Grassland Bird Conservation

The Uihlein Foundation’s 1,342 acre property includes rich hardwood forest, a bird-friendly sugarbush, and open fields that support a diverse bird population. The foundation is committed to protecting, improving, and studying these diverse habitats for the benefit of wildlife and the community.

Conservation efforts are vital to sustaining grassland bird populations as they are among the most imperiled bird groups in the US and have declined precipitously over the last 5 decades due to habitat loss and changes in agricultural practices. Grassland birds require large, open habitats, which are rare in the heavily forested Adirondack Park. These birds are particularly abundant on the foundation’s open fields. During the summer months bobolinks and savannah sparrows make their nests on the ground. Bird nesting boxes line the field and offer nesting space for Eastern bluebirds and tree swallows.

Since the majority of the remaining breeding habitat for grassland birds exists in privately owned hayfields and pastures, it is essential for landowners to do what they can to protect their breeding birds. The Uihlein Foundation is taking steps to understand and protect the breeding Bobolinks on its property by supporting ongoing research and limiting the disturbance that is allowed in fields during the breeding season.

Since 2019, the Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) has been working with the Uihlein Foundation to study and conserve grassland specialist species like bobolink and savannah sparrow at Heaven Hill and Uihlein Farm. These efforts address concerns over declining North American grassland bird populations and aim to implement protection measures and habitat improvements.

Our collaboration involves:

Documenting bird populations: AWI has been monitoring bird populations, breeding behaviors, and habitat use at both Heaven Hill and Uihlein Farm. This includes regular visits to observe and record birds using these important lands.
Monitoring nest boxes: Nest boxes were installed to provide nesting locations for tree swallows and Eastern bluebirds. Monitoring these boxes provides data on reproductive output and helps to increase our understanding of climate change impacts on birds.
Implementing conservation strategies: The Uihlein Foundation has undertaken critical efforts to increase understanding of grassland bird breeding and behavior, and to implement protection measures and habitat improvements such as limiting public access to the fields during breeding season to allow for safe fledging of baby birds.
Habitat management: The team explores opportunities for habitat improvement, such as managing mowing practices by delaying the haying of the field until after breeding season. At Uihlein Farm, test plots have been established to determine effective methods for establishing beneficial grass species.
Use of technology: Automated Recording Units (ARUs) are deployed regularly to capture a broader sample of birds using Uihlein Farm, thermal drones have been used to explore identification of nesting locations, and the Motus tower expands our understanding of birds moving through the broader region.
Community partnerships: The work involves collaboration with local experts, organizations, and landowners to promote grassland bird habitat conservation.
Sharing findings: The AWI team shares information about the Uihlein Foundation's efforts to protect grassland birds with visitors and at events.

This research also aims to understand the impact of climate change on grassland bird habitats and to identify areas that can serve as climate refugia for these species. The ultimate goal is to develop Heaven Hill and Uihlein Farm as models for grassland bird conservation that can be applied by other landowners in the Adirondacks.

To learn more about this research and read published papers about this work done by Adirondack Watershed Institute,
click here.

Male Bobolink breeding plumage_Q0I1874c.jpg

Bird Photos courtesy of Larry Master

Bird Conservation at Uihlein Farm

Uihlein Farm’s fields, with their sparse vegetation, are composed of grasses and forbs that can grow in soil depleted by decades of potato production. The foundation is currently considering a variety of regenerative agriculture options for these fields, as well as a research and conservation program for grassland raptors.

The varied structure and composition of these 230 acres of fields provides immense potential to serve as a grassland refuge for raptors. American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, and even Short-eared Owls have been seen on the site, as well as several Savannah sparrows and the occasional Horned Lark. The varied habitat and immense size will attract a higher diversity of species to this site, and efforts are underway to identify and improve critical habitat blocks.

The Uihlein Foundation reinforced its commitment to research and conservation by developing a comprehensive bird conservation plan for the property and identifying next steps to establish a permanent bird banding station. With close proximity to several colleges and universities, the foundation supports ongoing population monitoring and uses these data as an educational tool to connect tourists and the general public to the habitats of the Adirondack Park.