• Shrublands are ephemeral, occur in relatively small scattered patches, and are challenging to map.

• Conserving shrublands requires development of methods to quantify, and ultimately map, shrub vegetation in the state.

• Creating shrub habitat can be relatively straightforward. Fallowing fields and powerline rights-of-way can continue to provide habitat.

• Caution: allowing woody shrubs to invade grasslands may come at the expense of grassland birds, also declining in the state.

• Important to define what kind of shrub habitat is desired, and for which species.

• Brown Thrasher may benefit most from creation of shrub habitat within relatively open landscapes (e.g., in the Champlain Valley).

• The maintenance of old field shrub benefits species such as Field Sparrow, Golden-winged Warbler, Eastern Towhee, and Brown Thrasher.

• Prescribed burning is sometimes used on public lands; brush-hogging is commonly used on both public and private lands.

• Larger, more block-like clearcuts with minimal edge benefit shrubland bird species more than smaller, irregularly-shaped clearcuts. Some species, such as Eastern Towhee and Brown Thrasher, may use the linear habitat provided by powerline rights-of-way, but breeding populations in these habitats may not be sustainable when surrounding landscape is forested.

• Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) provides federal funds to landowners wishing to create and maintain shrub habitat.
• The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and the Wetland Preserve Program (WRP) provide funds for stabilization of stream banks and protection of wetlands, respectively, both of which include tree planting that can provide new shrub habitat. Focus on Champlain Valley and for SCGN.