Grassland birds have declined more than any other suite of birds in the Northeast over the past 40 years. Management agencies and conservation groups have now identified grassland bird management and conservation as a priority. Greg will discuss the history of grassland breeding birds and their habitats in New York State, as well as their management and conservation. He will provide an overview of grassland bird research and expand upon his own research on grassland birds in the state. He also will discuss future directions and controversies for grassland bird conservation in the region.

Greg Lawrence is a graduate student at SUNY Brockport studying grassland community ecology, with a focus on grassland breeding bird management and conservation. He currently works for Ecology & Environment, Inc., and has previously worked as a grassland bird technician with the NYS DEC, and on multiple research grants/projects at SUNY Brockport. He also serves on the board of the New York State Ornithological Association and Bergen Swamp Preservation Society. He has been an active birder in the area and member of the Rochester Birding Association since 2005, starting as a young birder. He has led numerous field trips and given two previous talks for RBA.