Grassland songbird ecology @ the Hudson Valley Farm Hub

In 2021, we joined the amazing Applied Farmscape Ecology Research Collaborative at the Hudson Valley Farm Hub. This project explores the breeding and migratory ecology of grassland songbirds that nest in an isolated and recently established kernza field (see picture above), originally planted in 2017. Compared to our work in the Champlain Valley of Vermont, this newly established population is isolated in the largely forested landscape. While we primarily focus on Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlarks are present, and Grasshopper Sparrows and Sedge Wrens seem to sneak around too. More exciting details to come soon…..

Migration tracks for a female Bobolink that bred on the Hudson Valley Farm Hub in 2022 and 2023. Analysis by Violet Wu.
Migration tracks for from 2022-2023 Bobolinks breeding on the Farm Hub and Vermont (analysis and photo by Violet Wu).