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Researchers suggest creating
surrogate prairie for grassland birds
[JULY
3, 2003]
URBANA -- Illinois has seen
a major decline in the populations of grassland birds and other
upland wildlife over the last 30 years, according to Richard E.
Warner, researcher at the University of Illinois and director of
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. He explained that agricultural land use
has changed substantially in the past 100 years, contributing to the
pronounced declines.
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"Historically, diversified farms that
dominated the rural Illinois landscape throughout much of the late
1800s and 1900s included livestock, so some of the land was used for
hay and pasture," he said. "This rotation farming system provided
attractive cover for grassland birds. Now, most farms are
specialized in raising corn and soybeans. Livestock production has
waned, and grassy fields in hay and pasture are no longer common."
Warner, along with graduate students
Jeff Walk and Eric Kershner, wanted to find out how beneficial small
amounts of grassy cover on farm landscapes would be for upland
wildlife and whether such habitats could be established and managed
in an inexpensive and simple manner by farmers or other land
managers. In order to answer these questions, a research project
funded by the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research
was conducted in southeastern Illinois, near the Prairie Ridge State
Natural Area.
Prairie Ridge is in the midst of an
intensive farm mosaic. The area consists of nine grassy tracts,
ranging from seven to 120 hectares, that were removed from
agricultural use between 1963 and 1982. For the study, several
fields within 0.5 to 1 kilometers of the Prairie Ridge State Natural
Area were diverted from agricultural use and seeded with cool season
forage grasses and legumes.
The study focused on the habits of
dickcissels and Eastern meadowlarks, although other species were
considered as well. Birds were captured and tiny transmitters were
attached to their backs so their movements could be tracked and
their nesting habits observed.
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The results of the study showed that
small satellite fields immediately attracted a wide variety of
nesting birds, including rare and endangered species associated with
the core grassland management area in Prairie Ridge State Natural
Area, and the nest success was high enough to sustain bird
populations.
The small grassy cover areas could be
established and managed for up to several years relatively cheaply
using techniques that are familiar to farmers. And the areas can be
optimally managed in ways consistent with rotational grazing schemes
and farm programs that divert cropland from production.
Warner said that the fields established
in grasses for three to five years served as a surrogate prairie for
many of the grassland birds, much like rotation farming of the
bygone era.
"Illinois is
scattered with small natural areas -- some more carefully managed
for grassland birds than others," said Warner, "But this study
showed that farmers don't need to create complex grassland
environments for these birds. Low-cost grasses and pasture mixes are
attractive habitats as well, so farmers don't have to establish and
manage a complex prairie to help conserve many of these bird
species."
[University
of Illinois press release]
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