Audubon Training & Endorsement Workshop for Vermont Foresters

Audubon Training & Endorsement Workshop for Vermont Foresters

Monday, Aug 10th, 2026, 9:00am – 4:00pm

 

Smokey House Center

426 Danby Mountain Rd, Danby, VT 05739

 

Registration required

To register, or for more information, please contact Tim Duclos at: tim.duclos@audubon.org

 

Support Wildlife, Strengthen Forests

Habitat for birds and other wildlife is a top priority for many Vermont forest owners. Audubon is here to help you meet that goal.

 

Through our Forester Training and Endorsement Program, you'll gain practical strategies for enhancing forest diversity and resiliency- benefiting birds, biodiversity, and landowner satisfaction. This training covers bird habitat needs, landscape- and stand-level planning, and tools to support your work in the field. Participants will also receive a comprehensive introduction to Audubon's Bird Friendly Maple Program, including the program's standards, management considerations, and how to enroll eligible sugarbush owners.

 

By the end of the training, you'll understand how to become an Audubon Endorsed Forester, integrate bird-friendly forestry into your work, and confidently guide landowners interested in bird friendly forest management, including Bird Friendly Maple program enrollment.

 

Our goal? A growing network of professional foresters partnering with Audubon to promote healthy, bird-friendly forests and sustainably managed sugarbushes- without adding to your workload. We offer simple reporting, ongoing support, and opportunities for continuing education and peer connection.

 

This training fulfills Steps 1 & 2 of the 3-step endorsement process.

 

Learn more: vt.audubon.org/forester-program

 

Limited to 20 participants

Bring your own lunch; coffee and snacks provided.

 

This program will be approved for 7 Category 1 SAF CFEs.

 

WORKSHOP AGENDA

Morning: Classroom Presentations

Bird Habitat Assessment, Planning and Bird Friendly Maple

Learn how to assess habitat for forest birds at both the landscape and stand level using Audubon’s practical approach. We'll also introduce Audubon's Bird Friendly Maple Program, including program standards and how to enroll eligible landowners.

 

Forest Management for Birds

Explore how to apply silviculture to support breeding birds across life stages. We'll focus on strategies to create and maintain the diverse conditions mature and young forest birds need to thrive.

 

Afternoon: Forest Tour

Stop 1: Habitat assessment exercise in mature forest stand, incorporating content from morning presentations.

Stop 2: Tour a recently managed Bird Friendly Maple sugarbush on Smokey House property.

Stop 3: Further discussion of integrating stand-level and landscape-level management planning and prescriptions.

 

Audubon’s Forester Training and Endorsement Program is funded in VT by a New England Forests and Rivers Fund grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.