Grassland Ecosystem Guide

National Resources

State of the Birds: Grassland Birds

2022. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

North American Grasslands and Birds Report

Wilsey et. all, 2019. National Audubon

Management Strategies for Reversing Declines in Landbirds of Conservation Concern on Military Installations
Nott and Gordon, 2006.

Northeast

Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative

The resources on this page provide an excellent place to start if you are a landowner looking to bring bird-friendly practices onto your landscape. 

Delayed Mowing for Grassland Habitat Conservation

Suomi-Lecker, Ag Allies.

Hayfield Management and Grassland Bird Conservation

Ochterski, 2006. Cornell University Cooperative Extension.

Enhancing Pastures for Grassland Bird Conservation

Ochterski, 2005. Cornell University Cooperative Extension.

Create an Insect Buffet for Birds

Bailey et. all, 2023. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Best Management Practices for Nesting Birds

Atwood et. all, 2017. Massachusetts Audubon.

Managing Working Lands for Northern Bobwhite: The USDA NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project

Burger Jr. et all, 2009. U.S Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Management Considerations for Grassland Birds in Northeastern Haylands and Pasturelands

2010. U.S Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Field Management Guidelines for Virginia’s Grassland and Shrubland Birds

2021. Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes.

Managing Land in the Piedmont of Virginia for the Benefit of Birds and Other Wildlife

Wolter et. all, 2016. The Piedmont Environmental Council.

Southeast

Nests Under Fire: Does it Matter? Growing-season Burns and Ground-nesting Birds

Long, 2021. Southern Fire Exchange.

Midwest

Grassland Bird Use of Conservation Reserve Program fields in the Great Plains

Johnson, 2000 in Heard et al., A comprehensive review of farm bill contributions to wildlife conservation, 1985-2000.

Southern Driftless Grasslands: Reference Guide for Farmers and Landowners in Southwest Wisconsin

Becker and Keagy, 2022.

Effects of Management Practices on Grassland Birds

Johnson et al., 2004.

These reports are a series of literature syntheses on North American grassland birds produced by USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. The focus of these reports is on management of breeding habitat, particularly in the northern Great Plains. By going to this website, you will see a list of grassland bird species for which accounts are available.

West

Growing Grassland Birds:  Best Management Practices for Grasslands to Benefit Birds in Wyoming

Wyoming Partners in Flight, 2002.

Sharing Your Land with Prairie Wildlife

Gillihan et al., 2006.

Integrating Bird Conservation into Range Management

VerCauteren and Gillihan, 2004.

Grasslands Beneficial Management Practices Tool

This tool has been created and launched by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) to provide resources to ranchers, conservation organizations, and government agencies in North America.

Herkert et al., 1993.

Best Management Practices for Shortgrass Prairie Birds

Gillihan and Hutchings.

Management of Western Forests and Grasslands for Nongame Birds

DeGraff and Tilghman, 1980.