Community Farming & Grassland Birds: A Local Conservation Strategy

Come hear the stories of individual grassland birds and their young and be inspired as Vermont landowners and communities to halt the declining populations of these birds in the northeastern United States. 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 it migrated, where it returned, and its breeding success. 

Noah Perlut, Ph.D., Professor & Assistant Academic Director 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.

Photo by Craig Newman of Outreach for Earth Stewardship.