Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative

A collaboration to support bird-friendly practices on working lands.

The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) is a collaboration between The Piedmont Environmental Council, Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes, American Farmland Trust and Quail Forever focused on promoting the science-based knowledge and resources needed to manage Virginia’s private lands for grassland bird conservation. Scroll down for the latest updates on the VGBI and visit the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative website to learn more.

Overview of VGBI

At the Virginia Bluebird Society’s 2025 Annual Meeting, PEC’s Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) Assistant, Lauria McShane, provided an overview of VGBI and how it is working with partners to bring grassland birds back to agricultural fields. Watch now:

A tree swallow looks out of a birdhouse entry.

How to be a friend to birds this season

As Virginia loses open spaces to conversion, many species of birds struggle to find a safe place to raise their young. Luckily, you can support native bird species in your own backyard …
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| | Birds, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, The Piedmont View, VGBI, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative, Wildlife Habitat
Video: Restoring Kestrel Habitat in Virginia

Video: Restoring Kestrel Habitat in Virginia

PEC’s Lauria McShane and other members of the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative team are busy this fall and winter installing kestrel boxes across our landscape …
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| | Conserving Land, For Wildlife & Fish Habitat, Land Conservation, Madison County, Managing Your Land, Our Region, PEC Productions, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, Video, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative, Working with Conservation
A peek inside the Meet Your Grassland Birds guide

Press Release: Financial incentives available to farmers for haying practices that support nesting birds

Media Contacts: October Greenfield, VGBI Co-Coordinator, [email protected]; 540-347-2334, x7051Lauria McShane, VGBI Assistant; [email protected]; 540-347-2334, x7056 PIEDMONT, SHENANDOAH VALLEY, BLUE RIDGE, Va. (Oct. 14, 2025) –  The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is pleased to announce the …
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| | Agricultural BMPs, Press Center, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
2024 Highlights: By the Numbers

2024 Highlights: By the Numbers

PEC’s dedicated staff work relentlessly to advance land conservation, sound land use planning, the protection of natural resources and better climate and energy policy …
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| | Agricultural Land Easements, Albemarle County & the City of Charlottesville, Clarke County, Clean Water, Community Engagement, Conservation and Restoration, Conservation easements, Conserving Land, Culpeper County, Data Centers, Data centers, Energy Efficiency & Conservation, Energy Matters, Fauquier County, Greene County, Land Conservation, Land Conservation Policy, Loudoun County, Madison County, Orange County, Our Work, PEC Properties, Publications, Rappahannock County, Roundabout Meadows, Roundabout Meadows Community Farm, Smart Growth, Strong Communities, Transmission, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative, Wildlife Habitat, Working Farms & Food
Landowner Testimonial - Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative

Landowner Testimonial – Virginia Grassland Bird Incentive Program

The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative’s Incentives Program application is open! Open to 16 counties, VGBI’s financial incentives program pays farmers $35 per acre for delayed haying and/or summer pasture stockpiling during the grassland bird nesting …
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| | Conserving Your Land, For Wildlife & Fish Habitat, Land Conservation, Managing Your Land, Video, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
Let’s bring back our grassland birds

Let’s bring back our grassland birds

This text was taken from an email alert sent out on Oct. 29, 2024. Sign up for email alerts → Dear Supporter, I’d like to share exciting news about our Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative, entering …
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| | Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
a nest of meadowlark eggs and an adult meadowlark side by side images

Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative offers financial incentives for delayed haying and summer pasture stockpiling

Now through Nov 15, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) is accepting applications from producers in 16 counties across the northern Virginia Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Shenandoah Valley, who are interested in financial incentives for …
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| | Press Center, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
A room filled with people sitting across from each other at tables with maps in between them.

A Match Made in Conservation

Stepping into land conservation for the first time, or starting a new conservation project, can feel as intimidating or overwhelming as a first date might feel. But in these brightly lit rooms with friendly faces, …
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| | Conserving Land, Conserving Your Land, Land Conservation, Managing Your Land, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, The Piedmont View, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative, Working with Conservation
Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative offers financial incentives for delayed haying and summer pasture stockpiling

Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative offers financial incentives for delayed haying and summer pasture stockpiling

Now through Nov 15, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) is accepting applications from producers in 16 counties across the northern Virginia Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Shenandoah Valley, who are interested in financial incentives for …
Read More
| | Agricultural BMPs, For Wildlife & Fish Habitat, Managing Your Land, Regional, State and National, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative, Working Farms & Food
Wildflowers in bloom at the Piedmont Memorial Overlook

Wildflowers in bloom at the Piedmont Memorial Overlook

The native meadow at the Piedmont Memorial Overlook is in bloom and can be accessed via Sky Meadows State Park or the Appalachian Trail …
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| | Fauquier County, For Wildlife & Fish Habitat, Managing Your Land, Native Plants & Pollinators, PEC Productions, PEC Properties, Piedmont Memorial Overlook, Pollinators, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, Video, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative