Summary

  • Status in VT: Decreased by 55% (115 to 52 blocks). Greatest decreases in Northern Green Mountains and Southern Green Mountains.
  • Data from other research: No additional data for VT.
  • Conservation status: State rank S4B; SGCN-M; SSC
  • Other atlases: NY, ON, PA:  found in fewer blocks
  • VT’s role in North American range: VT is within the core of the range.
  • Causes of change since first Atlas: Loss of grassland habitat due to conversion of pastures to row crops; intensified agricultural practices including earlier and more frequent mowing.
  • Management/Monitoring recommendations: Maintain nesting habitat through control of woody invasive species; alter mowing regimes: delay cutting until at least 7 July (ideally 15 July to 1 August), or limit first mowing to dates earlier than 1 June, and second mowing to no earlier than 65 days after first mowing; promote structural diversity by planting a variety of grass and forb species.

Population Trends

Eastern Meadowlark graph

First Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (1976-1981)

Species Account

Second Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (2003 – 2007)

Eastern Meadowlark Map 1 Eastern Meadowlark Table 1 Eastern Meadowlark Table 2

Change in Distribution

mapkey Eastern Meadowlark Map 2 Eastern Meadowlark Table 3

Links

Vermont eBird

Encyclopedia of Life

All About Birds