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 small brown bird perches on a leafy tree branch

An Introduction to Grassland Birds

PGBI Coordinator Justin Proctor shares his experience researching grassland birds …
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| | For Wildlife & Fish Habitat, Managing Your Land, The Piedmont View, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
An American Kestrel in flight

What is the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative?

Native grasslands have suffered the most intense impact by humans of any of North America’s terrestrial ecosystems, resulting in grassland-associated birds experiencing a steeper, more consistent decline than any other guild of birds …
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| | For Wildlife & Fish Habitat, Managing Your Land, Restoring Wildlife Habitat, Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative