestige will have the honors!

From 2002 to 2007 volunteer butterfly enthusiasts spent thousands of hours in the field in an effort to record the status and distribution of Vermont butterflies, the first systematic statewide butterfly atlas to be undertaken. Observers have since made new discoveries, like the first state record for White-M Hairstreak or the incredible invasion of Giant Swallowtails. Where can we share and store all of our collective butterfly discoveries? Introducing our newest tool for the Vermont Atlas of Life, eButterfly, a project in which VCE is proud to be a partner. Whether it is Vermont eBird, eButterfly or iNaturalist, you are contributing your observations to help us understand biodiversity in the Green Mountain State!

Learn more at http://vtecostudies.blogspot.com/2013/03/ebutterfly-is-ready-for-vermont.html

It was a tough month to be a contender in the Vermont Atlas of Life contest. Larry Clarfeld’s photo of Boreus nivoriundus caught “in the act” was an amazing photograph of an insect most of us have never even seen. See his photo at http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197106.
This one even got Ken-ichi’s (aka kueda) attention. Congratulations Larry—but this is no excuse to take it easy for the rest of the year—there are still thousands undocumented Vermont species and locations to be reported to iNaturalist!

A big thanks to Kyle Jones for serving as the contest judge for February. Who wants to be our honorable volunteer judge to select four fantastic photo-observations for the next contest? Get your March observations uploaded to the atlas and you could be a winner!

Northern Woodlands, one of our project partners, is a quarterly magazine for landowners, forestry professionals, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts. They are going to run an advertisement about our atlas project to help recruit more observers so we thought we'd return the favor. The magazine has a wealth of information in each issue that we know many of you would love. Explore, discover, learn, and participate in the natural world around you. Subscribe through their website (http://northernwoodlands.org) or by calling (802) 439-6292, weekdays.

I drive around the state for work, and I like to take the back roads and see different places -- and I've always wanted to join the 251 Club (www.vt251.com). It was founded in 1954 to encourage Vermonters to get to know their state. The goal is to visit all the towns in the state. Doesn't that sound like more fun than just looking at them on the map, or scratching your head and saying, "where is Goshen, anyway?" There are plenty of towns I've only driven through, and I don't know, or remember, much about them. It takes an experience for it to stick. I do remember exactly where on the Stannard Mountain Road I stopped and found an unfamiliar wildflower, and where in Glover a raven flew overhead carrying a large stick for its nest. Those things make life interesting. So I'm going to join the 251 Club (dues are affordable), with the goal of posting several species from each town to the Atlas as I go. I won't commit myself to a number, but enough so I get to leave the highway, go for a walk, and enjoy the place.

Susan Sawyer