Grassland Bird Projects
Grassland birds as a group are declining more steeply than any other group of birds in North America. Declines have been hypothesized to be caused by agricultural intensification and habitat loss on both breeding and wintering grounds, and are expected to be exacerbated by climate change. Nationwide, survey efforts have been underway to better identify optimal conservation measures for the preservation of grassland birds and their habitats. For example, Virginia Working Landscapes (VWL) researchers have been collaborating with landowners and citizen scientists to study responses of grassland birds to conservation and land management practices throughout the Piedmont region during both breeding season and winter. A summary of that research can be found here.
Moving forward, we are interested in enhancing our understanding of the grassland birds we share our landscape with so that we are better suited to preserve their resources. To do this, we are collaborating with experts in the field, from within the Smithsonian and beyond. These collaborations enable us to harness modern technology combined with unprecedented knowledge and passion, to move conservation forward. Here’s a summary of our current projects and collaborators.
Click on the images below to learn about our current grassland bird projects.
Exploring Opportunities for Bird-Friendly Beef
Revealing the Movement Mysteries of Meadowlarks
Motus Wildlife Tracking System
A Bird’s Eye View: Using drones to assist with avian research
Grassland Biodiversity Surveys