Interested in supporting grassland birds on your property?
Join Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Grand Isle County NRCD, and Franklin County NRCD for a morning of learning and birding.

Grassland birds thrive in large, open landscapes with few trees and shrubs, making Vermont hay fields an ideal habitat for the breeding season. From May to August, species like Bobolink, Savannah Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlarks build their nests on the ground, well-concealed in the grass, and feed insects to their young. With the decline of agriculture in recent decades, however, grassland birds have been disappearing. Moreover, modern machinery and earlier maturing grasses allow landowners to mow their hayfields 2 to 3 weeks earlier in the season, and more frequently compared to 50 years ago. These practices are less compatible with the nesting needs of grassland birds.

Staff biologist Kevin Tolan with Vermont Center for Ecostudies will guide us through bird-friendly management practices of open meadows, hayfields, and pastures, which allow agriculture and grassland birds to coexist. Covering topics from delayed mowing, financial assistance programs, to invasive species management, there will be lots to discuss and learn! Grand Isle County and Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District's are non-regulatory entities that work locally with private landowners, farms, state and federal agencies, and other partner organizations to promote and implement conservation programs in their respective counties. Vermont's NRCDs are hard at work helping to improve water quality, protect the natural landscape, and support agricultural best practices.

When: Saturday, Aug 17, 2024 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Where: Morgan Hill Farm, 108 Morgan Hill Rd, North Hero, VT 05474, USA
Register here: https://www.franklincountynrcd.org/event-details/birding-on-farms-grassland-bird-conservatio[...]ent

Event Info

Nov 23, 2024, 12 to 4 PM

Nov 23, 2024, 7:30 to 9 PM

Nov 24, 2024, 9:30 AM