Woods, wildlife and warblers Materials for landowners

Woods, Wildlife and Warblers provides landowners in Vermont and Eastern New York with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to enhance and/or protect the health of forests now and into the future. This is accomplished by providing free information, events, and individual site visits by woodland experts.

What have you already done to support birds on your land? What do you plan to do and when? The following materials will help you determine which steps may be appropriate on your land:

• Want to learn more about managing your woodland with birds and wildlife in mind? Consult our fact sheet and consider requesting a visit with a woodland expert to implement these practices on the ground.

• Use this checklist to organize your next steps in providing birds and other wildlife what they need to thrive in your woods.

• Audubon's birder’s dozen is a subset of the 40 forest songbirds that have been identified by Audubon Vermont as high priority for protection. Keep the birder's dozen in your pocket with our birder's dozen trading cards!

• Learn even more about the birder's dozen using Audubon Vermont's Birder's Dozen Pocket Guide.

• Participate in our webinar series for landowners! Check out the Events and Webinars page to register for upcoming webinars, or watch previous webinars here:

  • Getting Started in Your Woods

  • Common Invasive Plants of Vermont: Identification, Impacts and What You Can Do

• Check out Audubon Vermont's Bird Friendly Management Recommendations for more tips to enhance bird habitat on your land.

• Learn about Audubon Vermont's Healthy Forests Initiative along with services for landowners interested in bird friendly management.

• Refer to Audubon's Landowner Guide for more in-depth information and guidance to manage your woods with birds in mind.

Other resources for landowners

Audubon - Vermont and New York

Audubon Vermont and Audubon New York are core partners of the Woods, Wildlife, and Warblers program. They have excellent information about birds and wildlife in each state, including information about Vermont’s priority bird species and New York’s priority bird species. Also check out Audubon’s Plants for Birds database to find native plants for the birds in your area.

Champlain Valley Bird Initiative

Audubon Vermont's Champlain Valley Bird Initiative (CVBI) enhances habitat for priority bird species in the Champlain Valley. As part of National Audubon's Atlantic Flyway Initiative, the CVBI works to protect priority bird species in the Champlain Valley of Vermont. The Champlain Valley is part of an international, multi-state Bird Conservation Region, which extends from the lower Great Lakes through the St. Lawrence River Valley and west to the Lake Champlain Basin. It contains some of the most important grassland, shrubland, and wetland bird habitat in the East. Since much of this important habitat is privately owned, working with private landowners is critical to large-scale conservation efforts. In partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Audubon engages landowners in managing their land to protect priority bird species in the region.

My Land Plan

My Land Plan, a program of the American Forest Foundation, can help you explore and discover how to manage your woodlands. Easy-to-use tools guide you to map your land, set goals, keep a journal and connect with woodland owners and foresters. They also have wildlife-specific tips to help you create better homes for more wildlife on your land. 

New York Forest Owners Association

The New York Forest Owners Association is an organization with local chapters throughout the state that looks to promote, represent, and serve the interests of woodland owners. Find your closest chapter and browse their list of in-person and online events.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation offers a suite of resources for landowners. Not sure where to start when looking for a forester in your area? Take a look at their list of DEC approved cooperating foresters.

NRCS

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a federal agency that works with landowners to provide them resources to help care for their land. They offer programs to landowners such as technical assistance and even funding opportunities. NRCS offers tools and resources related to: Agroforestry Systems, Climate Change, Energy, Engineering, Cropland Erosion, Environmental Easement Boundaries, Nutrient Management, Organic Farming, Pest Management, Science and Technology Conservation, Snow Surveys and Water Supply, Soil Surveys, Technical Service Providers, Water Quality Models, and more. Learn more about NRCS in Vermont or NRCS in New York, and explore ways that you can get involved.

Tree Farm - Vermont and New York

The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is the oldest and largest forest conservation, certification, and advocacy program in the United States. Not only are the Vermont Tree Farm Committee and New York Tree Farm Committee one of the core partners for Woods, Wildlife, and Warblers, they also offer tips and resources for landowners, such as how to find a forester. Vermont Tree Farm is sponsored by the Vermont Woodlands Association, which works to encourage and support high quality forestry and land management practices. Check out their forestry facts to learn more about forestry in Vermont. 

Use Value Appraisal (a.k.a. Current Use)

Vermont's Use Value Appraisal Property Tax Program (a.k.a Current Use) helps make being a woodland owner more affordable. It enables landowners who own at least 25 acres to base their property taxes on the forestry value of the land rather than its commercial or residential value. Learn more about the program with the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation's informational brochure.

Vermont Coverts

Vermont Coverts is an organization that works to help Vermont landowners protect and enhance forests and wildlife habitat throughout the state. Every spring and fall, they host free a 3-day cooperator training program that educates participants on forest and wildlife management. They also host regular Forest Stewardship Workshops that focus on specific management topics. Learn more about their programs or check out their resources to learn more about forest management in Vermont.

Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation

Vermont's Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation provides great resources and information for landowners. Check out some of their tips for managing your woodland to see which of them relate to your goals for your land. Also be sure to check out their new set of guides for landowners interested in timber harvesting as part of their Cut With Confidence initiative. 

Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Vermont's Fish and Wildlife Department is part of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. They are dedicated to protecting and enhancing the fish, wildlife, and plants of Vermont as well as the habitats that support them. Check our their landowner resources and wildlife resources to learn more about living with and enjoying wildlife in Vermont.

Vermont Woodlands Association

The mission of the Vermont Woodlands Association is to advocate for the management, sustainability, perpetuation, and enjoyment of forests through the practice of excellent forestry. The group strives to educate, train, and support private forest landowners in sound management practices concerning wildlife, water, wood, and recreation. Check out their vast array of resources and packed calendar of events.