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:

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! …
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| | Albemarle County & the City of Charlottesville, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
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 …
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| | Agricultural BMPs, Managing Your Land, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
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 …
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| | For Wildlife & Fish Habitat, Managing Your Land, Press Center, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
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 …
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| | For Wildlife & Fish Habitat, Managing Your Land, Press Center, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
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 …
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| | Albemarle County & the City of Charlottesville, Clarke County, Culpeper County, Fauquier County, For Wildlife & Fish Habitat, Greene County, Loudoun County, Madison County, Managing Your Land, Orange County, Rappahannock County, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, The Piedmont View, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative, Working Farms & Food
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 …
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| | Fauquier County, For Wildlife & Fish Habitat, Managing Your Land, Our Work, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, Video, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
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 …
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| | Clean Water, Conservation easements, Easement Stories, James M. Rowley Goose Creek Conservation Fund, Land Conservation, Loudoun County, PEC Conservation Funds, Plantings for the Piedmont, The Piedmont View, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
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 …
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| | Restoring Wildlife Habitat, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
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! …
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| | Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
a bobolink eating an insect in a field of purple and yellow wildflowers

Ways to Support Grassland Birds

There are several things that you can do around your landscape that will have a positive impact on our region’s grassland birds, both migratory and resident, as well as improve biodiversity …
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| | Managing Your Land, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative