Bird-Friendly Maple Project

Enjoy maple syrup while supporting forest birds by purchasing bird-friendly maple syrup from producers who manage not only for sap, but also bird habitat!

Maple syrup is produced by collecting and boiling sap from a sugarbush, which is loosely defined as a group of maple trees. Many sugarbushes consist only of maple trees. A monoculture like this provides habitat for birds—but by managing the forest with birds in mind, it can be even better.

By growing other tree species, incorporating habitat features such a cavity trees and logs on the ground, and creating layers of vegetation, a maple producer can provide higher quality nesting and foraging opportunities for forest birds.

These actions also help to reduce maple insect pests and disease, encourage long term sap production, and make the sugarbush more resilient to climate change.

About the Project

The Bird-friendly Maple Project was created by Audubon Vermont. The Massachusetts project is a partnership between Mass Audubon, the Massachusetts DCR's Forest Stewardship Program, the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute, and Massachusetts Maple Producers Association.

Buying Bird-Friendly Maple Syrup

Keep an eye out for the bird-friendly maple syrup logo. We expect to have the first Massachusetts producers selling syrup in 2024. In the meantime, you can find a list of producers in Vermont.

How to Become Recognized as Bird-friendly

If you're a maple producer in Massachusetts who is interested in making your maple syrup bird-friendly, please review the Guidelines for Sugarbushes.

Contact Us

For more information about this project, please reach out to our team by email.