This map depics survey points during the past four years. - FWS graphic

A grassland bird project conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The University of Montana is nearing completion.  The project has expanded into two parts: one with the goal of creating conservation planning tools for wildlife managers in the prairie pothole region, and another to assess the impacts of planted shelterbelts on native grassland birds. 

Field data collection and data entry for both projects was completed this year, and analysis has begun.  Staff have conducted point counts for 15 species and vegetation surveys on over 3,000 locations, stratified by land type and percent grass in the landscape across parts of five states. 

The effort also includes successfully completing an experimental project removing 15 shelterbelts and assessing the impact of this removal on grassland birds.  The team is awaiting updated land use coverage derived from satellite imagery from Region 6 (Dakotas, Montana), but have begun analysis for Region 3 (Minnesota, Iowa). 

Habitat models will be developed for 15 species by The University of Montana.  Habitat models will be applied using GIS techniques to identify priority grassland landscapes throughout the PPR study area by HAPET.  Predictive capability of models will be cross-validated using data that were not used in model construction. 

Once models have been incorporated into the GIS, priority grassland bird landscapes will be overlaid with those for waterfowl to identify where the greatest overlap exists, enabling conservation planners to combine resources in these areas to deliver habitat conservation to areas with the greatest multiple benefits. 

Next, priority grassland bird landscapes will be overlaid with Service easement and fee-title lands to quantify the extent to which waterfowl habitat protection efforts have benefited other grassland birds.  Lastly, using GIS the team will simulate changes in grassland distribution and abundance to evaluate farm programs (e.g., CRP) and formulate recommendations for future conservation programs.

The University of Montana will complete the final report by May 2007 in conjunction with dissertation completion by Frank Quamen.

Spring 2006     - Data entry completed on landscape project

Summer 2006   - Last field season completed on shelterbelt removal project

- Data entry completed on shelterbelt removal project

- GIS landscape parameters calculated for Region 3 locations by HAPET

Fall 2006          - Data analysis of shelterbelt removal project

- Data analysis of Region 3 landscape project

                        - Region 3 model creation

                        - GIS landscape parameters calculated for Region 6 locations by HAPET

Winter 2006     - Data analysis of Region 6 landscape project

                        - Region 6 model creation

                        - Application of Region 3 models to GIS, and validation

Spring 2007     - Application of Region 3 models to GIS, and validation

- Final report/dissertation completed by May

Models will be developed for the following species for Minnesota and Iowa

Bobolink                                  861

Brown-headed Cowbird           212     

Clay-colored Sparrow              364

Dickcissel                                 181

Grasshopper Sparrow              241

Horned Lark                            146

LaConte’s Sparrow                  158

Savannah Sparrow                   639

Sedge Wren                             580

Western Meadowlark               180

For additional information, contact:

Dr. Rex Johnson, Team Leader

Habitat and Population Evaluation Team

18965 Co. Hwy. 82

Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56537

rex_johnson@fws.gov