Sharing Fields with Grassland Birds

During this program we will discuss the bird species which rely on agricultural fields in Central Maine and suggest ways for farmers and land managers to co-exist with nesting bird populations.  Learn how SRLT has repurposed fields which are contaminated with PFAS for grassland bird habitat. Presentation by Laura Suomi-Lecker, Ag Allies Program Manager - Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District, and Tom Aversa, Sebasticook Regional Land Trust – Board Chair. After the presentation, Tom will lead an optional walk along Sandy Stream and through the Richardson Memorial Preserve to see the diverse habitat influenced by bird-friendly timber management.

Bobolinks and other grassland birds are true agricultural allies to farmers as they consume large quantities of insect pests.  Unfortunately, their populations are declining, partially due to changes in timing and frequency of forage harvesting.  Human impact on breeding populations is significant, resulting in widespread nesting failure across much of Maine.

Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Ag Allies works with landowners and land trusts to increase nesting success of grassland birds through on-farm incentive payments and technical assistance.  The program empowers landowners to make sustainable bird-friendly management changes on their land. SRLT's work to enhance grassland bird habitat management at the Richardson Memorial Preserve  is partially funded through Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative.