What are grassland birds and why are
they at risk?
Grassland birds are those that rely on grassland habitat for
nesting, brood-rearing and foraging. Grassland birds include
various species of raptors, waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds and
upland game birds. Grassland bird species have been declining
throughout the United States due to loss of habitat resulting
from changes in agricultural use and development. In fact,
grasslands in the eastern United States rank as one of the
country’s 21 most endangered ecosystems. New Jersey’s remaining
grasslands are almost entirely embedded within agricultural
landscapes. The Franklin Township, Somerset County project is
an important step in securing the future of grassland birds.
Why are native warm-season grasses,
such as those planted at the Griggstown Native Grassland
Preserve and the Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve, so
important to wildlife?
Native warm-season grasses (nwsg), such as big bluestem,
little bluestem, Indiangrass, and sideoats grama, are beneficial
to wildlife because of the structure of cover provided. Nwsg
grow in bunches (as seen in the photo to the right), providing
an open space at ground level. This allows for mobility for
small wildlife through the field, while being protected from
predators. If the vegetation were too dense, movement would be
inhibited and it would make finding food (such as invertebrates)
difficult. In addition, nwsg do not get flattened by winter
snows (unlike cool-season grasses), thereby providing important
winter cover for year-round residents such as the bobwhite
quail. Finally, because nwsg hold up throughout the winter,
bunches of nwsg also provide important nesting habitat. Birds
use the senescent leaves of the previous season to construct
their nest.
Another important component to grasslands, and something that
can be seen at the Franklin Township, Somerset County sites, is
the presence of forbs. Forbs, such as partridge pea and annual
sunflowers, provide both canopy and forage (seed and soft mast)
throughout the summer, fall and into the winter.
Some Grassland Birds
of New Jersey
|
State Endangered |
State Threatened |
State Special Concern |
Some Other Birds of New Jersey Using Grassland Habitat |
|
Northern Harrier Upland Sandpiper
Henslow’s Sparrow
|
Bobolink Grasshopper Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Sedge Wren
Short-eared Owl, breeding only |
American Kestrel Eastern Meadowlark
Yellow-breasted Chat |
Eastern Bluebird Red-winged Blackbird
Indigo Bunting
Chipping Sparrow
Rough-legged Hawk
Ring-neck Pheasant
Northern Bobwhite
Red-tailed Hawk
Field Sparrow
Prairie Warbler
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