Bird Monitoring at Tallgrass Prairie NationalPreserve, Kansas: 2001-2008 Status Report

Peitz, David; Guck, Michelle; James, Kevin

In 2001, the Heartland I&M Network (HTLN) initiated breeding bird surveys on Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas (TAPR) to address two objectives. The first is to monitor changes in bird community composition and abundance. The second is to monitor the responses of bird communities to changes in habitat structure and other habitat variables related to management activities. This report provides plot specific and habitat-wide data on populations and breeding habitat of birds at TAPR between 2001 and 2008, excluding 2003. Ninety-one species of birds were recorded during 913 plot visits. Seventy-nine of the 91 bird species are permanent or summer residents on the Preserve. The Grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) has the highest density of all species on the Preserve. Partners in Flight, a coalition of agencies and individuals whose mission it is to conserve North America’s declining bird populations, classify fifteen species found at TAPR as species of continental importance. Twelve species are classified as grassland obligate species. Key characteristics of a tallgrass prairie, such as vertical structure and grass litter, have increased on TAPR since 2006, the year patch-burn-grazing management was implemented on part of the Preserve and other parts were rested from fire. Corresponding with the increase in vertical structure and grass litter has been an increase in two grassland obligate species of interest, Eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna) and Henslow’s sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii). A third species, Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), subsequently declined because it favors shorter sparser grasses. Uniformity in habitat parameters across the grassland has prohibited us from developing concrete bird species richness-habitat relationships. However, as management designed to increase the diversity of habitat in the grassland continues, greater variability in habitat parameters can be expected. This increased variation in habitat parameters will increase our ability to model meaningful bird species-habitat relationships. Habitat parameters across the riparian areas of the Preserve may not change as readily as the grassland habitat. Thus, these narrow ribbons of large trees on the Preserve in all likelihood will provide similar habitat to birds year after year.

Bird Monitoring at Tallgrass Prairie NationalPreserve, Kansas: 2001-2008 Status Report

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