In Their Own Words:

We envision a resilient landscape of conserved grasslands across North America teeming with healthy populations of native grassland birds…

Grassland Bird Trust (GBT) partners with landowners, government agencies, and other organizations and stakeholders to ensure the recovery of endangered and threatened grassland bird species while expanding economic benefits for local communities.

The Work

Grassland Bird Trust (GBT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust conserving critical habitat for endangered, threatened and rapidly declining grassland birds. We’ve conserved over 250 acres of prime habitat in the heart of the Washington County Grasslands Important Bird Area (IBA) since our founding in 2010.

We’re working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and other major partners to protect critical habitat for endangered and at-risk grassland birds across New York State.

GBT owns and manages 78 acres at our Alfred Z. Solomon (AZS) Grassland Bird Viewing Area in Fort Edward, located in the heart of the Washington County Grasslands IBA. This area supports 10 of 11 of New York’s most imperiled grassland bird species. It is critical to the survival of Short-eared Owls in New York State!

GBT is a proud member of the Land Trust Alliance. The GBT hosts bird walks and other educational programs and events, including an annual Raptor Fest.

Note from Destination: Wildlife

I first met GBT founder Laurie LaFond (now retired) on a cold, grey, overcast March morning in 2015. We stood on the side of a country road; the wind howling, freezing sleet rendered our binoculars useless and slid its way under collars and down unprepared backs. Five of us journalists and responsible wildlife tour professionals who had been invited by New York State to discover their "watchable wildlife" stood wet and shivering, our extremities slowly turning into popsicles. Across the frozen field, a lone Northern Harrier glided low against the dark backdrop of pine. Laurie saw it first. Gordon Ellmers, her friend, supporter, passionate nature lover, and unofficial photographer, aimed his lens. Then they watched, not moving, as the bird disappeared out of sight. Neither Laurie nor Gordie seemed to notice the weather.

That day, Laurie's passion for birds and steadfast determination to protect their habitat lit a fire in my soul, too. Years later, an idea was born when she asked us to help her raise money for the GBT. Today, our annual trips for the GBT underscore the importance of grasslands and the myriad species that grassland habitat supports worldwide. The trips raise funds to help acquire, care for, and advocate for grassland habitat in the Fort Edward, NY, area, and educate and inspire visitors from all over the US and the world.