Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative

09/01/2026

Will we see you at Rally? Please reach out if you'd like to connect in Denver—and hope to see some of you at the session we'll be presenting with partners on Saturday morning: Why and How to Monitor and Conserve Birds: A Framework for Land Trusts!

Are you joining us for Rally 2026: The National Land Conservation Conference in Denver?

Whether you're looking for fresh inspiration, practical solutions or new collaborators, Rally offers opportunities to learn, share and recharge alongside conservation professionals from across the country.

Join us for inspiring field trips, special events, thought-provoking plenaries and expert-led sessions covering stewardship, fundraising, community engagement, policy and much more.

We hope to see you in Denver, Sept. 16–19! https://landtrustalliance.org/resources/connect/rally-the-national-land-conservation-conference

08/31/2026

A great opportunity for those in CT and NY to learn more about eBird!

This message is for birders and conservationists in Fairfield and Litchfield Counties:

The Northeast Bird Habitat Conservation Initiative is puttin' on an "eBird Train-the-Trainers Workshop" at Bent of the River Audubon Center in Southbury on Thursday, September 24.

The workshop is all about hosting eBird workshops for landowners, homeowners, and community members in your area so that you maximize the power of birds - and eBird - to help you in your conservation efforts.

Details and registration here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3vHDO4GEoAlMTp80R9TR_ZJ0ZCHjOGFr_PRcqihtXrbK5Cg/viewform

Pictured: Hooded Merganser by Lindsay Pettinicchi

08/17/2026

Our August eNews is out! Explore new resources and bird conservation stories here:

Thinking about starting a bird monitoring program or looking to strengthen one you already have? Our new Bird Monitoring Toolkit provides practical guidance for designing and implementing monitoring efforts that fit your organization's goals and capacity.

08/13/2026

Learn more about the Golden-chain Collaborative through this interview with Mark LaBarr of Audubon Vermont.

08/03/2026

One of our 2026 small grant awardees!

07/30/2026

Vermont Land Trust Forester Caitlin Cusack recently sat down with us to share the story of their successful 2024 small grant project. Read more here: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/landtrust/vermont-land-trust/

At Pratt Refuge, birds tell a story — of conservation, ecological forestry, and the power we have to make a difference in the local ecosystem.

In 2024, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology gave us a grant to create bird habitat on 20 acres at Pratt Refuge in . VLT Forester Caitlin Cusack sat down with them recently to talk about how “bird conservation offers a natural bridge to engage new audiences.”

https://www.birds.cornell.edu/landtrust/vermont-land-trust/

“This project demonstrates the power of a small project to reach a large audience,” said Caitlin. “We’re committed to making the demonstration site at Pratt Refuge accessible to as many people as possible.”

Thanks to Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon Vermont, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, Vermont Trails and Greenways Council's Trail Accessibility Hub, the Vermont Center for Independent Living, Rabbit Track Trail Works, and Vermont Youth Conservation Corps for supporting Pratt Refuge’s new accessible trail and welcoming even more birders to this beautiful landscape.

📸 The trail opening celebration at Pratt Refuge, taken by Kyle Gray.

07/22/2026

One of our 2025 small grant projects!

07/14/2026

Learn more about ESLT's 2026 small grant project here: https://eslt.org/2026/07/09/grant-land-trust-bird-conservation/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTDN3ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkY0NGdktCV0NPcGMxbGZlc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHreuEBCaikZVh6c9R-G2p8YNcveRI7Kbs4rq_VL5mnpxpqotp0JPRfGZ4ql__aem_DnUU8her_AXP0ZhHQJrs2g

Good news! Eastern Sierra Land Trust was awarded a small grant from the Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. ➡Read more about the project here: https://eslt.org/2026/07/09/grant-land-trust-bird-conservation/

With this grant, ESLT will expand treatment and monitoring of an invasive annual grass population to improve grassland habitat at Desert Creek Ranch in Smith Valley, Nevada. The ranch supports a mosaic of wet meadows, sagebrush steppe, and riparian habitats that benefit a variety of sagebrush-dependent birds and other wildlife. This project builds on more than a decade of treatment and monitoring of medusahead. Monitoring results will help guide future restoration efforts and help restore habitat for the Bi-state sage grouse.

ESLT is grateful to the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative, the Park family, and each of our project partners for making this possible.

Photo: Dalton Paley

07/06/2026

Thanks to partners at Cold Hollow to Canada and Audubon Vermont for hosting this opportunity for us to learn about their Woodlots model!