Study

Grassland bird responses to land management in the largest remaining tallgrass prairie

  • Published source details Rahmig C.J., Jensen W.E. & With K.A. (2009) Grassland bird responses to land management in the largest remaining tallgrass prairie. Conservation Biology, 23, 420-432.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Restore or create grasslands

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Restore or create grasslands

    A replicated, randomised, controlled study from May-July in 2004-2005 in Kansas and Oklahoma, USA (Rahmig et al. 2009), found that overall bird diversity and evenness was significantly higher in ten native prairie hayfields (both burned and unburned) and 18 grazed pastures than eight grass-restored fields. Seven species were recorded and three analysed: dickcissel density was highest in restored fields but nest success was highest and nest parasitism lowest in unburned hayfields (48% compared to 16% on average in other sites). Conversely, grasshopper sparrow density was highest in grazed pastures but nest success was lowest in these pastures and highest in burned hayfields (57% compared to 12% on average in other sites). Management did not influence density and nest survival of eastern meadowlarks, which were uniformly low across the region.

     

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