scholarly journals Conservation of Grassland Birds in an Urbanizing Landscape: A Historical Perspective

The Condor ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 643-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zach F. Jones ◽  
Carl E. Bock
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Grassland Birds ◽  
Athene Cunicularia ◽  
Passerculus Sandwichensis ◽  
Ammodramus Savannarum ◽  
Dolichonyx Oryzivorus ◽  
Lanius Ludovicianus ◽  
Shortgrass Prairie ◽  
Sturnella Neglecta

Abstract Landscape alterations resulting from urban expansion are among those factors negatively impacting Great Plains grassland birds. The City and County of Boulder, Colorado, manage one of the largest grassland open-space systems in North America, but it is embedded in an area of rapid urban growth. We compared bird count data from the 1980s and 1990s with checklist information about the Boulder grassland avifauna between 1900 and 1937, with the goal of determining what proportion and which species of the historical grassland avifauna are being sustained on Boulder open space. Of 29 native species present in 1900, 22 (76%) appeared on our counts in the 1990s. Formerly common species that disappeared or declined mostly were birds associated with shortgrass prairie, including Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), and Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys). By contrast, species associated with mixed and tallgrass habitats increased or held steady, including Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus), Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), and Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). We conclude that municipal open spaces can support populations of many Great Plains grassland birds, but that sustaining species associated with the shortgrass prairie may prove especially challenging. Conservación de Aves de Pastizal en un Paisaje de Crecimiento Urbano: Una Perspectiva Histórica Resumen. La alteración del paisaje causada por la expansión urbana es uno de los factores que impacta negativamente a las aves de los pastizales de los “Great Plains.” La ciudad y el condado de Boulder, Colorado, maneja uno de los sistemas de espacios abiertos de pastizal más grande de Norteamérica, el cual se encuentra rodeado por un área de crecimiento urbano. Comparamos datos de conteo de aves de los 1980s y 1990s con informacíon de la avifauna de Boulder entre 1900 y 1937, con el propósito de determinar qué proporción y cuántas especies de las aves de pastizal registradas históricamente se mantuvieron en los espacios abiertos de Boulder. De 29 especies nativas presentes en 1900, 22 (76%) aparecen en nuestros conteos de los 1990s. Especies anteriormente comunes pero que desaparecieron o disminuyeron en cantidad, fueron aves relacionadas principalmente con praderas de pasto corto, incluyendo Athene cunicularia, Chordeiles minor, Lanius ludovicianus y especialmente Calomospiza melanocorys. Por el contrario, especies asociadas a hábitats mixtos o de pasto alto han aumentado o se han mantenido, incluyendo Pooecetes gramineus, Passerculus sandwichensis, Ammodramus savannarum, Dolichonyx oryzivorus y Sturnella neglecta. Concluimos que los espacios abiertos municipales pueden sostener poblaciones de varias especies de aves de pastizal. Sin embargo, será más difícil mantener aquellas especies que prefieren praderas de pasto corto, porque las áreas continuas y amplias que necesitan, ya no existen.

scholarly journals Area Requirements of Grassland Birds: A Regional Perspective

The Auk ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas H. Johnson ◽  
Lawrence D. Igl
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Grassland Birds ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Passerculus Sandwichensis ◽  
Zenaida Macroura ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Dolichonyx Oryzivorus ◽  
Area Sensitivity

Abstract Area requirements of grassland birds have not been studied except in tallgrass prairie. We studied the relation between both species-occurrence and density and patch size by conducting 699 fixed-radius point counts of 15 bird species on 303 restored grassland areas in nine counties in four northern Great Plains states. Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis), Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida), Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), Baird's Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii), Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii), and Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) were shown to favor larger grassland patches in one or more counties. Evidence of area sensitivity was weak or ambivalent for Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus), Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), and Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) preferred larger patches in some counties, and smaller patches in others. Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) and Brown- headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) tended to favor smaller grassland patches. Three species showed greater area sensitivity in counties where each species was more common. Five species demonstrated some spatial pattern of area sensitivity, either north to south or east to west. This study demonstrates the importance of replication in space; results from one area may not apply to others because of differences in study design, analytical methods, location relative to range of the species, and surrounding landscapes.

scholarly journals Trends in Bird Densities at a Remnant Fescue Grassland in Saskatchewan

2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-178
Author(s):  
Bohdan Pylypec
Keyword(s):  
Grassland Birds ◽  
Athene Cunicularia ◽  
Passerculus Sandwichensis ◽  
Burrowing Owl ◽  
Dolichonyx Oryzivorus ◽  
The Past ◽  
Anthus Spragueii ◽  
Horned Lark ◽  
Sprague's Pipit ◽  
The 1960S

Populations of grassland birds in North America have declined greatly in the past five decades. Hypothesized drivers of decline include habitat loss, fragmentation, and adverse impacts from human activities. At a remnant fescue grassland in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan numbers of Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus), and Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) have been stable. Numbers of clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) have increased since the 1960s. Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii), Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), and Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) are no longer present. Baird’s Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii), Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), and Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) have become irregular visitors. In the past 50 years, 91 species have been observed displaying territorial behaviour, feeding, nesting, or migrating at this remnant native grassland. With encroaching urban development and increased human influence at the prairie and surrounding area, the impacts on the bird communities at the site in the future are unknown.

scholarly journals Edge Avoidance by Nesting Grassland Birds: A Futile Strategy in a Fragmented Landscape

The Auk ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 618-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalind B. Renfrew ◽  
Christine A. Ribic ◽  
Jamie L. Nack
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Grassland Birds ◽  
Nest Density ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
Spermophilus Tridecemlineatus ◽  
Grassland Bird ◽  
Passerculus Sandwichensis ◽  
Dolichonyx Oryzivorus ◽  
Vegetation Height

Abstract Some grassland passerine species are considered area-sensitive, but the mechanisms underlying that phenomenon are not understood, particularly on grazed grasslands. Area sensitivity may result from edge avoidance or higher nest predation near edges, both of which may be influenced by predator activity or cattle-induced vegetational differences between pasture edge and interior. We assessed the effect of distance to edge on nest density and predation Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis), Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), and meadowlarks (Sturnella spp.) along wooded and nonwooded edges of Wisconsin pastures in 1998-2000 and the activity of potential mammalian nest predators along those edges in 2000-2001. We found a positive relationship between nest density and distance from edge for all edge types combined, but that was not the result of effects of wooded edges: we found no difference in density between nests located <50 or <100 m from wooded versus nonwooded (crop or grassland) edges. Models that included combinations of vegetation structure (e.g. concealment), initiation date, year, or edge variables (or all four) were poor predictors of the probability of nest predation. Placing nests away from edges, therefore, did not reduce the risk of nest predation. Eight species known to prey on grassland bird nests were documented along pasture edges, raccoon (Procyon lotor) being the most common. Frequency of raccoon and thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) visitation was higher along wooded edges and nonwooded edges, respectively. Cattle (Bos taurus) activity did not differentially affect vegetation height-density along edges compared with that in the pasture interior. Possible reasons for predation risk being similar in both pasture interiors and edges in a fragmented landscape include the ease with which predators can move within pastures, high percentage of resident grassland predators, and small size (median = 47.2 ha) of pastures.

scholarly journals Developing spatial models to guide conservation of grassland birds in the U.S. Northern Great Plains

The Condor ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 506-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neal D. Niemuth ◽  
Michael E. Estey ◽  
Sean P. Fields ◽  
Brian Wangler ◽  
Andy A. Bishop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Grassland Birds ◽  
Spatial Models ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
The U.S

scholarly journals A floristic survey of the Boulder Mountain Park: with notes on its conservation and management (Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.)

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 279-314
Author(s):  
Tim Hogan
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Front Range ◽  
Public Land Management ◽  
Montane Vegetation ◽  
The City

The City of Boulder Mountain Park sits in the eastern foothills of the northern Front Range of Colorado. Approximately 7000 acres (2800 ha) in extent, the study area is characterized by a foothills and montane vegetation and flora, predominantly of western North American distribution. Situated at the interface of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, the flora of the Mountain Park is distinguished by a wealth of species with eastern woodland affinities, as well as a number of southern Rocky Mountain species endemic to the Front Range. Six hundred and ninety-eight (698) species of vascular plants in 426 genera and 100 families are documented in this survey. Twenty (20) of the plants are listed as Species of Special Concern by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, with an additional 26 listed as sensitive by the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department (OSMP). Introduced non-native species constitute 21% of the flora (147 species), a figure that exaggerates their ecological role in the Park; less than a dozen introduced species are of serious concern in their impact upon native diversity. The Mountain Park is viewed by many as the crown jewel of the City’s OSMP system, and serves as a model for public land management across other open spaces in urban areas nationwide. These forested foothills, with their prominent relief and associated diversity of habitats, serve as one of the last low-elevation nature refuges along the Colorado Front Range. With the increasing urbanization of the region and the loss of biological diversity worldwide, the wisdom of the Boulder community in protecting this landscape is becoming ever more apparent. This report presents a thoroughly revised checklist of the flora of the Boulder Mountain Parks since the area was last inventoried in 1993.

scholarly journals Nest-Site Selection Patterns and the Influence of Vegetation on Nest Survival of Mixed-Grass Prairie Passerines

The Condor ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen K. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Passerculus Sandwichensis ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Anthus Spragueii ◽  
Para Determinar ◽  
Sturnella Neglecta

Abstract Identification of habitat features influencing reproduction and survival are essential for the management and long-term viability of grassland bird populations. I quantified vegetation structure at nests and random sites in southern Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine which microhabitat features are important in nest-site selection by Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii), Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), Baird's Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii), Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus), and Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). In addition, I related microhabitat features to nest survival to determine whether predation might influence their choice of nest sites. Grassland passerines exhibited nonrandom nest-placement patterns and built their nests in sites that were characterized by a greater density of dead vegetation within 30 cm of the ground, increased amounts of litter, and reduced coverage of bare ground. In addition, each species nested in taller vegetation than that found at random sites. However, nests were partitioned along a vegetation gradient ranging from relatively short and sparse (e.g., Chestnut-collared Longspur) to relatively tall and dense (e.g., Western Meadowlark). Nest survival varied with time-specific variables (nest age and date) and year, with nest-site vegetation explaining additional variation not accounted for by these effects. However, vegetation effects were highly variable compared to age effects. Diverse predator communities, spatial and temporal variation in selection pressures, and other constraints may account for inconsistent relationships between nest survival and nest-site characteristics for grassland passerines. Patrones de Selección de Sitios de Nidificación y la Influencia de la Vegetación en la Supervivencia de Nidos de Aves Paserinas de Praderas de Pastos Mixtos Resumen. La identificación de las características del ambiente que influencian la reproducción y la supervivencia son esenciales para el manejo y la viabilidad al largo plazo de las poblaciones de las aves de pastizal. Cuantifiqué la estructura de la vegetación alrededor de los nidos y en sitios aleatorios en el sur de Saskatchewan, Canadá, para determinar cuáles rasgos micro-ambientales son importantes en la selección de nidos por parte de Anthus spragueii, Passerculus sandwichensis, Ammodramus bairdii, Calcarius ornatus y Sturnella neglecta. Adicionalmente, relacioné los rasgos micro-ambientales con la supervivencia de los nidos para determinar si la depredación podría influir sobre la elección de los sitios de nidificación. Las aves paserinas de pastizal mostraron patrones no aleatorios de ubicación de los nidos y construyeron sus nidos en sitios que se caracterizaron por una densidad más alta de vegetación muerta en los primeros 30 cm desde el suelo, una mayor cantidad de hojarasca y una baja cobertura de suelo desnudo. Adicionalmente, cada especie nidificó en sitios con vegetación más alta que la de los sitios elegidos al azar. Sin embargo, los nidos se distribuyeron a lo largo de un gradiente de vegetación desde relativamente corta y esparcida (e.g., Calcarius ornatus) a relativamente alta y densa (e.g., Sturnella neglecta). La supervivencia de los nidos varió en relación con variables que dependen del tiempo (edad del nido y fecha) y del año, mientras que la vegetación de los sitios donde se ubicaron los nidos explicó una parte adicional de la variación no explicada por estos factores. Sin embargo, los efectos de la vegetación fueron muy variables comparados de modo general con los efectos de la edad. Las diferencias en las comunidades de depredadores, la variación espacial y temporal en las presiones de selección y otras limitantes podrían explicar las relaciones inconsistentes entre la supervivencia de los nidos y las características de los sitios de nidificación para las aves paserinas de pastizal.

scholarly journals Demography of the Burrowing Owl in Badlands National Park

1991 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
Mark Martell ◽  
Patrick Redig ◽  
Jill Nibe
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Athene Cunicularia ◽  
Prairie Dog ◽  
Burrowing Owls ◽  
Burrowing Owl ◽  
Nest Site Fidelity ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Wintering Areas ◽  
Badlands National Park

The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), was once widely distributed throughout the western United States and Canada (Bent 1938), and was considered common on the prairie dog towns of South Dakota and Nebraska (Cooke 1888, Over and Thomas 1920). Recently however, concern over the birds status has resulted in its being listed as; "endangered" in two states (MN and lA), "threatened" across its range in Canada, and of "special concern" in seven states (WA, OR, CA, MT, WY, ND, FL) (Martell1990). Land management practices including grazing, shooting, and poisoning on prairie dog colonies, the primary nesting habitat of burrowing owls in the Great Plains, has the potential to greatly affect owl populations. Information on population sizes and trends, the location of wintering areas, and the degree of nest site fidelity is needed to monitor and manage this species on public lands.

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