This is the first in the  2011 Naturalist Journeys Lecture & Slideshow Series, sponsored by North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier.  

Donations Accepted
On January 14, North Branch Nature Center begins their  winter series with Grassland Bird Conservation in Vermont. Our state is home to a suite of 9 species of birds that nest in our hayfields, pastures, and recently abandoned agricultural land. These species have shown steep, long-term population declines as a result of changes in land use practices. In 2002, Allan Strong and Noah Perlut began a study to examine the effects of agricultural management practices on grassland birds.  Their research into the breeding biology of these species has led to a suite of management practices that are designed to simultaneously maintain grassland bird populations without affecting the farmer’s bottom line.