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Abstract
Missouri and Iowa have adopted the Bird Conservation Area (BCA) model of Partners in Flight and applied the BCA model to ten areas managed to benefit grassland birds. These ten BCAs have large core areas of continuous grassland centered on active lek sites of Greater Prairie-Chickens (
Tympanuchus cupido). Management is focused on expanding the number of hectares of grasslands, opening vistas by tree and shrub removal, and mowing lek sites. Using annual roadside surveys, we are evaluating grassland bird responses to conservation activities on the ten BCAs by monitoring bird abundance within each BCA and a paired control area. We also are sampling bird abundances in several habitat types: grazed native prairie, hayed native prairie, grazed cool-season grasses/forbs, hayed cool-seasons grasses/forbs, warm-season Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields, and cool-season CRP fields. The roadside counts allowed comparison of population trends between landscapes managed for grassland birds and landscapes not managed for grassland birds. The assessment of abundances per habitat types will allow us to determine which cover types support greater abundances of high priority grassland bird species and allow us to make appropriate recommendations to public and private landowners.
Parent Publication
Citation
Jacobs, Brad; Koford, Rolf R.; Thompson III, Frank R.; Woodward, Hope; Hubbard, Mike; Fitzgerald, Jane A.; Herkert, James R. 2005. Grassland Bird Conservation Efforts in Missouri and Iowa: How Will We Measure Success?. In: Ralph, C. John; Rich, Terrell D., editors 2005. Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference. 2002 March 20-24; Asilomar, California, Volume 1 Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191. Albany, CA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: p. 78-82
