Grassland birds are a cornerstone of Great Plains ecology . Forty - two coinage call American grasslands home , from smaller birds , like the easterly lark and Henslow ’s sparrow , to larger ones , including the annulus - necked pheasant and the sharptail grouse . unluckily , their habitat is being threatened dramatically by the spread of human development , both rural and urban — the Wildlife Conservation Society recognise that these Bronx cheer are the most threatened group of species on the continent .
The State of the Birds 2013 , a joint study on the status of razz and bird habitats on private lands for 2013 , says that grassland breed 358 million landed estate of the U.S. , and 85 percentage of that landmass is privately owned . Because these coinage nest on the ground and so much of their habitat is not in the public sphere , a good lot of the conservation burden lie down on the farmers and rancher who own these grasslands . Here are a few ways to promote grassland bird habitat on your farm without hinder your farm ’s production .
Promote Refuge Areas
Patches ofuncultivated landmake a perfect habitat for grassland bird . consort to the Michigan State University Extension , keep sections of uncultivated res publica next to pastures and fields or else of rowing crops , woodlots and residential orbit to maximise the bit of bird species that can nest in an area .
Plant Native, Warm-Season Grasses
The initial cost of planting quick - season supergrass , such as Amerindic forage , switchgrass and big Andropogon furcatus , is mellow than that of their cool - time of year counterparts , but convert a component part of a cool - season field or grass — the MSU Extension recommends one - one-quarter to one - third of a battlefield or pasture — can pay for itself and then some . The changeover will give your livestock a wider variety of forage throughout the class , in gain to a longer period of grazing for animals while also promoting grassland - bird habitat in the spring nesting time of year , when it is most worthful . Finally , fond - time of year grasses native to your area will belike be hardier and less susceptible to pests and disease than their non - aboriginal counterpart .
Mow Rotationally
To concentrate grassland - bird mortality , mow fields and pastures outside of nesting season , which run for from April to August for most species . If this is n’t an choice , minimize the phone number of mows during this clip . put through a rotational mowing plan , where you mow one segment of a fallow flying field or grassland once per class , minimizes habitat disturbance and allows the plant to have varying age bodily structure , which in turn render nesting ground for a broad variety of birds — some mintage , such as the killdeer plover , nest in grass shorter than 6 inches , while others , include the dickcissel , ask more than 2 groundwork .
Grassland hoot contribute to biodiversity , and their habitat acquired immune deficiency syndrome in improve water caliber and watershed health , so promoting habitat on your farm can do good both birds and farmer , both in the short terminus and the long trial .
This clause originally appear in the July / August 2014 issue ofHobby Farms .
