Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Effects of Management Practices on Grassland Birds


Series Coordinator: Douglas H. Johnson		Assistant Coordinators: Lawrence D. Igl Jill A. Dechant Shaffer
Production Staff: Marriah L. Sondreal Christopher M. Goldade Melvin P. Nenneman Amy L. Zimmerman Paul A. Rabie Meghan F. Dinkins Barry D. Parkin Brent E. Jamison James O. Church Betty R. Euliss
Illustrations: Christopher M. Goldade Patsy Renz Karen A. Smith Darrell Pruett Beth Peluso

These reports are a series of literature syntheses on North American grassland birds. The need for these reports was identified by the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV), a part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The PPJV adopted the goal to stabilize or increase populations of declining grassland- and wetland-associated wildlife species in the Prairie Pothole Region. To further that objective, it is essential to understand the habitat needs of birds other than waterfowl, and how management practices affect their habitats. The focus of these reports is on management of breeding habitat, particularly in the northern Great Plains.

This resource is based on the following source:

Johnson, Douglas H., Lawrence D. Igl, and Jill A. Dechant Shaffer (Series Coordinators). 1998 (revised 2004). Effects of management practices on grassland birds. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND.

This resource should be cited as:

Johnson, Douglas H., Lawrence D. Igl, and Jill A. Dechant Shaffer (Series Coordinators). 2004. Effects of management practices on grassland birds. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/grasbird/grasbird.htm (Version 12AUG2004).

Acknowledgments

Organization and Features of Species Accounts

Range Map: indicates the relative densities of the species in North America, based on Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data.
Capsule statement: provides the fundamental components or keys to management.
Breeding range: outlines the current breeding distribution in North America.
Suitable habitat: describes the breeding habitat.
Table: lists the specific habitat characteristics for the species by individual study.
Prey habitat: describes the prey requirements of predatory species.
Area requirements: provides minimum area requirements for species exhibiting area sensitivity.
Cowbird brood parasitism: summarizes rates of cowbird parasitism, host response to parasitism, and factors that influence parasitism.
Breeding-season phenology and site fidelity: lists spring arrival and fall departure dates for the Great Plains and site tenacity.
Species' response to management: summarizes the effects of different habitat management practices.
Management recommendations: summarizes specific recommendations for habitat management.
Literature cited: lists the references used in the species account.

Species Accounts

Below is a list of species for which syntheses are available. These species accounts will be updated as necessary.

American Bittern Sprague's Pipit

Mountain Plover Grasshopper Sparrow

Marbled Godwit Baird's Sparrow

Long-billed Curlew Henslow's Sparrow

Willet Le Conte's Sparrow

Wilson's Phalarope Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow

Upland Sandpiper Vesper Sparrow

Greater Prairie-Chicken Savannah Sparrow

Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lark Sparrow

Greater Sage-Grouse Field Sparrow

Northern Harrier Brewer's Sparrow

Swainson's Hawk Clay-colored Sparrow

Ferruginous Hawk Chestnut-collared Longspur

Golden Eagle McCown's Longspur

Prairie Falcon Dickcissel

Merlin Lark Bunting

Short-eared Owl Bobolink

Burrowing Owl Eastern Meadowlark

Horned Lark Western Meadowlark

Sedge Wren Brown-headed Cowbird (from Prairie Naturalist, Shaffer et al. 2003)

Loggerhead Shrike

For information on wetland bird species, see the resource Effects of Management Practices on Wetland Birds.

Enter Grassland and Wetland Birds Bibliography

Please note: This searchable, annotated bibliography includes all references used in writing the species accounts for the Effects of Management Practices on Grassland Birds and for the Effects of Management Practices on Wetland Birds, as well as additional uncited references.

Search Instructions -- Instructions on using the search capabilities at this site.
Sample Entry -- View a sample entry of this resource.

We invite comments and suggestions. Please direct them to:

Douglas H. Johnson
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
U.S. Geological Survey
8711 37th Street SE
Jamestown, North Dakota 58401
telephone: 701-253-5539
e-mail: douglas_h_johnson@usgs.gov

Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

American Bittern		Sprague's Pipit
Mountain Plover		Grasshopper Sparrow
Marbled Godwit		Baird's Sparrow
Long-billed Curlew		Henslow's Sparrow
Willet		Le Conte's Sparrow
Wilson's Phalarope		Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Upland Sandpiper		Vesper Sparrow
Greater Prairie-Chicken		Savannah Sparrow
Lesser Prairie-Chicken		Lark Sparrow
Greater Sage-Grouse		Field Sparrow
Northern Harrier		Brewer's Sparrow
Swainson's Hawk		Clay-colored Sparrow
Ferruginous Hawk		Chestnut-collared Longspur
Golden Eagle		McCown's Longspur
Prairie Falcon		Dickcissel
Merlin		Lark Bunting
Short-eared Owl		Bobolink
Burrowing Owl		Eastern Meadowlark
Horned Lark		Western Meadowlark
Sedge Wren		Brown-headed Cowbird (from Prairie Naturalist, Shaffer et al. 2003)
Loggerhead Shrike