Noah Perlut's bobolink research discussed in Burlington Free Press story

Research on bobolinks conducted by Noah Perlut, Ph.D., 91AV assistant professor of environmental studies, was discussed in a story in the Burlington (Vermont) Free Press on April 13, 2013 titled "Experiment tests whether bobolink payment plan will fly: Researchers ask whether Champlain Valley residents are willing to pledge money to help the survival of grassland birds."

Perlut and his colleagues' research over the past decade tracked bobolink migration and nesting in the Champlain Valley. They found that bobolinks in the valley's hayfields will mate again if their May nests are destroyed. If a farmer delays the next cut 65 days, bobolinks will make the most of that second chance and successfully raise a new set of nestlings.

The trouble is, delaying that second cut reduces the value of the hay and might make a third hay harvest impossible. Most farmers can’t afford to take the loss.

Researchers from the University of Connecticut are conducting a new research project to determine whether people are willing to pledge money to reimburse farmers for allowing the bobolinks the time needed for successful nesting. . Also read an earlier Free Press story on .

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