Bobolink
Latin: Dolichonyx oryzivorus
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Cultivating healthier ecosystems, resilient landscapes, and bird and pollinator habitats on working lands.
Bird and Bee Friendly Farm Fields at the VYCC Campus Photo: Gwendolyn Causer/Audubon Vermont
The Challenge: Flying insectivores like Tree Swallows, Common Nighthawks, and Eastern Whip-poor-wills are experiencing alarming population declines. Grassland birds, species that depend on open grasslands for nesting, are disappearing faster than any other bird group. Meanwhile, native pollinators such as bumblebees face significant threats, with some species already vanishing from Vermont.
The Solution: By improving habitats, such as riparian buffers and forest margins, with native trees, shrubs, and perennial plants we create spaces where pollinators and birds can thrive. Additionally, managed grasslands with bird-friendly haying timelines ensure safe nesting grounds for declining grassland bird populations.
If you farm or manage working lands and are interested in adopting bird and bee friendly practices, you may be eligible for an in-person assessment of your property with an Audubon Vermont staff member. During these assessments, we explore your land and provide you with a personalized recommendation report tailored to improving your marginal landscapes for the benefit of birds and pollinators. We also help connect you with potential funding sources and technical assistance when completing this work.
Submit Your Information If you own working lands and want to take the next step, please complete our landowner interest form. We’ll respond within 3-4 weeks, and if your application is a good fit for the program, we’ll guide you through the next steps.
In 2020, we partnered with The University of Vermont’s Gund Institute for the Environment to develop bird and pollinator friendly farming practices. These practices have been tested on demonstration farms, showcasing both ecological and economic benefits. Our recommendations aim to not only promote wildlife and ecosystem health but also farm productivity and long-term financial sustainability.
By Spring 2025, over 30 farmers and landowners have joined us in assessment walks, and select landowners have implemented these practices, making tangible contributions to the health of Vermont’s agricultural landscapes.
Vermont’s lands have been home to Indigenous Peoples for thousands of years – a place of sustenance, community, and exchange. We respect their connection to this region and acknowledge the inequities and hardships they’ve faced.
Our Bird and Bee Friendly Farming program seeks to foster partnerships that uplift diverse voices and promote equitable opportunities. By learning from one another, we aim to create a more inclusive and resilient future for Vermont’s lands and communities. We are committed to listening, collaborating, and working with farmers from diverse backgrounds to strengthen both our partnerships and the ecosystems we steward.
Creating habitat for the birds and the bees.
A list a local sources to purchase native Plants for Birds in Vermont.
Some native plants are more powerful than others when it comes to supporting pollinators and birds.
There are plenty of natural and artificial features that wildlife can utilize.
Linking farmers and birders together to support bird-friendly agricultural practices
Resources for Wildlife-Friendly Pasture and Hay Management and Payment Incentives:
Help secure a future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss and other threats. Your support will power our science, education, advocacy and on-the-ground conservation efforts.
It's always a good time to visit the Audubon Center. Trails are open to the public year-round. Visit us daily from dawn until dusk! Donations are appreciated.
Adults, preschoolers, foresters, photographers, sugarmakers and families will all find opportunities to connect with nature.
