Greening awarded $75,000 grant for bird habitat restoration in the St. Croix Valley

Area contains high density of nesting bald eagles
and red-shouldered hawks

October 2, 2009

Dear Friends and Partners:

Fragmented and degraded forest habitat has negatively impacted both migratory and resident birds of the Lower St. Croix Valley. State biologists have designated some 140 wildlife species found in the corridor as being of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), including Louisiana waterthrush, prothonotary warbler, red-shouldered hawk and bald eagle. 

Invasive species (buckthorn, garlic mustard, nodding thistle and a host of other invasive exotic species) are just now taking hold in the area and could further impact the quality of this habitat and elevate the cost of restoration. 

The loss of migratory bird habitat is a priority for the Upper Mississippi Fund, a partnership between the USDA Forest Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Mississippi River and main tributaries are a globally important migratory flyway for 40% of all North American waterfowl and is used by 60% of North America's bird species.   

Now, with this grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and a match of over $500,000, Greening and its partners will elevate forest management across a number of “protected” sites managed by government agencies (local, state and federal) and nature centers, but also engage private landowners with conservation easements on their properties.

For more information on this and other Great River Greening programs, visit www.greatrivergreening.org

Other News:

Deborah Karasov, Great River Greening’s Executive Director, will give the Horace Cleveland lecture at the University of Minnesota’s College of Design on Monday, November 2, 6 p.m., 100 Rapson Hall. Called Thoughts of a Sometime Geographer, she will reflect on the different perspectives of geography, landscape architecture, and environmental art. For more information see http://design.umn.edu/outreach/events/fall_2009/lectures.html

Major support for Great River Greening is provided by the McKnight Foundation