News

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 […]

ALBANY, NY  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Thursday more than $2.2 million in New York State Conservation Partnership Program grants awarded to 47 not-for-profit land trusts across the state. The grants are funded through New York’s Environmental Protection Fund. According to a press release, “a total of 70 grants will leverage an additional $2.2 million in […]

ARGYLE Grassland Bird Trust, formerly Friends of the IBA, officially acquired another 64 acres of critical habitat in February. The two-year project was completed on schedule thanks to a $63,000 grant from NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (Parks), a $50,000 grant from the Open Space Institute (OSI) and donations from Grassland Bird […]

Love owls?  Actions speak louder than words, and the thoughtless actions of a small number of people who’ve been harassing landowners in the Washington County Grasslands IBA shows a blatant disregard for the owls and their hosts. Landowners have become increasingly frustrated this winter with photographers and birders lining up their tripods in front of […]