From the fields of New England and Canada to the vast plains of Montana to the deserts of Mexico, grassland birds are losing their habitats at an alarming rate. In PLIGHT OF THE GRASSLAND BIRDS, a new documentary from New Hampshire Public Television, host Willem Lange follows the migratory path of these birds across the Americas to explore why these species are declining faster than any other group of birds, and what’s being done to reverse the trend.
Premiering October 8th at 9 PM on NHPTV PRIME, PLIGHT OF THE GRASSLAND BIRDS shows how agriculture, reforestation and land development have depleted the nesting and breeding habitats for grassland birds such as Bobolinks, Kestrels, Eastern Meadowlarks, Upland Sandpipers, and Vesper Sparrows. The documentary explores conservation efforts in the fields and meadows of New England; the Great Plains of Montana; rapidly developing areas of Ontario, Canada; and the Reserva Ecological El Una in Mexico’s Chihuahuan Desert. Experts, students and volunteers demonstrate how they are working to protect the habitat of grassland birds. Host Will Lange travels to these places and explores efforts to protect the birds and their habitats, joining Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) biologist Rosalind Renfrew in the field along the way.
VCE is co-hosting a special pre-screening of this documentary on Thursday, September 24th at 7 pm in the Moore Psychology Building at Dartmouth College, Room B023. A panel discussion, including VCE’s Renfrew, New Hampshire Audubon’s Pam Hunt, and Lange, will follow the film. Tickets are free but seating is limited. Visit nhptv.org to reserve your tickets in advance.
