Pilot project aims to conserve declining grassland bird populations

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Sunny South News

Southern Alberta Newspapers

In a groundbreaking step to address the decline of grassland bird populations, Birds Canada and the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF) have launched the Bird-Friendliness Index (BFI) incentive pilot program. The new pilot program aims to address the needs of birds, biodiversity, and the people who make a living on the land.

The science clearly shows the urgent need to address grassland bird declines. This innovative new project, supported by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), will develop a new and durable conservation approach to help keep unique grassland birds, such as the Chestnut-collared Longspur from disappearing from the Canadian prairies.

“Every year, we continue to lose thousands of hectares of grasslands, and with it the disappearance of thousands of homes for grassland birds and other wildlife,” said Kiel Drake, prairie region director at Birds Canada. “This exciting project will implement a novel, innovative approach that can address the threats to grassland birds at scale and with the urgency that is required.”

Central to this project is the Bird-Friendliness Index (BFI). This is a biodiversity indicator, originally developed by the National Audubon Society and adapted to the Canadian prairies by Birds Canada, that clearly measures and communicates the contributions farms and ranches make to bird conservation. 

This pilot program will combine long-term conservation agreements with the BFI to reward ranchers in Saskatchewan for conserving grassland birds and their habitats.

The grasslands of the Canadian prairies, which span parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, are among the most endangered ecosystems on the planet and have faced massive losses due to the conversion of grasslands to croplands and urban areas. The recently published State of Canada’s Birds found that grassland birds that rely on these unique habitats, have experienced a devastating 67 per cent population decline in Canada since 1970. Without immediate action some of these grassland species will disappear from Canada.

Birds Canada and SSGF will implement the pilot program with ranches and community pastures, by establishing 15-year habitat management agreements designed to improve habitat conditions for grassland birds, or restoration agreements to restore cropland to native grass. When ranchers and community pastures sign these agreements with SSGF, they are then eligible to participate in the BFI incentive pilot program, which will offer ranchers incentive payments based on their BFI scores, rewarding positive outcomes for grassland birds.

“This collaboration between the SSGF and Birds Canada will reward Saskatchewan land stewards that are working to not only maintain but improve rangeland health on native grasslands. Healthy rangelands directly support grassland bird habitat and furthermore, support ranchers living on this landscape,” said Brant Kirychuk, general manager, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation. “These grasslands are the heart of the ranching community and will incentivize landowners for their dedication to stewardship.”

Additionally, this project will expand the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) program, on the Canadian prairies, which will strengthen hemispheric collaboration on grassland bird conservation.

The BFI incentive pilot program will integrate biodiversity recovery into working landscapes and lay the groundwork for enabling an agricultural system that rewards farmers and ranchers for their positive contributions to bird conservation.

Birds Canada is a national charity dedicated to bird conservation, with a mission to drive action to increase the understanding, appreciation and conservation of birds in Canada.