| Most of the interest in prairie restoration has been purely
botanical; hence, most areas of attempted restoration are too
small to harbor viable breeding populations of prairie birds.
But an exciting possibility would be to upgrade a few prairie
preserves to make them as large and complete as possible, favoring
birds ranging from Bobolinks and Northern Harriers to Sedge Wrens
and Greater Prairie-Chickens, and other animals ranging from lizards,
snakes, and pocket gophers to badgers and bison... Is it not too
soon to explore such possibilities, for agricultural practices
could suddenly intensify further, while all open space continues
to shrink under mounting pressures of human population. |
—James Hall Zimmerman,
The Landscape and the Birds
(Zimmerman 1991)
The Central Plains historically was dominated by oak savanna and pine
and oak barrens, with a mix of extensive wet meadows and some pine and
southern oak forests, conifer swamps, prairies, and lowland hardwood
forests. While there was no extensive open prairie habitat, grassland
birds were probably abundant in many parts of this division. Most of
the division, once covered by Glacial Lake Wisconsin, is flat and characterized
by sandy soils, shallow peats, and mucks.
Birds
There are 19 priority bird species in this natural division (see sidebar).
They include all of the shortgrass species and species requiring large
areas, one midgrass species, one of the species requiring open water,
three of the five tallgrass species, and five of the six species requiring
woody vegetation or nest structures from the statewide list (see Table
5).
- Shortgrass species.
- The distribution of these species generally follows the distribution
of dry upland soils with shortgrass habitats. Vesper sparrow reaches
its highest densities in this natural division and is found mainly
in row crops and conifer and oak or river barrens. Upland sandpiper
is most numerous on large blocks of idle or lightly grazed grassland,
such as the Buena Vista/Leola Grasslands (P). Grasshopper sparrow
and Western meadowlark occur in suitable shortgrass habitats throughout
the division.
- Midgrass species.
- Bobolink occurs throughout the division in appropriate upland and
lowland habitats.
- Tallgrass species.
- Henslow's sparrow is irregularly distributed throughout the division.
It can be locally common on sites with good habitat, such as Buena
Vista Grasslands. Sedge wren is common in wet grass and sedge meadows.
The Central Plains is an important natural division for managing this
and other sedge meadow species, including Le Conte's sparrow. Yellow
rail has recently occurred at Comstock Bog-Meadow (67), and may warrant
addition to the list of priority bird species for this division.
- Species requiring woody vegetation or nest structures.
- Lark sparrow is locally distributed in oak or river barrens and
conifer barrens, especially in the southern part. Bell's vireo is
mostly restricted to the southern part of this division. Clay-colored
sparrow is common in both upland and lowland shrub habitats and young
conifer plantations. Field sparrow is common throughout, especially
in dry habitats with brush. Brewer's blackbird is found in large open
grasslands, especially those with some scattered trees or snags.
- Species requiring open water.
- Wilson's phalarope occurs irregularly in large sedge meadows and
sedge marshes.
- Species requiring large areas.
- The Central Plains is currently the most important natural division
for conservation of the greater prairie-chicken, in particular at
the Buena Vista/Leola Grasslands Landscape (P) and Dewey Marsh Wildlife
Area (78). Sharp-tailed grouse occur in relatively low numbers in
the western part of this natural division, primarily in wetland habitats
such as Wood County Wildlife Area (74) and Dike 17 (73). Large expanses
of grasslands, such as at the Buena Vista/Leola Grasslands, are the
main areas of importance for northern harrier and short-eared owl,
although other sites may be used. Short-eared owl is particularly
unpredictable and variable in its distribution, as is the very rare
barn owl. The presence of area-sensitive birds in this division indicates
the quality and size of grassland landscapes there.
Habitats, Landscapes, and Sites
Agriculture is not well developed in much of the Central Plains. However,
in parts of the division the acreage devoted to irrigated vegetable
crops such as potatoes, corn, and snap beans is substantial and increasing.
This division is also the primary area for cranberry production, which
is increasing in the state.
Priority habitats, landscapes, and sites for grassland management
in the Central Plains are listed next to Figure
11. An estimated 19,000 acres of permanent grasslands—the vast
majority of it upland—are in blocks greater than 100 acres in this
small natural division. Most of these blocks are in the Buena Vista/Leola
Grasslands (P), Necedah Barrens (Q), and Bear Bluff Wetlands (R). These
three landscapes offer special opportunities for grassland, sedge meadow,
barrens, and open bog management at fairly large scales. The potential
for managing for or conserving southern sedge meadows is high because
this extinct glacial lake bed has many open, poorly drained areas (one
case in point are the sedge meadows occurring on county forest lands
in the Bear Bluff Wetlands Landscape). Sandy soil areas are likely locations
for restoring and expanding barrens and dry-mesic prairie habitats.
Commercially mossed sphagnum bogs typically support a simple breeding
bird community dominated by sedge wren, savannah sparrow, and Henslow's
sparrow. The value of mossed bogs is elevated because they tend to occur
in large open bog landscapes. However, mossed bog replaces open bog,
a native habitat that is in trouble in the Central Plains, and conversion
should be discouraged.
The close proximity of Necedah Barrens Landscape (Q), Bear Bluff Wetlands
Landscape (R), and the Wood County Wildlife Area (74) in the Central
Plains with the nearby Fort McCoy Barrens (B) in the Southwestern Upland
offers unique opportunities for connection of large blocks of a variety
of grassland habitats.
At Buena Vista/Leola Grasslands (P), which is the model for our concept
of large-scale management areas, the challenge is to maintain suitable
habitats on private lands. Currently the encroachment of irrigated row
crops and cranberry bogs may threaten the value of the entire landscape
for prairie-chickens and other grassland birds, which is currently very
high (Sample 1995). This landscape is the single most important in the
natural division, and most of the priority bird species occur there.
The 4,000 acre barrens restoration activities at Necedah National Wildlife
Refuge (Q) hold real promise for grassland birds, especially if adequate
areas are kept sufficiently open—that is, with relatively low tree
density—and are not entirely isolated by more closed, wooded habitats.
 |
 |
| Wide open, almost treeless horizons are typical
of the Buena Vista Grasslands, shown here. This landscape, a mosaic
of public and private lands, is home to a highly diverse community
of grassland birds, including the greater prairie-chicken. It is
one of the best examples of a functioning large-scale grassland
management area in the state. |
|
|
|
|
|
Greater prairie-chicken |
| Figure 11. Priority landscapes
and sites for grassland bird management in the Central Plains
Natural Division. |
| Landscape and Site Names1 |
|
Habitat Types (see below
for 4-letter codes) |
|
| I. White River Marsh Complex2 |
|
SSME, WMWP, SSMA, ICSG, PAST, ORBA, DROF, WEOF,
SWOF, OASA, YCPL3 |
| Sites: 67. |
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area (SNA) |
NSME, SSME, OPBO, SHSW |
| 68. |
Germania Wildlife Area (WA) |
SSME, SHSW, DROF, IWSG, WMWP, ICSG, SSMA |
| |
|
| P. Buena Vista/Leola Grasslands |
PAST, UPSH, DROF |
| Sites: 76. |
Leola Marsh WA |
ICSG, PAST |
| 77. |
Buena Vista Grasslands (Includes Buena Vista Quarry
Prairie SNA and Buena Vista Prairie Chicken Meadow SNA) |
ICSG, DROF, DMPR, IWSG, PAST, UPSH, WEOF, SWOF,
SHSW |
| |
|
| Q. Necedah Barrens |
|
| Sites: 72. |
Necedah NWR Barrens Restoration (Includes Necedah
Oak-Pine Savanna SNA) |
DIBA, BPBA, IWSG, DROF, WEOF, SHSW, SSMA, DSPR,
SSME |
| |
|
| R. Bear Bluff Wetlands |
NSME, OPBO, NSMA, SSMA, MOBO, DIBA, SHSW, UPSH,
BPBA |
| Sites: 73. |
Dike 17 WA |
SSME, SSMA, SHSW, DROF, BPBA, ICSG, IWSG, DMPR,
SWOF, WMWP |
| |
|
| GG. Coloma Barrens and Savannas |
ORBA, YCPL, DSPR, DROF |
| Sites: 71. |
Greenwood WA |
IWSG, OASA, SSME |
| |
| Other
Sites Located Outside of Landscapes: |
| 69. |
Quincy Bluff and Wetlands SNA |
|
SSME, NSME, ICSG, ORBA, BPBA |
| 70. |
Lunch Creek Wetlands |
SSME, WMWP, ICSG, SHSW |
| 74. |
Wood County WA |
OPBO, SSME, SSMA, SHSW, DROF, WEOF, SWOF |
| 75. |
Sandhill WA (Includes Barrens Restoration and Buffalo
Pasture) |
SSMA, SSME, PAST, ORBA, SHSW, CBOV, SWOF, DROF,
OPBO |
| 78. |
Dewey Marsh WA |
NSME, OPBO, SHSW, NSMA, UPSH, DROF, ICSG |
|
1 Landscapes are ranked from
highest priority to lowest priority. Sites are not ranked
within landscapes. When a landscape overlaps more than one natural
division, the landscape is listed within the division where most
of its land area occurs. Four-letter codes represent priority habitat
types that are present in the sites and landscapes.
2 The White River Marsh Complex Landscape has sites in
both the Southeastern Ridges and Lowlands Division and the Central
Plains Division.
3 Codes listed after landscape names refer to habitats
common or present within the landscape, in areas other than the
numbered sites. |
Priority Grassland Habitats
for Management in the Central Plains 1
(ranked by priority)
| IWSG |
Idle warm season grass/forb (medium and tall):
(71) Greenwood WA, (72) Necedah NWR Barrens Restoration, (68) Germania
WA, (77) Buena Vista Grasslands, (73) Dike 17 WA |
| |
| SSME |
Southern sedge meadow:
(67) Comstock Bog-Meadow SNA, (I) White River Marsh Complex, (70)
Lunch Creek Wetlands, (73) Dike 17 WA, (68) Germania WA, (69) Quincy
Bluff and Wetlands SNA, (71) Greenwood WA, (72) Necedah NWR Barrens
Restoration, (74) Wood County WA, (75) Sandhill WA |
| |
| NSME |
Northern sedge meadow:
(78) Dewey Marsh WA, (R) Bear Bluff Wetlands, (67) Comstock Bog-Meadow
SNA, (69) Quincy Bluff and Wetlands SNA |
| |
| ICSG |
Idle cool season grass/forb (short, medium, and tall):
(77) Buena Vista Grasslands, (68) Germania WA, (I) White River Marsh
Complex, (76) Leola Marsh WA, (73) Dike 17 WA, (69) Quincy Bluff
and Wetlands SNA, (78) Dewey Marsh WA, (70) Lunch Creek Wetlands |
| |
| PAST |
Pasture:
(P) Buena Vista/Leola Grasslands, (76) Leola Marsh WA, (77) Buena
Vista Grasslands, (75) Sandhill WA, (I) White River Marsh Complex |
| |
| DSPR |
Dry or sand prairie:
(72) Necedah NWR Barrens Restoration, (GG) Coloma Barrens and Savannas |
| |
| DROF |
Dry old field:
(77) Buena Vista Grasslands, (68) Germania WA, (I) White River Marsh
Complex, (P) Buena Vista/Leola Grasslands, (72) Necedah NWR Barrens
Restoration, (73) Dike 17 WA, (GG) Coloma Barrens and Savannas,
(74) Wood County WA, (75) Sandhill WA, (78) Dewey Marsh WA |
| |
| WMWP |
Wet-mesic or wet prairie:
(68) Germania WA, (I) White River Marsh Complex, (73) Dike 17 WA,
(70) Lunch Creek Wetlands |
| |
| DIBA |
Diverse barrens:
(72) Necedah NWR Barrens Restoration, (R) Bear Bluff Wetlands |
| |
| COBA |
Conifer Barrens:
Scattered sites; mainly found in parts of the Black River State
Forest in Jackson County, in Adams and Juneau counties, and in southeast
Wood County. |
| |
| BPBA |
Brush prairie barrens:
(72) Necedah NWR Barrens Restoration, (73) Dike 17 WA, (69) Quincy
Bluff and Wetlands SNA, (R) Bear Bluff Wetlands |
| |
| SSMA |
Southern sedge marsh:
(68) Germania WA, (I) White River Marsh Complex, (72) Necedah NWR
Barrens Restoration, (73) Dike 17 WA, (R) Bear Bluff Wetlands, (74)
Wood County WA, (75) Sandhill WA |
| |
| NSMA |
Northern sedge marsh:
(R) Bear Bluff Wetlands, (78) Dewey Marsh WA |
| |
| OPBO |
Open bog:
(R) Bear Bluff Wetlands, (67) Comstock Bog-Meadow SNA, (74) Wood
County WA, (75) Sandhill WA, (78) Dewey Marsh WA |
| |
| ORBA |
Oak or river barrens:
(GG) Coloma Barrens and Savannas, (I) White River Marsh Complex,
(69) Quincy Bluff and Wetlands SNA, (75) Sandhill WA |
| |
| WEOF |
Wet old field:
(77) Buena Vista Grasslands, (I) White River Marsh Complex, (72)
Necedah NWR Barrens Restoration, (74) Wood County WA |
| |
| SHSW |
Shrub swamp:
(67) Comstock Bog-Meadow SNA, (68) Germania WA, (77) Buena Vista
Grasslands, (72) Necedah NWR Barrens Restoration, (73) Dike 17 WA,
(R) Bear Bluff Wetlands, (70) Lunch Creek Wetlands, (74) Wood County
WA, (75) Sandhill WA, (78) Dewey Marsh WA |
| |
| DMPR |
Dry-mesic prairie:
(77) Buena Vista Grasslands, (73) Dike 17 WA |
| |
| UPSH |
Upland shrub:
(P) Buena Vista/Leola Grasslands, (77) Buena Vista Grasslands, (R)
Bear Bluff Wetlands, (78) Dewey Marsh WA |
| |
| SWOF |
Shrubby wet old field:
(77) Buena Vista Grasslands, (73) Dike 17 WA, (I) White River Marsh
Complex, (74) Wood County WA, (75) Sandhill WA |
| |
| OASA |
Oak savanna:
(I) White River Marsh Complex, (71) Greenwood WA |
| |
| MOBO |
Mossed Bog:
(R) Bear Bluff Wetlands |
| |
| YCPL |
Young conifer plantation:
(GG) Coloma Barrens and Savannas, (I) White River Marsh Complex |
| |
| CBOV |
Cut- or burned-over:
(75) Sandhill WA; also scattered sites mainly in the western half
of the division. |
1 Habitats are ranked by priority
within the division. Each habitat is followed by suggested landscapes
and sites for management, arranged roughly from highest to lowest priority.
Landscape letter codes and site number codes in parentheses correspond
to the map. See Table 1 and Appendix
E for descriptions of bird communities expected in the habitats listed.
|
