Building Strategic Bird Conservation Partnerships with Private Land Networks (3/25/23) presentation at the Connecticut Land Conservation Conference in Middletown, CT, on the power of birds to guide collaborative conservation to effect local change on private forests and grasslands throughout the Northeast while providing opportunities to scale lessons across a larger landscape. Presented by Katherine Blake, Conservationist, Highstead; and Eileen Fielding, Center Director, Sharon Audubon Center, Audubon Connecticut.

Building Strategic Bird Conservation Partnerships with Private Land Networks (9/16/22) presentation at the Land Trust Alliance Rally 2022 in New Orleans, LA, on how partnerships, such as the Regional Conservation Partnership Network, can lead to more collective climate resiliency across a larger landscape through bird-focused land prioritization, healthy forest, and sustainable grassland practices. Presented by Steve Hagenbuch, Senior Conservation Biologist and Forester, Audubon Vermont; Sara Barker, Director of Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative, Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Julia Fitzpatrick, Land Conservation Coordinator and TerraCorps Member, Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust.

NBHCI Mapping Tool Focus Group (7/20/22) presented the NBHCI Mapping Tool to a group of conservation professionals in the Northeast, including members of NBHCI not directly involved in the project and Regional Conservation Partnership coordinators, to receive constructive feedback on the tool as well as insight into how conservationists can implement the tool to further their strategic planning and goals.

Zoom Meetings with RCPs and Audubon groups in CT, NY, MA, VT, and ME (March 2020) facilitated discussions between RCPs, Audubon groups, Highstead, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in each listed state around opportunities for collaboration, goal alignment, and potential pilot projects to use as proof of concept.

Northeast Bird Habitat Conservation Initiative Summit (9/5/19) held at Harvard Forest offered a presentation to help summit meeting participants better understand Regional Conservation Partnerships, the background of the NBHCI, identify partner overlap and priorities, and generate ideas for actionable pilot projects and funding opportunities.

On September 17, 2024, partners gathered at Merck Forest and Farmland Center in Rupert, Vermont, for a day of learning, including a field trip to showcase collaboratively managed bird-friendly landscapes.

At the meeting, conservationists from Ag Allies, 12 Rivers Conservation Initiative, Mass Audubon, Mid-Champlain Valley RCP, North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership, the Piedmont Environmental Council, Audubon Vermont, Cold Hollow to Canada, and Litchfield Hills Greenprint Collaborative presented their work in protecting and stewarding private lands, engaging private landowners, and collaborating with partners to support their work. Attendees shared resources and discussed opportunities for collaborative conservation projects.

Additional themes included:

• balancing the need to generate more renewable energy while also protecting critical bird habitat, such as grasslands; 
• concerns about the impact of delayed mowing on hay quality, and how Ag Allies is working with farmers in Maine to increase nesting success of grassland birds and improve economic viability;
• fostering more effective landowner engagement using models such as Cold Hollow to Canada’s Woodlots Program and outreach events like the Conservation Speed Dating Workshop developed by the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative;
• tapping into youth leaders to accomplish projects like Audubon Vermont’s work with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps;
• how to continue to think creatively about connecting resources for shrublands and other habitats that can benefit multiple species, such as both Bobolinks and Golden-winged warblers; and
• using tools like eBird to promote awareness of the role of birds in activities like land planning and community engagement.

One thread throughout the day was how partnerships are essential not only to protect ecological resources but also to support local economies and livelihoods, address growing energy demands, grow healthy food, and reinforce people’s sense of community.

On January 19, 2023, partners gathered from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to connect with each other and learn about the NBHCI and inspire one another for new on-the-ground bird-friendly management practices.

Recordings

• Main Meeting Recording
• Bird-friendly Forestry Project Breakout Group Presentation– Steve Hagenbuch- Audubon Vermont and Nancy Patch- Cold Hollow to Canada Forest Link Project
• Maine Grassland Birds Project Breakout Group Presentation– Laura Lecker- Ag Allies, Irene Flynn- 12 Rivers Conservation Initiative, and Jean-Luc Theriault- Kennebec Woodland Partnership
• Massachusetts Grassland Birds Project Breakout Group Presentation– Jeff Ritterson- Mass Audubon and Sarah Wells-  North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership
• eBird Training, Mini-Grant, and Workshop Breakout Group Presentation– Connie Manes- Litchfield Hills Greenprint Collaborative