When you think of Vermont, chances are you picture something like the Champlain Valley in the western part of the state -- pastures, hayfields, open farm land, meadows and shrubland, with forests and wetlands dotting the landscape.
Champlain Valley grasslands support the survival of the threatened Northern Harrier, Bobolink, and Eastern Meadowlark. And in the valley's shrublands, the Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, and Field Sparrow nest and raise their young. Much of the region’s habitat is privately owned, so working with private landowners is critical to large-scale conservation efforts. Unfortunately, the management practices of many landowners result in the degradation of vital bird habitat and contribute to the decline of many species.
With a TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, Audubon Vermont will launch the Champlain Valley Bird Initiative, focused on engaging landowners in proactively managing their habitat to protect imperiled grassland and shrubland bird species.
The Champlain Valley Bird Initiative was adapted from Audubon Vermont’s highly successful, TogetherGreen-supported Forest Bird Initiative, which has empowered Vermont landowners to sustainably manage over 40,000 forested acres.
Audubon Vermont will identify and reach out to landowners -- and their neighbors -- in a number of Champlain Valley pilot towns. Working with the National Resources Conservation Service, the University of Vermont, and various local land trusts and town groups, the Champlain Valley Bird Initiative aims to engage more landowners in conservation with greater results for the grassland and shrubland birds that share the landscape.