Category: Recent News

The “Capacity & Excellence Grant” From the NYS Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) Land Trust Alliance (LTA) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) awarded Grassland Bird Trust (GBT) a $50,000 “Capacity & Excellence Grant” in December 2020. The program is funded through NY’s Environmental Protection Fund. “The grants announced today support – activities […]

When NYC entrepreneurs Angie Co, Tina Alleva and Ryan Goldberg launched their first campaign to benefit Grassland Bird Trust’s work to conserve critical habitat for endangered and threatened grassland birds, none of us would have predicted the incredible response it would inspire. “We had orders coming in from all over the country,” said Angie. She […]

Excerpt from Bird Collective April E-newsletter: “We were on the move at the end of February to see all the amazing work that the Grassland Bird Trust, our first partner organization, is doing in upstate New York. We met Laurie LaFond, the founder of GBT, to share with her the funds we’ve raised so far, […]

Congratulations to Mary-Beth Wagner, 2019 Volunteer of the Year!  Last year she contributed well over 100 hours helping to plan, organize and set up the Winter Raptor Fest WILD Encounter – then staffed it on both days! She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty, either. Last year she organized, oversaw and implemented a tree planting project […]

North America has lost 3 Billion Birds in the last 50 years. Tina Alleva and Angie Co recently launched The Bird Collective, an apparel company featuring eco-friendly clothes and accessories, to help fund projects that can reverse that decline and create a better future for birds and wildlife. They chose GBT as the first conservation […]

The U.S. and Canada have lost more than 2.9 billion birds since 1970, according to a Cornell Lab of Ornithology and American Bird Conservancy report. Grassland bird species suffered the steepest declines, losing 53% of their population, or more than 720 million birds! Widespread loss and degradation of habitat from agricultural intensification and urbanization caused […]

Land Trust staff and board members from across the U.S. gathered in Raleigh, N.C. this October to attend RALLY, the National Land Trust Conference.  They came together to learn from experts, share their knowledge and gain the skills they need to grow their missions.  They heard a lot about “Natural Climate Solutions” – the ability […]

Fort Edward, NY – GBT volunteer Mary-Beth Wagner supervised the planting of a dozen native trees at the AZS Viewing Area the last week in September.  The evergreen trees, sited in consultation with DEC Wildlife Biologists, will provide a roost for wintering Short-eared owls and a windbreak for visitors to our viewing blind.  Volunteers helped […]

GREENWICH, NY – Fair food, tractor pulls and farm animals drew large crowds to the Washington County Fair the week of August 19th – 25th.  “The Big Push” Birthing Center was a hit as families gathered to see the live birthing of calves. Veterinarians were on call to help and a herdsperson catered to the cows […]

FORT EDWARD, NY – Grassland Bird Trust (GBT) Board Members and volunteers recognized Landowner Merrilyn Pulver, New York State Senator Betty Little and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner as OWL HEROES at our 1st Annual Grassland Bird Field Day in June for their contributions to grassland bird conservation in New York State. Pulver received the award for […]