Wild New Jersey Exclusive: Native grasses helping imperiled grassland birds recover in New Jersey
Bobolink displaying in New Jersey.
Photo courtesy of Robert Lin.
As New Jersey's farmlands dwindle, grassland bird species that depend on such habitat - such as bobolink, grasshopper sparrow, American kestrel, upland sandpiper, and vesper sparrow - are under threat. The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey is working with state and federal agencies to help farmers replace pesticides, invasive weeds and monocultures with productive native grasses.
Wild New Jersey's David Wheeler joined Conserve Wildlife's MacKenzie Hall - as well as Harold Scaff of the Landowner Incentive Committee and Walt Steele of the Bethlehem Environmental Commission - in touring the switchgrass, little bluestem, Indian grass, and big bluestem of two recent grassland restoration projects along the wild and scenic Musconetcong River.
Touring the Warren Rod and Gun Club, the group viewed grasshopper sparrows, field sparrows, eastern kingbirds, and a host of butterflies utilizing the restored grasslands. They also observed a young red fox along a neighboring road, one of the predators for some of the nesting grassland birds. However, the primary threat remains the destruction of grasslands and the spreading of invasive species - making ongoing success stories like Scaff's management of the Warren Club's restoration all the more vital to the future of these birds.
In addition to the wildlife benefits, Hall pointed out the economic potential of native grasses when harvested at the right time of year, with switchgrass already being utilized as a cheap source of fuel.
Tune in next week for a follow-up story about banding the American kestrel, another at-risk grasslands bird. For more information about New Jersey's Landowner Incentive Program, click here. To learn more about the Conserve Wildlife Foundation, click here.
Tune in next week for a follow-up story about banding the American kestrel, another at-risk grasslands bird. For more information about New Jersey's Landowner Incentive Program, click here. To learn more about the Conserve Wildlife Foundation, click here.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 7/9/2009 1:00 PM 
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Birds
Tags: grassland birds native grass bobolink
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Birds
Tags: grassland birds native grass bobolink
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