Grassland Bird Trust News & Stories

On May 8, 2021, friends of Grassland Bird Trust (GBT) gathered at Hicks Orchard to participate in Global Big Day, a worldwide event where bird-lovers reported bird observations to eBird during the peak of spring bird migration. Our event was just one of many that contributed to a world-record-setting day! There were 51,800 people spanning 192 countries […]

The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Grassland Bird Trust, Inc. is pleased to announce it is applying for accreditation. A public comment period is now open. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust […]

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 […]