Community Scientists
VWL has a cohort of Volunteer Community Scientists who support our Annual Grassland Biodiversity Surveys. These volunteers spend countless hours in the field gathering valuable ecological data.
These efforts are helping us to understand how land management practices influence native species and may ultimately yield new insights into how private landowners can manage their land for biodiversity conservation.
Grassland Bird Surveys
One of the biggest challenges for reversing the decline of grassland birds, or implementing any conservation initiatives, is a lack of information about the precise cause(s) of the problem or an understanding of the complex factors involved in developing solutions. Therefore, field research on understudied privately owned landscapes is critically needed to fill knowledge gaps and inform conservation efforts for declining grassland bird populations. VWL’s Community Scientists survey breeding bird communities across 16 counties in Virginia to explore the relationships between grassland birds, their habitats, and land stewardship.
Grassland Plant Surveys
In Virginia, only a few remnant patches of native grassland remain (relatively) untouched by modern agriculture or development. By far, the majority have been altered at one time or another by human actions. However, we don’t know what is growing without taking a closer look. VWL’s Community Scientists survey fields under various land management regimes during the growing season to document the vegetation communities and contribute to a broader understanding of how these habitats support Virginia’s native biodiversity.
We are deeply grateful to our volunteers! Not only do they help us work towards our mission, they also serve as conservation ambassadors in the community.
For volunteer opportunities across Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute please visit the Volunteer Page. This page is updated frequently, so be sure to check back periodically.
SUPPORT VWL
VWL is supported 100% by grants and donations and our work is made possible by the generous contributions from our community.
The Smithsonian Institution is a 501(c)(3). All contributions are tax-deductible.
GET IN TOUCH
Virginia Working Landscapes
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
1500 Remount Road, MRC 5537
Front Royal, Virginia 22630
SCBIVWL@si.edu
540-635-0035