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. Visit the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative website to learn more.

A man holds a kestrel

Who’s Protecting the Piedmont?

Here, we highlight two of those people, who are protecting the Piedmont with a passion and focus on stemming the decline of our once-abundant grassland birds …
cover of albemarle magazine with a brown and yellow bird on it

Return of the Grassland Birds: Albemarle Magazine

The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative was featured as the cover story in the October/November issue of Albemarle Magazine! …
artwork graphic with hayfield, cows, a tractor and birds with mountains in the background

Working together to bring back grassland birds

The financial incentives program is open through Nov. 15! The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is now in it’s third year …
group stands on rural property

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

Now through Nov. 15, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is accepting applications from producers who are interested in financial incentives for protecting nesting grassland birds during the 2024 haying season …
a group of about 20 stands in a farm field listening to a presenter

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

Now through Nov 15, 2022, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) is accepting applications for its 2023 financial incentives program …
a green field with black cows on a rainy looking day

Return of the Grassland Birds

The new Virginia (formerly Piedmont) Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) is showing promising signs of returning those birds to the Virginia landscape. With grant funding, the program pays farmers to adopt bird-friendly best management practices …
Woman holding adult kestrel

Video: Kestrel Banding with October Greenfield

PEC’s October Greenfield has been busy banding American Kestrels across our region to help track the movement and reproductive patterns of these beautiful falcons …
aerial view of a meandering stream through two fields in a rural landscape during autumn

Re-aligning Land and Nature at the Holden Farm in Loudoun County

In 2021, the Holdens partnered with The Piedmont Environmental Council to permanently conserve their rolling 35-acre farm just south of the historic Quaker village of Lincoln …
a white and gray bird looks forward, clung to a tree

Winter Birding Opportunities

Wondering how you can get involved in bird conservation this winter? Community science is a great way to stay active, contribute to science and learn more about local ecology …
a woman holds a fluffy baby barn owl

Meet the VGBI Staff

VGBI relies on strong local partners and interested landowners working together with knowledgeable PEC and VWL staff — meet VGBI co-coordinators Justin and October! …