Community Farming & Grassland Birds: A Local Conservation Strategy

Hear stories of individual grassland birds and their young, and get inspired to halt declining bird populations in the northeastern United States as Vermont landowners and communities.

Many Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows born in and around Shelburne Farms return to breed near where they were born, generation to generation. This allows us to uniquely tell the stories of bird families: where each was born, who its parents, siblings, and cousins were, where they migrated and returned, and their breeding success. 

Noah Perlut, Ph.D., professor and assistant academic director of the School of Marine and Environmental Programs at University of New England, will discuss how the timing and intensity of haying affects these birds, how climate change interacts with birds and agriculture, and how management opportunities among Vermont's farming and landowner community can balance bird and farmer needs.

Pre-registration encouraged but not required. 

Photo by Craig Newman of Outreach for Earth Stewardship.