Grassland Bird Trust – Go Walk Their New 2.6-Mile Birding Trail

By Katherine Roome

Have you ever stood in a grassland at dusk with the Adirondack Mountains in the background and watched ten or more Short-Eared Owls fluttering like butterflies about 20 feet over your head? If not, you’ve missed something truly wonderful.

This is a sight that can be seen many winter evenings at the Audubon-designated Important Bird Area in Fort Edward. The IBA is where the Grassland Bird Trust works to conserve critical habitat for endangered, threatened and rapidly disappearing grassland birds. 

There are probably fewer than 50 pairs of Short-Eared Owls left living year round in New York. These owls fly south to Fort Edward from the Arctic for the winter. Apparently, the IBA is their idea of Sarasota in Florida.  

Threatened upland Sandpipers, American Kestrels, Horned Larks, Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks are also grassland birds. But the stars of the winter landscape in Fort Edward are the Short-Eared Owls and the threatened Northern Harriers – also known as “grey ghosts.” Watching the grey ghosts flying at sunset with the Adirondacks as a backdrop is another must do for those who don’t mind a bit of winter weather.

Why are grasslands so important for these birds and what is a grassland anyway? Most grassland birds can only nest in grass on the ground. They can’t live in forests or anywhere else except in large fields.

Hayfields can be grasslands if they are not mowed while grassland birds are breeding, nesting and fledging their young. But most hayfields are not grasslands because, to get a maximum yield, farmers need to mow hayfields during those critical weeks. That’s why grasslands suitable for grassland birds are disappearing from the New York landscape, along with the grassland birds.

Because grasslands are disappearing all across the country – only 4% of our nation’s grasslands are still intact – over 53% of grassland birds have disappeared since 1970. They are sometimes referred to as the “canaries in the coal mine” of the predicted sixth species extinction. It is rare to find an upland sandpiper in New York these days. Sadly, it is predicted that it will be just as difficult to find an Eastern Meadowlark 25 years from now.

Come walk our new 2.6-mile birding trail, the newest addition to the NYS Birding Trail! The Grassland Bird Trust is the only land trust in New York State whose sole mission is to conserve habitat for grassland birds.

The Grassland Bird Trust just made seeing grassland birds easier by opening its new 2.6-mile Alfred Z. Solomon Grassland Bird Trail this past October. This trail is also the latest addition to the New York State Birding Trail. 

The Grassland Bird Trust’s new trail, located at 160 County Route 42 in Fort Edward, starts at the Alfred Z. Solomon Grassland Viewing Area and from there, winds through the grasslands and along a creek with spectacular views of the Adirondack Mountains as well as the Green Mountains. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset with seasonal closings posted on the website: grasslandbirdtrust.org.

Guided tours, educational events, and volunteer opportunities will be scheduled year-round at the Grassland Bird Trust’s property. Visit the website for announcements of events! I suggest bringing binoculars, cameras, and a bottle of water to enhance your experience. The parking area and viewing area are accessible to all, including wheelchair access to the viewing area.

Winter enthusiasts who enjoy citizen science might also want to attend GBT’s winter raptor surveys, held approximately every two weeks during the winter. This is when raptors are counted under the guidance of expert guides and educators. If you’re interested in joining these events, contact: info@grasslandbirdtrust.org.

While it can be cold in the winter, the grasslands in winter are a special place. If you want to spend a more extended time there with expert guides, the Grassland Bird Trust hosts two three-day Winter Raptor Tours every year. The 2025 tours will be offered February 7-9 or February 10-12. The tours include lodging at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls. Meals are at locally owned establishments, most are farm-to-table. Each tour group is limited to six guests plus a local guide. For more information, contact Roberta Kravette at Destination Wildlife: rkravette@signpostpublishing.com. Register for a tour, visit: grasslandbirdtrust.org.

Hope to see you out there on the grasslands soon!

Katherine Roome (kroome@grasslandbirdtrust.org) is a board member of the Grassland Bird Trust.