Emerging Scientist Lecture | Grassland Bird Conservation: Applying Research to Develop Practical Solutions

Virginia Working Landscapes’ Graduate Research Fellow Bernadette Rigley shared preliminary findings from her research on the behavioral ecology and conservation of grassland birds.

Bernadette, a PhD candidate at George Mason University and VWL Graduate Research Fellow, is studying the seasonal behaviors of grassland birds—including how they live, breed, and migrate—and how these behaviors are shaped by land management practices. Her research aims to identify management strategies that support both bird populations and the livelihoods of those who rely on these landscapes.