Habitat and landscape associations of breeding birds in native and restored grasslands
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Published source details
Fletcher R.J. & Koford R.R. (2002) Habitat and landscape associations of breeding birds in native and restored grasslands. Journal of Wildlife Management, 66, 1011-1022.
Published source details Fletcher R.J. & Koford R.R. (2002) Habitat and landscape associations of breeding birds in native and restored grasslands. Journal of Wildlife Management, 66, 1011-1022.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Restore or create grasslands Action Link |
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Restore or create grasslands
A replicated, controlled study from May-July in 1999-2000 in ten grasslands restored in 1987 and ten native tallgrass prairie fields in an agricultural landscape in Iowa, USA (Fletcher & Koford 2002), found that bird species richness was similar between restored and native habitats (average of 7 species/site). Densities of eight common bird species were similar over the study period except for grasshopper sparrows and savannah sparrows, which were higher in restored grasslands (both 0.1 males/ha in native grassland vs. 0.7 and 0.3 males/ha in restored grasslands). Most species had lower densities in landscapes with high edge habitat density. Grasslands contained both warm-season (switchgrass Panicum virgatum, big bluestem Andropogong erardii or both) and cool-season grass plantings (smooth brome Bromus inermis or grass-alfalfa Medicago sativa mixtures). Restored fields averaged 57 ha and prairie fields 54 ha.
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