The effects of management practices on grassland birds Active
With support from the U.S. Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV), the U.S. Forest Service, and The Nature Conservancy, Northern Prairie is synthesizing literature on the effects of management practices on grassland bird species. The need for these syntheses was identified by the PPJV, a part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, in support of its objective to stabilize or increase populations of declining grassland‑ and wetland‑associated wildlife species in the Prairie Pothole Region. More than 6,000 published and unpublished articles in the literature have been incorporated, and syntheses are near completion for 40 North American grassland bird species. Each species account includes information on species range, suitable habitat, area requirements, breeding season phenology, species’ response to management, and management recommendations. The final product will provide land managers with a summary of information on the effects of specific management practices on grassland birds, and identify for researchers the most critical research gaps in our understanding of grassland bird ecology, habitat needs, and responses to management practices.
Below are publications associated with this project.
The effects of management practices on grassland birds
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Baird’s Sparrow (Centronyx bairdii)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Merlin (Falco columbarius)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
- Overview
With support from the U.S. Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV), the U.S. Forest Service, and The Nature Conservancy, Northern Prairie is synthesizing literature on the effects of management practices on grassland bird species. The need for these syntheses was identified by the PPJV, a part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, in support of its objective to stabilize or increase populations of declining grassland‑ and wetland‑associated wildlife species in the Prairie Pothole Region. More than 6,000 published and unpublished articles in the literature have been incorporated, and syntheses are near completion for 40 North American grassland bird species. Each species account includes information on species range, suitable habitat, area requirements, breeding season phenology, species’ response to management, and management recommendations. The final product will provide land managers with a summary of information on the effects of specific management practices on grassland birds, and identify for researchers the most critical research gaps in our understanding of grassland bird ecology, habitat needs, and responses to management practices.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
The effects of management practices on grassland birds
Since the mid-1960s, populations of grassland birds have been declining more precipitously than any other group of birds in North America. These long-term declines highlight the need to better understand the habitat requirements of grassland birds and how management practices affect individual species and their habitats. Although resource managers have long recognized that every management approacFilter Total Items: 34The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Baird’s Sparrow (Centronyx bairdii)
Keys to Baird’s Sparrow (Centronyx bairdii) management are providing native or tame grasslands with moderately deep litter, controlling excessive grazing, and curtailing shrub encroachment. Baird’s Sparrows have been reported to use habitats with less than or equal to (≤) 101 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 3–46 cm visual obstruction reading (VOR), 15–71 percent grass cover, 5–25 perceAuthorsJill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl, Douglas H. Johnson, Marriah L. Sondreal, Christopher M. Goldade, Melvin P. Nenneman, Betty R. EulissThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus)
Keys to Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) management are providing and maintaining native pastures with fairly short overall vegetation and sparse litter accumulation but with areas of taller and denser vegetation and accumulated litter for nesting, and tailoring grazing intensity to local conditions. Chestnut-collared Longspurs have been reported to use habitats with 10–77 centimeterAuthorsJill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl, Douglas H. Johnson, Marriah L. Sondreal, Christopher M. Goldade, Melvin P. Nenneman, Travis L. Wooten, Betty R. EulissThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys)
Keys to Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) management include providing short vegetation with protective nest cover and tailoring grazing systems to the type of grassland. Lark Buntings have been reported to use habitats with 6–72 centimeter (cm) average vegetation height, 2–11 cm visual obstruction reading, 13–71 percent grass cover, less than or equal to (≤) 48 percent forb cover, ≤17 percenAuthorsJill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl, Douglas H. Johnson, Marriah L. Sondreal, Christopher M. Goldade, Amy L. Zimmerman, Betty R. EulissThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Merlin (Falco columbarius)
The key to Merlin (Falco columbarius) management is maintaining an interspersion of groves of deciduous or coniferous trees for nesting and open grasslands for hunting. Merlins do not build their own nests but rather use former nests of other bird species, including those of corvids (crows, ravens, and magpies) and accipitrids (hawks). In recent decades, Merlins have established breeding populatioAuthorsPaul M. Konrad, Jill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. IglThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii)
Keys to Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) management include providing suitable grassland habitat, especially native prairie, with intermediate vegetation height and low visual obstruction, and controlling succession therein. Sprague’s Pipits have been reported to use habitats with no more than 49 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 4–14 cm visual obstruction reading, 15–53 percent grassAuthorsJill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl, Douglas H. Johnson, Marriah L. Sondreal, Christopher M. Goldade, Melvin P. Nenneman, Travis L. Wooten, Jason P. Thiele, Betty R. EulissThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii)
The key to Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) management is providing short, sparsely vegetated native grasslands of adequate size. Mixed-grass prairies can be made suitable for breeding Thick-billed Longspurs by implementing moderate-to-heavy or season-long grazing. Thick-billed Longspurs have been reported to use habitats with 5–42 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 3–7 cAuthorsJill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl, Douglas H. Johnson, Marriah L. Sondreal, Christopher M. Goldade, Paul A. Rabie, Travis L. Wooten, Betty R. EulissThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii)
Keys to Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) management are providing large grasslands with tall, dense, herbaceous vegetation and well-developed litter; avoiding habitat disturbances during the breeding season; and controlling plant succession. Henslow’s Sparrows have been reported to use habitats with less than or equal to (≤) 122 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 25–80 cm visual obAuthorsJames R. HerkertThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
The key to Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) management is providing large areas of contiguous grassland of moderate height with significant grass cover and moderate forb density. Eastern Meadowlarks have been reported to use habitats with 10–187 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 6–88 cm visual obstruction reading, 53–86 percent grass cover, 4–50 percent forb cover, less than or equalAuthorsScott D. Hull, Jill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. IglThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Keys to Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) management are providing suitable nest sites, protecting active nest areas from human disturbance, and providing suitable habitat for prey.AuthorsJill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl, Douglas H. Johnson, Marriah L. Sondreal, Christopher M. Goldade, Amy L. Zimmerman, Jason P. Thiele, Betty R. EulissThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)
Keys to Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) management are maintenance of expansive stands of sagebrush (Artemisia species [spp.]), especially varieties of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) with abundant forbs in the understory, particularly during spring; undisturbed and somewhat open sites for leks; and healthy perennial grass and forb stands intermixed with sagebrush for brood reAuthorsMary M. RowlandThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
The key to Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) management is providing tall, dense vegetation in extensive mesic or xeric grasslands or in wetlands. Northern Harriers have been reported to use habitats with 15–106 centimeter (cm) average vegetation height, 28–75 cm visual obstruction reading, 24–53 percent grass cover, 18–25 percent forb cover, less than or equal to 2 percent shrub cover, 3–5 percAuthorsJill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl, Douglas H. Johnson, Marriah L. Sondreal, Christopher M. Goldade, Jason P. Thiele, Betty R. EulissThe effects of management practices on grassland birds—Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
The key to Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) management is providing open grasslands that contain patches of trees for nesting and perching, sometimes near cultivated areas.AuthorsJill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl, Douglas H. Johnson, Meghan F. Dinkins, Christopher M. Goldade, Travis L. Wooten, Betty R. Euliss