Prairie bird species of concern - ecology and management summary

2007·0.04 MB·English

by  Montana Natural Heritage Program

Prairie Bird Species of Concern - Ecology and Management Summary
Each grassland bird species requires unique prairie conditions. Subtle differences across the landscape determine the suitability of local habitat for different species for different reasons.
Arrival Incubation
Management Date Period Number Secondary
Species Name General Habitat Nest Site Nesting Primary
Recommendations to Notes _________ _________ of Summer
Species Status Characteristics Characteristics Dates Summer Diet
Promote Species Departure Days to Broods Diet
Date Fledging
Low to Intermediate Grassland Cover Associated Species
Limited shrubs in
Open sparse Ground nester. Maintain short, sparsely
area are Late April 12 days
McCown's grassland; areas Shallow vegetated native prairie.
Longspur 1 structurally depression in the Moderate to heavy, or suitable; Early May seeds/plant
Nestlings suffer to Late 2 insects
prairie endemic similar to heavily ground: either in season long grazing can material
high rates of July
G5/S2B grazed the open or make mixed-grass prairie
(mammalian)
pastures. beside vegetation. suitable. Mid-August 10-12 days
predation.
Chestnut- Native prairie Mid-April 10-13 days
Sparse; recently Ground nester: Keep native pastures
collared specialist. Early May
Longspur 2 grazed, mowed, often protected on intact. Manage for fairly Areas with to Late 2 insects seeds
or burned; south and east short vegetation with
prairie endemic occasional July
minimal litter. sides sparse litter accumulation. Late
G5/S3B shrubs suitable. 9-14 days
September
Primarily short-
May be present
to-mid grass
in agricultural
prairie.
Lark Bunting 3 Prefers areas Ground nester. Provide areas of short fields, but use is Early May Mid-May 12 days secondary
Nest placed next limited. Highest
prairie endemic with some vegetation with protective to Mid- 1 to 2 insects seeds/plant
to/under various densities in
G5/S3B shrubs. cover for nesting. August material
plant species native prairie,
Generally
though will nest Late
prefers areas > 8-9 days
10 km2 . in CRP lands. August
Ground nester.
Open sparse Nest is a scrape 28-31 days
Early April carnivorous
Long-billed grassland in the ground Generally avoids (able to
Curlew 4 preferred; taller, lined with various Provide large, open level to areas with high Mid-to leave nest (terrestrial
gently rolling grasslands 1 invertebrates, -
prairie endemic denser grass bits of vegetation, density of Late April within hours
with short vegetation. vertebrates,
G5/S2B during brood pebbles, and shrubs. of hatching)
eggs, etc.)
rearing. other organic Mid- 32-45 days
matter. September
Ground nester;
dense, grassy, Early May 13-14 days
Sprague's Pipit 5 Intermediate relatively tall Provide native prairie with Late May very minimal
intermediate vegetation Avoids areas almost entirely
prairie endemic height with vegetation, to Mid- 1, poss. 2 seeds/plant
height and low visual with shrubs. insects
4/S2B moderate litter. minimal forbs July material
obstruction. Mid-
present, little bare 9-12 days
September
ground
March 2007 1
Arrival Incubation
Management Date Period Number Secondary
Species Name General Habitat Nest Site Nesting Primary
Recommendations to Notes _________ _________ of Summer
Species Status Characteristics Characteristics Dates Summer Diet
Promote Species Departure Days to Broods Diet
Date Fledging
Prefers flat,
rolling terrain. small
Avoids high March 28-33 days mammals (inc.
Provide/protect suitable
Ferruginous Prefer open Exposed: on cliffs, elevation, jackrabbits,
Hawk 6 prairie and trees, ground, or nest sites, protect active forested areas Late April cottontail birds,
nest areas from to Mid- 1 reptiles,
prairie endemic shrubsteppe manmade and narrow rabbits,
disturbance, and improve July insects
G4/S2B habitat. structures. canyons. Avoids ground
habitat for prey.
areas recently Late squirrels, and
44-48 days
altered for September prairie dogs)
cultivation
mainly
Species unique
vertebrates
Grasslands, in switching from Mid-March 28-35 days during
Swainson's sparse Nest in deciduous Provide open grasslands primarily small Early May invertebrates
Hawk 7 shrublands, and trees (about 50% with occasional trees for mammal diet to to Mid- 1 breeding at other
season
G5/S3B small open of nests reused). nesting and perching. insects after July times
(mammals,
woodlands, young birds Early
30 days birds, &
fledge. November
reptiles)
Intermediate to Tall Grassland Cover Associated Species
Prefers
moderately open May be locally
grasslands with abundant,
Early May 11-12 days
patchy bare Provide/protect large areas generally rare
ground. Ground nester: of contiguous grassland of throughout rarely
Grasshopper Mid-June
Sparrow 8 Generally avoids nest often domed intermediate height with range. to Late 2 insects seeds/plant
areas with with grasses and moderately deep litter Somewhat area (poss. 3) material in
G5/S3B July
extensive shrub side entrance. cover and low shrub sensitive. summer
cover, although density. Moderate-to- Early
8-9 days
some shrub high nest September
cover is predation.
desirable.
Scattered low
shrubs and
residual
Mid-May 11-12 days
vegetation from
Ungrazed to Provide areas of native last year are
Baird's Sparrow 9 moderately Ground nester; grassland (or idle tame preferred Late May
grazed, shallow scrape at pastures) with moderately habitat; area seeds/plant
prairie endemic to Late 1 insects
generally with base of grass deep litter. Avoid sensitive (favors material
G4/S2B July
litter depth of ~2 clump. excessive grazing and limit large parcels).
cm. shrub encroachment. Nesting
densities change Early
8-10 days
according to September
local habitat
conditions.
March 2007 2
Arrival Incubation
Management Date Period Number Primary
Species Name General Habitat Nest Site Nesting Secondary
Recommendations to Notes _________ _________ of Summer
Species Status Characteristics Characteristics Dates Summer Diet
Promote Species Departure Days to Broods Diet
Date Fledging
Tall grass,
flooded Somewhat area
meadows, sensitive. Mid-May 11-13 days
prairie. Most Ground nester: Highly
Provide large areas of
Bobolink 10 suitable habitat often located in native and tame grasslands susceptible to Mid-June seeds/plant
is moderate-to- wet habitats, nest to Late 1 insects
G5/S2B of moderate height and material
tall vegetation, often at the base abandonment if July
density with adequate litter.
moderate-to- of large forbs. disturbed during Early
10-11 days
dense vegetation breeding September
and moderately season.
deep litter.
Suitable Maintain extensive areas of
Nests built in
breeding habitat sagebrush-dominated
taller, dense Can tolerate up
contains dense shrublands with average Early May 10-12 days
Brewer's sagebrush, with to 3 weeks Late May secondary
Sparrow 11 shrubs, generally limited bare shrub cover of 10-30%, without water to Mid- 2 insects seeds/plant
sagebrush. average shrub height of
G5/S2B ground and while on seed July material
Average height 0.4-1.5 m, and an
gmeenteerrsa.l ly <1.5 hcoevrbear.c eous ugnradsesressto aryn do ff onrabtsiv. e diet. SepLtaetme ber 8-9 days
Lacking talons,
Open prairie,
pastures with Usually well- Provide grassland habitat may impale Late April 16-17 days
Loggerhead dead prey on mid-June small
Shrike 12 fencerows, hidden in crook of with scattered trees and barbed wire, to Late 2 broods insects vertebrates,
agricultural deciduous tree or shrubs for foraging, possible
G4/S3B faiereldass,. r iparian robust shrub. nesting, and perching. bforra enachs,ie orr thorn SepEtaermlyb er July 17-21 days carrion
consumption.
Sagebrush
communities;
generally prefers Ground nester: Maintain expansive stands 25-27 days
larger-stature nest generally of sagebrush (Artemisia
sagebrush, but placed under spp.), with forb understory;
Greater Sage- Mid-April
Grouse 13 will use other sagebrush. open sites for leks; and Permanent to Late 1 forb buds -
habitats during Depression lined perennial grass and forb Resident and flowers
G4/S3 July
the non- with grass and stands intermixed with
breeding season sagebrush sagebrush for brood 7-10 days
including leaves. rearing.
meadows and
grasslands.
Wetland Associated Species
Highly
Nest is a floating
susceptible to
mat of reeds Late April
Extensive human 24-25 day small
anchored to Maintain water levels at
Franklin's prairie disturbance Early vertebrates,
Gull 14 marshes with suitable emergent nesting sites. Protect while nesting. June to 1 Insects, other
vegetation nesting sites from human worms
G4G5/S3B emergent Water must be Early July invertebrates,
(bulrush disturbance.
vegetation. present at Late grains/seeds
important). 32 days
wetland at time September
Colonial nester.
young fledge.
March 2007 3
Arrival Incubation
General
Management Date Period Number Primary
Species Name Habitat Nest Site Nesting Secondary
Recommendations to Notes _________ _________ of Summer
Species Status Characteristi Characteristics Dates Summer Diet
Promote Species Departure Days to Broods Diet
cs
Date Fledging
Nests colonially;
Open water ground nester. Maintain water levels at Generally, Mid-May 21-27 days
Common Nest is a scrape nesting sites. Protect Early Aquatic
Tern 15 bodies with in the ground nesting colonies from nesting sites June to 1, Fish invertebrates/
islands for are sparsely rarely 2
G3S3B nesting. generally lined human recreation or vegetated. Late Late July insects
with organic disturbance. September 26-27 days
material.
This species
may be area
Short, sparse
sensitive, rarely
to moderately Early May 21-23 days
Ground nester. occurring on
vegetated Provide large expanses of
Marbled Godwit 16 uplands for Nests in wet and short, sparse to moderately blocks of Mid-May
dry areas of wet contiguous Aquatic
BLM Sensitive nesting and vegetated native to Early 1 Insects
meadow, upland grassland <100 invertebrates
species foraging. grasslands with wetland July
areas of short ha. Territories
Wetland complexes.
(<30 cm) grass. are large and Early
complexes for 21 days
include both September
foraging.
feeding and
nesting areas
Short native
grasslands
idle during the Ground nester: Late April 22-29 days
often nest near a
Willet 17 nesting conspicuous Provide large expanses of Mid-May
season. Aquatic
BLM Sensitive object such as a native grasslands and to Mid- 1 -
Prefer invertebrates
species piece of wood, a wetland complexes June
swheatllalonwd-sw waittehr rcoacttkle, odru dnrgie. d OEctaorblye r 27-31 days
sparse
vegetation.
Mid-April 18-27 days
Both fresh Ground nester:
and alkali nests are placed Provide suitable wetland
Males, the less
Wilson’s Phalarope wetlands with on the ground in with open water, emergent
18 open water, wetlands, wet vegetation, and open colorful of the Early May Young leave Aquatic
sexes, incubate to Late nest within 1, occ. 2 seeds
BLM Sensitive emergent meadows and in shoreline in addition to invertebrates
the eggs and July 24 hrs of
species vegetation, grasslands upland habitat throughout Early
tend the young. hatching.
and open adjacent to the breeding season. September
Actual days
shoreline. wetlands.
to fledging
unknown

1 - With 1994, Dechant et al. 2003j 7 - England et al. 1997, Dechant et al. 2003a 13 - Rowland 2004, Ehrlich et al. 1988
2 - Hill and Gould 1997, Dechant et al. 2003c 8 - Vickery 1996, Dechant et al. 2003d 14 - Burger and Gochfeld 1994, Ehrlich et al. 1988
3 - Shane 2000, Dechant et al. 2003m 9 – Johnson & Igl 2001, Green et al. 2002, Dechant et al. 2003b 15 - Nisbet 2002, Ehrlich et al. 1988
4 - Dugger and Dugger 2002, Dechant et al. 2003i 10 - Martin and Gavin 1995, Dechant et al. 2003k 16 - Dechant et al. 2003f, Ehrlich et al. 1988
5 - Robbins and Dale 1999, Dechant et al. 2003g 11 - Rotenberry et al. 1999, Ehrlich et al. 1988 17 - Lowther et al. 2001, Dechant et al. 2003h
6 - Bechard and Schmutz 1995, Dechant et al. 2003l 12 – Yosef 1996, Dechant et al. 2003e 18 - Colwell and Jehl 1994, Ehrlich et al. 1988
March 2007 4