Zoo New England
Field Conservation Blog
News from the Field
Welcome to Zoo New England’s Field Conservation blog! Here, we share some of the amazing work going on “beyond the zoo” at a variety of field sites around New England. Expect tales from the field, interesting nature facts, and the occasional guest post from one of our local – or international! – community partners.
Our Blog is Going into Hibernation!
But not for too long! It’s December, so the Field Conservation Blog is going to take a little hiatus for the holidays. Don’t worry, we’ll be back in January with more nature facts and detailed coverage of everything the team … Continued
Mast Years
Have you ever heard of a “mast year”? Maybe you haven’t heard the word, but you’ve probably noticed one in the past when it happened. Every few years, nut-bearing trees like oaks and beeches produce a huge bumper crop of … Continued
Species Feature: Orange Sallow Moth
This week, we have a guest blog post from our Field Technician Jimmy Welch! Here on the blog, we’ve discussed our efforts monitoring insects such as the frosted elfin and plants like New England blazing star, as well as several … Continued
A Cool Creepy-Crawly for Halloween
Creepy-crawly critters of all kinds take center stage this week as we celebrate Halloween. Here at ZNE Field Conservation central, we love bugs, and our favorite kinds are the rare ones in need of some special help and protection. It … Continued
Recovery of the Snail Darter: A Surprising Conservation Success Story
In a recent blog post, we described the recent conclusion by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and others that the Maryland darter (Etheostoma sellare), a small fish that once lived in tributaries of the Susquehanna River north of Baltimore, … Continued
Fighting Back Against Invasive Plants
Invasive plants are one of the most well-known threats to the biodiversity of our ecosystems. Have you ever wondered exactly how an invasive plant is defined, and what can be done to combat them? First of all, not every plant … Continued
Meet the Field Conservation Team!
Bryan Windmiller
Director of Field Conservation
Bryan Windmiller is the Director of Field Conservation at Zoo New England, where he oversees the Zoo’s local wildlife conservation programs and its support of international conservation efforts. Bryan earned a Ph.D. in biology and a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy, both from Tufts University and he has worked in various roles as a conservation biologist in Massachusetts since 1987. Bryan is an adjunct professor at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and has taught at several Massachusetts universities.
Emilie Wilder
Field Conservation Program Manager
Like all of us in the Field Conservation Department, Emilie wears many hats – from leading field trips to mucking through the swamp to making sure all our permits are up to date. Emilie is interested in the human dimensions of wildlife conservation, especially in finding win-win ways to live alongside wildlife.
Matthew Kamm
Conservation Outreach Coordinator
Matt’s duties include nest monitoring, turtle tracking, giving educational programs and field trips, and making sure that as many people as possible learn about Zoo New England’s amazing local and international conservation work. Trained as an ornithologist, Matt is learning to appreciate reptiles and amphibians just as much as birds.
Join us.
If you’re passionate about contributing to the protection of natural treasures right here in New England, we invite you to become a charter member of our new Conservation Society. Roll up your sleeves, and bring the family for a day or evening in the field, or relax and take in expert lectures by our Field Conservation staff and partner organizations.