Bobolink reproductive response to three hayfield management regimens in southern Ontario

Diemer, Kristen M.; Nocera, Joseph J.

doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2015.12.007

Cited by 10 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…We hypothesize that the timing of hay cutting in this region may be partly due to accessibility (i.e., it is too wet until July). Diemer and Nocera [ 16 ] reported that over the past 50 years in southern Ontario, haying has shifted to take place 14–21 days earlier because of earlier maturing grass species, increased mechanization, and more frequent haying. A monetary plan to encourage delayed hay harvest may need to be considered in the future if similar trends emerge in the Great Plains region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In grasslands and meadows used for hay production, harvesting hay during the bird breeding season destroys nests and causes the mortality of incubating females, which has contributed to grassland bird population declines [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. By contrast, timing hay harvests to occur outside the main bird breeding season delivers measurable benefits for both songbird and game bird conservation [ 15 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Harvest management strategies in Vermont were met with success when farmers harvested hay early (late May-early June) and waited 65 days before harvesting again to allow birds the opportunity to re-nest [ 31 ]. However, early hay harvest strategies may be complicated by environmental constraints in other regions [ 16 , 40 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is Hay for the Birds? Investigating Landowner Willingness to Time Hay Harvests for Grassland Bird Conservation

Gruntorad

Graham

Arcilla

et al. 2021

Animals

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Birds in agricultural environments have exhibited steep global population declines in recent decades, and effective conservation strategies targeting their populations are urgently needed. In grasslands used for hay production, breeding birds’ nest success improves substantially if hay harvests are delayed until after mid-July. However, few studies have investigated private hay producers’ willingness to alter their harvesting practices, which is a critical factor for bird conservation where most land is privately owned, such as in the North American Great Plains. We surveyed Nebraska hay producers to examine whether livestock production, wildlife knowledge, and hunting activity affects their willingness to alter haying practices for bird conservation. The majority (60%) of respondents expressed willingness to delay harvesting hay to allow birds time to nest successfully. Livestock producers and those more knowledgeable about wildlife were more willing to delay hay harvests, whereas active hunters were less willing to do so. Our findings suggest that a majority of private producers show a high potential for engaging in grassland bird conservation activities. Landowners’ willingness to participate in bird conservation programs and actions could be further encouraged through extension and education efforts connecting hay producers with information, support, and funding for bird conservation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is Hay for the Birds? Investigating Landowner Willingness to Time Hay Harvests for Grassland Bird Conservation

Gruntorad

Graham

Arcilla

et al. 2021

Animals

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“…Common conservation practices implemented on farms to support nesting bobolink in Ontario include delaying grazing and hay harvesting until mid‐July (MECP 2015, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association [OSCIA] 2018). Mid‐July appears to be a reasonable approximation of when bobolink finish nesting in most hay fields and pastures in southern and eastern Ontario (Renfrew et al 2015, Diemer and Nocera 2016, Brown and Nocera 2017, MacDonald and Nol 2017). The breeding phenology of bobolink and seasonal changes in forage quality of hay fields and pastures can vary geographically (Nocera et al 2005, Perlut et al 2011, Diemer and Nocera 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mid‐July appears to be a reasonable approximation of when bobolink finish nesting in most hay fields and pastures in southern and eastern Ontario (Renfrew et al 2015, Diemer and Nocera 2016, Brown and Nocera 2017, MacDonald and Nol 2017). The breeding phenology of bobolink and seasonal changes in forage quality of hay fields and pastures can vary geographically (Nocera et al 2005, Perlut et al 2011, Diemer and Nocera 2016). Additionally, assessing when bobolink finish nesting in a particular field could improve or provide advantages over the general conservation guideline of mid‐July.…”

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confidence: 99%

Determining When Bobolink Finish Breeding to Time Agricultural Activity in Nesting Refuges

2020

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Conservation actions are ongoing for the federally and provincially threatened bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) in Ontario, Canada because of population declines. One conservation action being implemented in agricultural grasslands is the delay of hay harvesting and livestock grazing until 15 July, a general guideline for when bobolink finish breeding. Efficient methods to assess when breeding ceases could benefit bobolink and farmers engaged in conservation by ensuring nesting is finished before agricultural activity occurs and enabling agricultural activity earlier when breeding is finished before 15 July. We conducted field surveys to assess if low‐intensity surveys (i.e., transect surveys, point counts, roadside counts) could accurately detect when bobolink finish breeding compared to intensive monitoring (i.e., spot mapping and nest monitoring). We monitored 29 pastures in 2017 in eastern Ontario and 9 hay fields, 10 restored grasslands, and 6 fallow fields in 2018 in southern Ontario. The date breeding finished varied across fields in 2017 from 13 June to 29 July and in 2018 from 24 June to 30 July, based on spot mapping and nest monitoring. Transect surveys and point counts were good predictors of breeding in a field, as confirmed through spot mapping and nest monitoring, based on generalized linear mixed models. We recommend using transect surveys or point counts as an efficient field method to assess when bobolink finish breeding in a field targeted for bobolink conservation. Our results suggest that 2 consecutive visits that fail to detect evidence of breeding in early July are needed to reasonably infer that breeding has likely finished, leaving a small probability (i.e., <0.01) that breeding may still be occurring. Determining when bobolink finish breeding in fields intended to provide nesting refuges can help maximize conservation benefits and minimize negative effects on agricultural production. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

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Potential impacts of land‐management schedules on grassland bird nests and fledglings

Wolcott,

Herkert,

Ribic

et al. 2023

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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Trade‐offs exist between timing of grassland habitat management activities (e.g., weed and brush control) while also ensuring other conservation objectives (e.g., grassland bird reproductive success) are met. On land set aside for grassland conservation (e.g., lands enrolled in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve Program and some state and federal wildlife management areas), federal and state agencies set time frames for land management based on avoiding disturbance of grassland bird nests. However, recent calls for considering the needs of dependent fledglings in conservation plans imply a need to evaluate whether current time frames are adequate. We used initiation and end dates for 3,257 nests of 8 obligate grassland bird species in Illinois and Wisconsin and a simulation approach for fledgling survival to estimate the potential proportion of active nests at risk when management (e.g., mowing, fire) occurred on the 1st and 15th day of May, June, July, and August during the breeding season. Management during June had the potential to impact 24–61% of nests, depending on the species. Management during July had the potential to impact 4–52% of nests, depending on the species. If disturbance occurred during August, proportionately few active nests were at risk for any species (0–9% of nests on 1 August, 0–<0.5% on 15 August). Potential proportions of fledglings at risk from management were greatest in July for 7 of the 8 species (7–18%). Our study suggests that on lands where a primary conservation objective is to increase or ensure survival of grassland birds, delaying management activities until August could be beneficial for protecting both grassland bird nests and fledglings.

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Bobolink reproductive response to three hayfield management regimens in southern Ontario

Cited by 10 publications

References 16 publications

Is Hay for the Birds? Investigating Landowner Willingness to Time Hay Harvests for Grassland Bird Conservation

Is Hay for the Birds? Investigating Landowner Willingness to Time Hay Harvests for Grassland Bird Conservation

Determining When Bobolink Finish Breeding to Time Agricultural Activity in Nesting Refuges

Potential impacts of land‐management schedules on grassland bird nests and fledglings

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