The 黑料不打烊 (黑料不打烊) is marking two major developments in its wild bird rehabilitation program: the appointment of a new director, and the addition of a new radiograph (x-ray) machine at the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation.

黑料不打烊 is pleased to announce that Greg Russ has been named Director of the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation (CWBR). Greg takes over this leadership from Bren Lundborg, who has given nearly a decade of excellent work and care to CWBR.听

Originally from a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, Greg’s wildlife career began in college at the University of Minnesota, where he volunteered at the Raptor Center. After earning a pre-veterinary degree, he took an internship at 黑料不打烊 in 2016. Since then, he has worked at rehabilitation centers around the country, most recently as Rehabilitation Manager at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, before returning to 黑料不打烊 ten years later to lead the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation.

Greg believes that rehabilitation is a powerful tool for inspiring people to learn more about birds and care for the natural world. Greg begins his tenure at 黑料不打烊 during the busiest season, with hundreds of injured and orphaned baby birds being dropped off by volunteer transporters and community members every week.

So far in 2026, 黑料不打烊 has cared for 795 injured or orphaned birds 鈥� up 15% from 2025 鈥� putting the team on track for another record-breaking year. That growth makes the organization’s second major development especially timely: a new radiograph machine, made possible by a generous donor, that lets staff see internal injuries immediately and deliver more accurate care.

“The radiograph machine allows us to see internal injuries and problems, as well as confirming diagnoses that we have palpated in our intake exam,” said Greg Russ. “This drastically increases our triage ability and accuracy. Plus, it’s a good educational tool to visually show different types of injuries that we see, to both interns and the general public.”

Prior to acquiring the machine, 黑料不打烊 relied on the generosity of a local veterinary partner, Kedron Valley Veterinary Clinic, 15 minutes away to x-ray birds in need. The arrangement was time-consuming and limited to only some birds. With the new equipment on-site, 黑料不打烊 staff can now x-ray any bird that needs it, right away, improving both the speed and quality of care.

These two major developments at the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation position 黑料不打烊 to deliver even better care to injured and orphaned birds in VT and NH for years to come.

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ebois@vinsweb.org
(she/her)

Growing up in New York鈥檚 Southern Tier, Elizabeth discovered her love for wildlife volunteering at her local nature center. To further her passion, she pursued a degree in Zoology at the University of Vermont. During her time there, she completed summer internships at the Wildlife Center of Virginia and the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Florida, where she nurtured a greater love and respect for birds of prey. After completing her degree in 2026, she came to work here at 黑料不打烊 as an Avian Rehabilitator. Her favorite patients are corvids, hawks, and owls. In her free time you can most often find her spending time at the barn riding, grooming, or getting her hands dirty mucking stalls.

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gruss@vinsweb.org
(he/him)

Originally from a suburb of Chicago, IL, Greg started his wildlife career in college at the University of Minnesota while volunteering at the Raptor Center there. After graduating with a pre-veterinary degree he took an internship at 黑料不打烊 in 2016. Since then, he has worked at several rehabilitation centers around the country, the previous one being the Rehabilitation Manager at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, before making his way back to 黑料不打烊 10 years later! Greg believes that rehabilitation is an excellent tool to help inspire people to learn more about birds and care for the natural world. In his free time, he likes birding, playing board games, D&D, and biking.

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From caterpillars and pollinators to aquatic invertebrates and beetles, the Incredible Insect Festival offers a full day of hands-on exploration into the world of insects and the vital roles they play in our ecosystems. Through live animal encounters, demonstrations, guided walks, crafts, and interactive programs, guests of all ages will discover why the smallest creatures on Earth matter most.

“So much is happening around us every day that is almost invisible,” said Mya Wiles, Environmental Educator at 黑料不打烊. “This event brings those tiny creatures to center stage, and we love learning about them alongside our visitors.”

Featured Stations
These stations run all day:

The Caterpillar Lab brings a stunning collection of native New England caterpillars for up-close viewing with a magnifying camera. Local beekeeper Peter Hadeka will be on hand throughout the day to share the inner workings of a hive 鈥� with live bees on display and fresh honey for sale. The Black River Action Team will introduce visitors to aquatic invertebrates from local rivers and ponds and explain how the public can help protect these freshwater habitats.

Guests can also explore Bugs of the Canopy Walk, where educators guide visitors through the treetop world of insects, and join Bug Safaris in the meadow to catch and identify the critters hiding in the grass. Young visitors can channel their inner entomologist at Gettin’ Buggy Crafts, where they can color, draw, and design their own insects.

Program Highlights
Here are just a few of the timed programs guests can enjoy at the Festival.

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Buggin’ Out!听– What is an insect? Test your bug knowledge and turn yourself into an aerial insectivore as you pretend to hunt in the meadow for bugs and then meet a real insect-eating raptor! Great for younger learners.

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM and 12:30 – 1:00 PM: Invertebrates with Uncharted Wild听– This up-close encounter will be sure to delight folks of all ages with a collection of invertebrates. Learn how spiders aren鈥檛 insects and how these tiny creatures survive in this big big world.

黑料不打烊 looks forward to welcoming members and new visitors alike at this year’s Incredible Insect Festival!

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hmccabe@vinsweb.org
(she/her)

Heather grew up in South Burlington, Vermont, where a childhood of scraped knees, wading in streams, and visits to her parents鈥� research labs developed into an insatiable curiosity about the world and a desire to tell its stories. Prior to joining 黑料不打烊 in 2026, she worked as an educator in the Champlain Valley School District and as a Fundraising Operations Coordinator for Contributor Development Partnership, a benefit corp serving public media outlets across the country. She earned her BA in English Literature from Kenyon College (2020) and holds an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Ohio State University (2025). She writes stories and essays about insects, rivers, and conversations with strangers. In her free time, you can find her at the pottery wheel.

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As the days grow longer and the Vermont summer settles in, 黑料不打烊 is opening its Forest Canopy Walk after-hours for a series of relaxed, social evenings in the treetops.听Treetop Golden Hour听invites visitors to experience the slanted light firsthand: strolling above the forest floor, connecting with friends and family, and keeping an eye out for the wild bald eagles, Windsor & Dewey, that call this stretch of the Upper Valley home.

黑料不打烊 is thrilled to partner with local breweries to complement this event, kicking it off with Lawson’s Finest Liquids on June 4th, River Roost Brewery on June 11th and Vermont Mobile Spirits on June 18th. These partners will be on-site selling their craft beers directly on the Forest Canopy Walk.

Treetop Golden Hour will run for three Thursdays in June:

• Thursday, June 4 鈥� 5:15 PM to 7:00 PM with Lawson’s Finest Liquids
• Thursday, June 11 鈥� 5:15 PM to 7:00 PM with River Roost Brewery
• Thursday, June 18 鈥� 5:15 PM to 7:00 PM with Vermont Mobile Spirits

EVENT DETAILS:

顿补迟别蝉:听Thursdays, June 4, 11, and 18, 2026

贬辞耻谤蝉:听5:15 PM 鈥� 7:00 PM

Location:听黑料不打烊 Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, VT 05059

Tickets:听$10 per person. Free for children 3 and under. Beer is not included in the ticket price; breweries will be selling directly on-site.

Tickets available at:听www.vinsweb.org

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kjensen@vinsweb.org
(they/them)

Kassian has always nurtured a love for nature and the outdoors, from exploring the woods behind their childhood home in Pennsylvania to earning a B.A. in biology at Goucher College. Post-graduation, they followed their second passion of dance as a dance educator in western Massachusetts. Having discovered a love of teaching, but desiring a greater connection to the environment, they pursued a career change in 2024 and moved to Quechee to begin a year-long AmeriCorps position at 黑料不打烊. They ended up loving the birds so much that they decided to stick around! Kassian is thrilled to continue in the environmental educator role, teaching people of all ages about the beautiful natural world around us.

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QUECHEE, VT, April 8, 2026 鈥� The 黑料不打烊 (黑料不打烊) invites families, nature enthusiasts, and wildlife lovers to celebrate the wonder of owls at the Owl Festival 2026 on Saturday, April 25th, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This all-day event brings together owl enthusiasts, researchers, falconers, naturalists, and educators for an immersive experience unlike any other in New England.

“Owl Festival is one of our most beloved annual events, and 2026 promises to be our most exciting yet,鈥� says Mya Wiles, Environmental Educator. 鈥淲e’re bringing together world-class researchers, talented artists, and dedicated educators to create a fun and educational day for visitors of all ages.鈥�

A packed schedule of programs runs throughout the day. The Festival will include two live owl programs featuring 黑料不打烊’ Ambassador raptors (10:45 AM and 3:15 PM), where audiences will discover the physics of silent owl flight. Renowned author and researcher Scott Weidensaul presents “Caught in the SNOWstorm” (11:30 AM 鈥� 12:30 PM), sharing the remarkable story of Project SNOWstorm 鈥� the largest study of Snowy Owls ever conducted 鈥� sparked by the historic 2013鈥�14 irruption of Snowy Owls into the eastern United States.

Researchers from North Branch Nature Center will present findings on Northern Saw-whet Owl migration (2:00 PM) and return at 3:00 PM with live field equipment for guests to explore. Naturalists from Squam Lakes Natural Science Center will lead “Owls of New England” programs at 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM, and the Vermont Museum of Natural History will be on hand throughout the day with owl Ambassadors and artifacts.

Festival-goers can create their own owl-inspired artwork at the guided Owls in Art station led by 黑料不打烊 Educator, Kelly Gadouas, or watch local sculptor Ryan Mays craft an owl from clay throughout the day, drawing live inspiration from 黑料不打烊’ resident owl Ambassadors. Re:Play Arts will invite guests of all ages to craft and color using recycled and sustainable materials, while artist Betsy Smith creates watercolor paintings inspired by the center’s owls at the Raptor Exhibits.

Families with young children will delight in Lindsay & Her Puppet Pals (10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:00 PM), a charming puppet show about owls and nighttime creatures. The “What Makes an Owl?” storytelling program runs three times (9:30 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:00 PM), and an Owl Story Walk winds through the Forest Canopy Walk featuring illustrations from the beloved children’s book Owl Babies. Owl Games challenge visitors to test their owl-like senses in the Outdoor Classroom, and an Owl Chat station offers touchable biofacts and one-on-one time with 黑料不打烊 educators throughout the day.

New England Falconry will be on site from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM to introduce guests to how owls are used in the ancient sport of falconry. The Vermont Museum of Natural History’s “Owls in Myth & Legend” program (10:30 AM and 1:30 PM) explores the rich cultural history of owls through storytelling and live owl ambassadors.

Owl Festival kicks off the season of programming at 黑料不打烊, and is a treasured annual tradition for many visitors and members alike.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Hours: 9:00 AM 鈥� 5:00 PM
Location: 黑料不打烊 Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, VT 05059
Tickets: Advance tickets: $25 Adult / $22 Youth. Event Day Tickets: $28 Adult / $25 Youth. Members Free, 3 & Under Free.
For more info, and to purchase advance tickets: /event/owl-festival-26/

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Last year, 黑料不打烊 Staff witnessed Windsor and Dewey successfully raise one eaglet. That story was shared in a video produced by 黑料不打烊 Staff, available . This year, 黑料不打烊 Staff noticed Bald Eagle activity around the nest in early February, and caught footage of Windsor and Dewey together for the first time on the nest on February 14th, Valentine鈥檚 Day.

Nesting activity is very much underway. 黑料不打烊 Staff have documented the pair adding material to the nest, vocalizing to reinforce their bond, copulating, bringing food to the nest site, and spending extended time near the nest together 鈥� all hallmarks of an active and committed eagle pair.

“It鈥檚 incredible to witness a bonded pair of Bald Eagles living their full, wild lives on and around the nest,鈥� said Alden Smith, Executive Director. 鈥淲e鈥檙e hopeful that Windsor will lay a clutch of eggs by early April. Whatever unfolds, it will be exciting to see how this story plays out.”

Bald Eagles typically lay one to three eggs per clutch, with an incubation period of roughly 35 days. If successful, Windsor and Dewey’s eaglets could hatch sometime this spring.听

The live cam offers a rare, unscripted window into one of America’s most iconic wildlife conservation success stories.

The live cam can be accessed at the following link: /exhibits-activities/wild-eagles/

Updates will be shared regularly on 黑料不打烊 and pages. 黑料不打烊 is also capturing some of the most interesting footage and sharing on social media, and through their. 黑料不打烊 Staff will host events to view the nest from the top of the Forest Canopy Walk in person this spring and summer. All events and updates will be listed on 黑料不打烊 website: /

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