ConserveWildlife: NJ farmers using bird-friendly practices

Pat Hilton plants a prairie mix for wildlife and agriculture.
Photo Credit: M. Hall
New Jersey isn’t a corn belt state and probably isn’t what you picture when you think “prairie.” Fair enough. But New Jersey is an incredible medley of ecosystems, and for the past five years we’ve been working to make sure that native grasslands remain in the mix. Switchgrass, big bluestem, and other native warm-season grasses provide excellent habitat for ground-nesting birds like the threatened bobolink and grasshopper sparrow (which is why we like them). But they have many other uses, too, such as livestock forage, mulch, and even bio-energy (which is why farmers like them).




Comments