Virginia Working Landscapes

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

Every year, our annual report tells the story of what happens when research, conservation, and community come together.

We're excited to share our 2025 Annual Report, a look back at a year of discovery, partnership, and conservation action across Virginia's working lands.

As Program Director Amy Johnson writes in her annual letter:

“Our team celebrated milestones of acres conserved for grassland bird breeding habitat, team members recognized for their diverse skills and leadership, volunteers exploring new survey techniques and farmers helping design and refine our studies. Together, these efforts continue to build a meaningful body of research and conservation practice grounded in real places and enduring partnerships, while also strengthening the skills, trust and shared commitment that make that work possible.”

Thank you to the farmers, landowners, volunteers, partners, supporters, and community members who make this work possible.

Read the full report here:

06/15/2026

Recently Co Coordinators of the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) Justin Proctor and October Greenfield partnered with Kevin Tate, with the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley to present at the Virginia Land Conservation & Greenways Conference. The trio presented on one of VGBI's most popular events: Conservation Speed-Dating, a fast-paced, fun, and interactive workshop where landowners rotate through short conversations with local conservation experts such as technical service providers (TSPs), state and federal agencies, researchers, land trust representatives, and conservation NGOs.

Conservation professionals who attend the talk received an overview of the event model, instructions on how to replicate them, and an interactive mock speed-dating component. This joint presentation and the speed-dating workshop model both highlight the value of collaborations and community in conservation efforts.

Photos by Hugh Kenny for PEC

06/09/2026

Field season is in full swing and we are enjoying the warm weather and wildlife that come with it!

Learn more about what we've been up to and other updates in conservation science from our newsletter! You can read the latest issue on our website.

06/02/2026

Two more interns have joined the VWL Team for the summer!

Conservation Storytelling Intern Emma Montgomery will help document our field work and share our conservation messages through photography, filmmaking, and science communication.

Grassland Plant Ecology Intern Kara Reed will be assisting with our biodiversity surveys that seek to explore the impact of various landscape management and restoration practices on grassland plant ecology.

Please join us in welcoming the two of them and wishing them all the best for a successful and fulfilling internship experience!

05/28/2026

We are thrilled to introduce The People Behind the Practices, a new video series sharing the stories of landowners and managers putting conservation into action on working lands.

Through personal experiences and practical management, this series explores how everyday decisions can shape healthier, more resilient landscapes for wildlife and people alike.

Our first episode focuses on forest management and the role active stewardship can play in supporting healthy forests from the canopy down to the understory.

Watch the first episode and learn how these practices can support thriving ecosystems across our region.

05/26/2026

This season you might see Black cherry blooming!

Native to much of North America, black cherry trees burst into bloom in late spring with long clusters of small white flowers that support a wide variety of pollinators. Later in the season, their dark fruits become an important food source for birds and mammals alike.

Black cherry is also a host plant for several butterfly species, including eastern tiger swallowtails and red-spotted purples, making it an important part of the food web far beyond its blossoms.

Young black cherry trees can often be identified by their smooth bark marked with horizontal lines, while older trees develop dark, scaly bark often compared to burnt potato chips.

photos by Charlotte Lorick

05/22/2026

Bobolinks are back!

After spending the winter in South America, these long-distance migrants have returned to Virginia’s grasslands for the breeding season.

Male bobolinks are hard to miss this time of year, flashing black-and-white plumage as they sing over open fields. Their bubbling song is one of the defining sounds of late spring in grassland habitats.

Though they may only stay for a few months, their return marks the beginning of another season in the grasslands.

05/20/2026

Our bluebirds have been busy this season!

Led by VWL Research Fellow Allison Huysman, our team is studying the ecosystem services provided by cavity-nesting birds on working lands. So far, the team has documented more than 50 hatched Eastern Bluebird nests!

This study will help us better understand how birds interact with agricultural landscapes and the role they play in these ecosystems.

(Note: All handling of wild birds for our studies are conducted by trained professionals under a federally authorized banding permit).

05/18/2026

Conservation at home: bird-friendly glass

Each year, billions of birds migrate across North America, including through urban corridors like Washington, D.C. During these journeys, glass windows pose one of the most serious and often invisible threats to birds. Reflections of trees and sky can look like open habitat, causing birds to collide with glass at full speed.

The encouraging news is that glass collisions are highly preventable. Simple, low-cost solutions such as adding patterned decals, applying tape in visible spacing, or using external screens, can help birds recognize glass as a barrier.

During peak migration seasons, small changes at home can make a meaningful difference, helping ensure birds complete their journeys safely across the landscapes we share.

Photo of the Bird House at the National Zoo outfitted with bird-friendly glass! Photo by Skip Brown, Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute