Webinar #6: Conservation and Beneficial Birds, July 30, 2025
- maddy0092
- Feb 10
- 3 min read
When supported, birds can reduce pest insects, rodents and pest birds. While nest boxes, perches and farm management strategies will be discussed, we will focus on keystone native plants that birds prefer that are commonly used in field borders and other farmscaping. These plants give birds what they need to survive and thrive: food, cover, and nesting habitat.
July 30, 2025
Topic: Conservation and Beneficial Birds
Webinar Host:
Burke Murphy, MNWiC State Coordinator
Conservation Professionals:
Courtney Tchida, Midwest Program Associate with Wild Farm Alliance
Courtney Tchida brings over 20 years of experience as an organic farmer, community organizer, educator, researcher and collaborator to her work at Wild Farm Alliance. She played a pivotal role in founding and managing the Cornercopia Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota. She also co-created the MN SEED Project to help connect people to free, locally adapted, native seeds. Throughout her career Courtney has been dedicated to imparting knowledge about farming and environmental stewardship to the next generation. At WFA she is connecting farmers in the Midwest to resources and information on how to make farms more friendly to wildlife. She is an alumnus of the University of Minnesota with degrees in Environmental Horticulture (B.S.) and Agriculture Education (M.Ed).
Landowner/Farmer/Practitioner:
Hannah Bernhardt, Medicine Creek Farm
Hannah Bernhardt raises and direct markets grass fed beef and lamb and pastured pork at Medicine Creek Farm in NE Minnesota. She also educates the public about regenerative agriculture and soil health through agritourism, public presentations, and policy advocacy. Hannah is the Pine County Farmers Union President, a Land Stewardship Project Board Member, and an active member of Climate Land Leaders and the Sustainable Farming Association.
Links to Resources Shared in the Webinar:
Renewing the Countryside: https://www.renewingthecountryside.org/
Medicine Creek Farm: https://www.medicinecreekfarm.com/
Wild Farm Alliance: https://www.wildfarmalliance.org/
Contact for Courtney: courtneyt@wildfarmalliance.org
Supporting Beneficial Birds and Managing Pest Birds: https://www.wildfarmalliance.org/supporting_beneficial_birds_and_managing_pest_birds_resource
Hedgerow Planting for Wildlife & Pollinators:
USDA Bulletin entitled Some Common Birds Useful to the Farmer: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/62696/62696-h/62696-h.htm
American Kestrel Nest Structure Plan: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/birds/american-kestrel/
Wild Farm Alliance Resources: https://www.wildfarmalliance.org/resources
Beneficial Bird Native Plant Chart - Upper Midwest: https://www.wildfarmalliance.org/beneficial_bird_habitat_chart_midwest
Nesting Structures for Beneficial Songbirds on Midwest Farms: https://www.wildfarmalliance.org/nesting_structures_midwest
NRCS Conservation Practice Standards: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/conservation-practice-standards
Identification resources: http://inaturalist.org, https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
Farmland Flyways Trail: https://www.wildfarmalliance.org/flyways_trail
Role of Birds on Midwest Farms Webinar Course: https://www.wildfarmalliance.org/midwest-bird-course
Creating Nesting Habitat for Barn Swallows: https://files.ontario.ca/creatingbarsnestinghabitatenfinal17mar09_0.pdf
NestWatch: https://nestwatch.org/
About Minnesota Women in Conservation
Minnesota Women in Conservation (MNWiC) is a project of Renewing the Countryside in partnership with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). MNWiC's mission is to engage women in conservation conversations, connecting them with the tools and resources needed to develop their own goals. We facilitate Regional Networks to help all women of every experience level to learn and to implement practices in their own spaces, both urban both rural. We are here to nurture land and community. Join us!
Join Minnesota Women in Conservation (MNWiC) for a Welcoming Wednesday Webinar! These interactive Zooms are intended to provide relevant and actionable information about land and water stewardship, while also connecting like-minded women over lunch hour conversations. They recur on the fourth week each month.
Disclaimer
While the MNWiC project strives to make the information provided to individuals as timely and accurate as possible, we make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the content of our webinars. The information presented is solely the speakers’ expressed views and MNWiC expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in content.
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