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
The 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...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Sondreal, Marriah L.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Nenneman, Melvin P.; Wooten, Travis L.; Thiele, Jason P.; Euliss, Betty R.The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)
The key to Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) management is maintaining areas with short, sparse vegetation by burning, mowing, or grazing. Horned Larks have been reported to use habitats with less than or equal to (≤) 70 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 3–26 cm visual obstruction reading, 15–67 percent grass cover, 3–70 percent forb...
Dinkins, Meghan F.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Shaffer, Jill A.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Zimmerman, Amy L.; Parkin, Barry D.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Euliss, Betty R.The effects of management practices on grassland birds—McCown’s Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii)
The key to McCown’s Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) management is providing short, sparsely vegetated native grasslands of adequate size. Mixed-grass prairies can be made suitable for breeding McCown’s Longspurs by implementing moderate-to-heavy or season-long grazing. McCown’s Longspurs have been reported to use habitats with 5–42 centimeters (...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Sondreal, Marriah L.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Rabie, Paul A.; Wooten, Travis L.; Euliss, Betty R.The 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...
Hull, Scott D.; Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.The 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.
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Sondreal, Marriah L.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Zimmerman, Amy L.; Thiele, Jason P.; Euliss, Betty R.The 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.
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Dinkins, Meghan F.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Wooten, Travis L.; Euliss, Betty R.The 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,...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Sondreal, Marriah L.; Goldade, Christopher M.; Thiele, Jason P.; Euliss, Betty R.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.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.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.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.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.