Ranchers can help grassland birds rebuild populations

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Nov. 4, 2019

Fast facts

Research finds grassland birds declining in U.S.
Ranchers can manage grazing to help grassland bird populations

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Rotational stocking and other management practices may give grassland birds a chance to rebuild their populations, said Dirk Philipp, associate professor-animal science, for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“A recent report in the journal ‘Science’ indicated that there has been a decrease of about one-third in bird abundance across landscapes of the United States,” he said. “Large losses have occurred across landscapes in the central United States over the past few decades, with about 74 percent of grassland bird species declining, mostly due to habitat loss due to a variety of reasons.”

However, Philipp said ranchers can provide for both their livestock and grassland birds with judicious use of grazing management practices.

“Grazing, by and large, can enhance habitat for grassland birds via grazing methods other than just continuous stocking,” he said.

With rotational stocking, animals usually return every four weeks to the same paddock — not enough time for breeding ground-nesting birds to raise their young.

“The key is to schedule grazing and rotating animals through paddocks that leave rest periods in some paddocks that are long enough so that birds can build a nest and successfully raise their young, all in six weeks,” Philipp said.

Philipp offered some tactics to enhance grassland bird habitat while keeping the livestock operation productive, based on experience elsewhere in the central United States.

Select paddocks for the habitat away from tree lines and wooded areas – areas that can harbor predators of birds.
Don’t graze the habitat paddock between early May and early July to enable the birds to nest and raise young.
Build additional paddocks around one or two of the habitat paddocks.
These paddocks, which become refuges for wildlife, can contain legumes or other broadleaf forage, which provide better quality forage when harvested or grazed later than normal.
Having a refuge paddock in the middle of everything increases the total inhabitable grassland as a food source and retreat.
Don’t graze the surrounding paddocks sequentially, but rather, in an alternating fashion. This will increase ground cover adjacent to the refuge paddocks.
Leave at least 4 inches of standing forage after each grazing.
Come early July, the habitat/refuge paddocks can be grazed or mowed as desired.

Philipp said the paddocks should have some form of grazing, “as this will deposit nutrients back to the soil, provide insect habitat on which birds rely, and provide a less even ground cover that may be more beneficial for birds including their food sources.”

To learn more about forage management, contact your county extension office, or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow the Cooperative Extension Service on Twitter at @AR_Extension and Instagram @uaex_edu.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2006
mhightower@uada.edu