Grassland Bird Trust is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit land trust conserving critical habitat for endangered, threatened and at-risk grassland birds.
Conservation InitiativesOur MissionConserving critical habitat for endangered, threatened and rapidly declining grassland birds
Conserving Land
Grasslands are the fastest disappearing habitat in North America. Grassland birds eat insects and rodents that damage crops. They share their habitat with bees and butterflies that pollinate fruits, vegetables, hay and other crops.
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Preserving Biodiversity
Conserved grasslands protect endangered and threatened birds like Short-eared owls, Upland sandpipers and meadowlarks. They also provide important habitat for over 100 other bird and wildlife species, including thousands of pollinators!
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Mitigating Climate Change
Grasses filter carbon out of the air and store it underground in their roots or the soil. Unlike forests, the majority of the carbon is not released if the grasses catch fire, making them better able to withstand climate change.
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700Million Grassland Birds Lost the past 50 years
258Acres Conserved
78Acres Owned & Managed
Upcoming Events
Saturday, May 4, 2024 2-5:00 p.m.
Raptor Fest - Enraptured with Grassland Birds!
Join Grassland Bird Trust at the Little Theatre on the Farm in Fort Edward NY for the 2024 Raptor Fest – Enraptured with Grassland Birds! This year’s event will be held rain or shine and includes:
- A live bird demonstration, with birds in flight, by the very entertaining Trish Marki from the Wildlife Institute of Eastern New York
- A most remarkable presentation on grassland birds by 12 year old prodigy Arabella Pajoohi, member of the NY State Young Birders club
- Joseph Bruchac, Native American poet, storyteller, and author will describe the deep connection between humans and the feathered beings all around us
The event is appropriate for children 10 and up. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children under 18. Read our Trips and Events Release and purchase your ticket today!
Little Theatre on the Farm is located at 27 Plum Rd in Fort Edward.
Tickets
Thank you to our host, Little Theatre on the Farm, and our generous sponsors!
ODD DUCK FARM
THE SANDY HILL FOUNDATION
Tues-Thurs, Feb 27-29, 2024 or
Fri-Sun, Mar 01-03, 2024
Fri-Sun, Mar 01-03, 2024
Three-Day Winter Raptor Tour
Start planning your winter birding activities today by reviewing the itinerary for a three-day winter raptor tour in the Fort Edward Grasslands Important Bird Area (IBA). The Audubon-designated IBA is especially appealing to winter raptors who migrate to the grasslands from colder climates in search of food. Potential sightings include endangered Short-eared Owls (pictured) and threatened Northern Harriers, as well as American Kestrels, Bald Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks, Barred Owls, Cooper’s Hawks, Snowy Owls, and more!
Our small footprint (maximum of 6 guests, plus a guide and driver) allows us to go to the areas the birds love best. We will have excursions in the early morning and in the late afternoon as these are the times that the raptors hunt.
Meals are at locally owned establishments, most are farm-to-table. Your accommodation will be at the historic The Queensbury, in Glens Falls, NY. Contact Roberta Kravette with questions (rkravette@signpostpublishing.com of (908) 656-4016).
The cost is $1,165 to $1,592 depending on your tour dates and occupancy (single vs. double). The cost of each tour includes a $250 tax-deductible donation to GBT which helps preserve this important habitat. Read our Trips and Events Release then register.
Winter birding in the IBA is a thrilling experience!
Itinerary RegisterRecent News
The Grassland Bird Trust Heads to Africa for the Second Annual International Birding and Fundraising Adventure
July 10th, 2023
Do Lilac Breasted Rollers, African Hoopies, and Elephants have in Common? They were all part of the adventure when we headed to Africa for a Birding Namibia and Botswana 12-day Adventure to Benefit the Grassland Bird Trust! Our second annual birding and fundraising trip brought us to the moonscape expanses of northern Namibia’s Etosha […]
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What’s Your Favorite Spring Bird? GBT Volunteers Weigh In.
March 13th, 2023
We have lift-off! The siren call of a growing, brighter light has launched thousands, nay, millions of long-haul flights. And although triggered by the sun, most of these journeys are flown in darkness, guided by the moon and stars. These are the eco-friendliest of all eco-friendly flights, powered by insects, seeds, and fruit, and some […]
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Winter Secrets of the New York Grasslands
February 9th, 2023
Read Roberta Kravette’s notes on the birds that winter in the Fort Edward, NY grasslands. She provides a great description of the birds that winter here, where to find them, and the best time to spot them. In addition, there are some incredible photos by bird and wildlife photographer Gordon Ellmers of Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, Barred […]
Read More“I applaud the Grassland Bird Trust for their successful acquisition, which will further preserve this critical natural habitat and restore threatened grassland bird populations.”
– Acting New York State State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid
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