Dechant, J. A. 2001. Range expansion of Pileated Woodpecker in North Dakota. Prairie Naturalist 33:163-182.
https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/1001692
Jill Shaffer
Biography
Jill Shaffer is an Ecologist with the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center of the U.S. Geological Survey in Jamestown, North Dakota. She received a B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin and a M.S. degree in Zoology from the University of Arkansas. She has been actively involved in wildlife research for nearly 30 years. Her research focus broadly encompasses grassland bird ecology and conservation. In recent years, she has evaluated the behavioral impacts of wind facilities on grassland birds and devised a method to quantify that impact for the purposes of offsetting the impact. She has supervised numerous field crews throughout the northern Great Plains in the process of investigating the impact of land use change and landscape composition on grassland and wetland birds. She has spearheaded a twenty-year effort to compile, synthesize, and publish information on the effects of rangeland practices and energy-extraction activities on grassland birds.
Education
- M.S. (1996) Zoology, University of Arkansas
- B.S. (1993) Biology, University of Wisconsin
Professional Experience
- 1999-present; Ecologist, US Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND
- 1996-1999; Biological Science Technician, US Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND
- 1997; Lecturer, Biology Department, University of Jamestown, Jamestown, ND
- 1993-1996; Laboratory Instructor, Biology Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Science and Products
Year Published: 2019
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
Keys to American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) management include protecting wetlands and adjacent uplands and maintaining idle upland habitat. American Bitterns have been reported to use habitats with 30–203 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 44–99 cm visual obstruction reading, and less than 91 cm water depth.
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Sondreal, Marriah L.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Zimmerman, Amy L.; Wooten, Travis L.; Euliss, Betty R.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
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Shaffer, J.A., Igl, L.D., Johnson, D.H., Sondreal, M.L., Goldade, C.M., Zimmerman, A.L., Wooten, T.L., and Euliss, B.R., 2019, The effects of management practices on grassland birds—American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), chap. K of Johnson, D.H., Igl, L.D., Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., eds., The effects of management practices on grassland birds: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1842, 8 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1842K.
Year Published: 2019
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)
Keys to Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) management include providing large, open, level to gently rolling grasslands with short vegetation, and tailoring grazing regimes to local conditions. Long-billed Curlews have been reported to use habitats with 3–75 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, less than or equal to 27 cm visual...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Sondreal, Marriah L.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Rabie, Paul A.; Euliss, Betty R.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
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Shaffer, J.A., Igl, L.D., Johnson, D.H., Sondreal, M.L., Goldade, C.M., Rabie, P.A., and Euliss, B.R., 2019, The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus), chap. G of Johnson, D.H., Igl, L.D., Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., eds., The effects of management practices on grassland birds: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1842, 12 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1842G.
Year Published: 2019
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)
Keys to Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) management include providing large expanses of short, sparsely to moderately vegetated landscapes that include native grasslands and wetland complexes. Optimal wetland complexes should contain a diversity of wetland classes and sizes, such as ephemeral, temporary, seasonal, semipermanent, permanent, and alkali...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Sondreal, Marriah L.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Nenneman, Melvin P.; Euliss, Betty R.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Shaffer, J.A., Igl, L.D., Johnson, D.H., Sondreal, M.L., Goldade, C.M., Nenneman, M.P., and Euliss, B.R., 2019, The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa), chap. H of Johnson, D.H., Igl, L.D., Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., eds., The effects of management practices on grassland birds: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1842, 9 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1842H.
Year Published: 2019
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus)
The key to Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) management is maintaining sparsely vegetated grasslands. Grasslands can be made suitable for breeding Mountain Plovers by preserving large prairie dog (Cynomys species) towns, conducting prescribed burns, or implementing heavy grazing in some situations. Mountain Plovers have been reported to use...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Sondreal, Marriah L.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Nenneman, Melvin P.; Wooten, Travis L.; Euliss, Betty R.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Shaffer, J.A., Igl, L.D., Johnson, D.H., Sondreal, M.L., Goldade, C.M., Nenneman, M.P., Wooten, T.L., and Euliss, B.R., 2019, The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus), chap. E of Johnson, D.H., Igl, L.D., Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., eds., The effects of management practices on grassland birds: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1842, 10 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1842E.
Year Published: 2019
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)
The key to Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) management is providing grasslands of various heights with few shrubs. In general, Upland Sandpipers forage within short vegetation and nest and rear broods within taller vegetation. Upland Sandpipers have been reported to use habitats with less than (<) 93 centimeters (cm) vegetation height, 5...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Dinkins, Meghan F.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Parkin, Barry D.; Euliss, Betty R.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
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Shaffer, J.A., Igl, L.D., Johnson, D.H., Dinkins, M.F., Goldade, C.M., Parkin, B.D., and Euliss, B.R., 2019, The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), chap. F of Johnson, D.H., Igl, L.D., Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., eds., The effects of management practices on grassland birds: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1842, 20 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1842F.
Year Published: 2019
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Willet (Tringa semipalmata inornata)
Keys to Willet (Tringa semipalmata inornata) management include providing large expanses of native grasslands and wetland complexes. Wetland complexes should contain a diversity of wetland sizes and classes, such as ephemeral, temporary, seasonal, semipermanent, and permanent wetlands, as well as intermittent streams. Willets use wetlands of...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Sondreal, Marriah L.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Parkin, Barry D.; Thiele, Jason P.; Euliss, Betty R.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Shaffer, J.A., Igl, L.D., Johnson, D.H., Sondreal, M.L., Goldade, C.M., Parkin, B.D., Thiele, J.P., and Euliss, B.R., 2019, The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Willet (Tringa semipalmata inornata), chap. I of Johnson, D.H., Igl, L.D., Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., eds., The effects of management practices on grassland birds: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1842, 9 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1842I.
Year Published: 2019
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
The key to Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) management is providing wetland complexes containing suitable wetland characteristics (that is, open water, emergent vegetation, and open shoreline) and upland habitat (native grassland or tame hayland) throughout the breeding season. Wilson’s Phalaropes have been reported to use habitats with 15...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Zimmerman, Amy L.; Euliss, Betty R.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Shaffer, J.A., Igl, L.D., Johnson, D.H., Goldade, C.M., Zimmerman, A.L., and Euliss, B.R., 2019, The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor), chap. J of Johnson, D.H., Igl, L.D., Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., eds., The effects of management practices on grassland birds: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1842, 10 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1842J.
Year Published: 2019
Estimating offsets for avian displacement effects of anthropogenic impacts
Biodiversity offsetting, or compensatory mitigation, is increasingly being used in temperate grassland ecosystems to compensate for unavoidable environmental damage from anthropogenic developments such as transportation infrastructure, urbanization, and energy development. Pursuit of energy independence in the United States will expand domestic...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Loesch, Charles R.; Buhl, Deborah A.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2019
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Rates of Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism in nests of North American grassland birds
The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) is an obligate brood parasite that relies entirely on host species to incubate its eggs and rear its young. The Brown-headed Cowbird is a host generalist; eggs of the cowbird have been found in nests of more than 220 species of North American birds. Although cowbirds are not considered a serious threat to...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Shaffer, J.A., Igl, L.D., and Johnson, D.H., 2019, The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Rates of Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism in nests of North American grassland birds, chap. PP of Johnson, D.H., Igl, L.D., Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., eds., The effects of management practices on grassland birds: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1842, 24 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1842PP.
Year Published: 2019
The effects of management practices on grassland birds—An introduction to North American grasslands and the practices used to manage grasslands and grassland birds
The Great Plains of North America is defined as the land mass that encompasses the entire central portion of the North American continent that, at the time of European settlement, was an unbroken expanse of primarily herbaceous vegetation. The Great Plains extend from central Saskatchewan and Alberta to central Mexico and from Indiana to the Rocky...
Shaffer, Jill A.; DeLong, John P.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems, United States of America, Wildland Fire Science
View Citation
Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., 2019, The effects of management practices on grassland birds—An introduction to North American grasslands and the practices used to manage grasslands and grassland birds, chap. A of Johnson, D.H., Igl, L.D., Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., eds., The effects of management practices on grassland birds: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1842, 63 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1842A.
Year Published: 2019
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...
Johnson, Douglas H.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Shaffer, Jill A.; DeLong, John P.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Johnson, D.H., Igl, L.D., Shaffer, J.A., and DeLong, J.P., eds., 2019, The effects of management practices on grassland birds: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1842, https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1842.
Year Published: 2019
Modeling effects of crop production, energy development and conservation-grassland loss on avian habitat
Birds are essential components of most ecosystems and provide many services valued by society. However, many populations have undergone striking declines as their habitats have been lost or degraded by human activities. Terrestrial grasslands are vital habitat for birds in the North American Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), but grassland conversion...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Roth, Cali L.; Mushet, David M.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
Pre-USGS Publications
Winter, M., S. E. Hawks, J. A. Shaffer, and D. H. Johnson. 2003. Guidelines for finding nests of passerine birds in tallgrass prairie. Prairie Naturalist 35:197-211.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1159&context=usgsnpwrc.
Shaffer, J. A., L. D. Igl, and F. VanHove. 2003. Historical and recent records and first nest records of Henslow’s Sparrow in North Dakota. Prairie Naturalist 35:81-94.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsnpwrc/159/.