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GRAZING INFLUENCES ON NONGAME BREEDING BIRDS STUDY
 
color pencil illustration of black cattle grazing with cattle egrets by Patsy RenzA graduate student at South Dakota State University has completed two years of data collection in south-central North Dakota for a study which will try to determine (1) whether there is any change in species composition and breeding bird densities due to temporal effects of grazing treatments, and (2) determine the differences in avian species composition and breeding bird density in pastures with different grazing intensities. One of his study sites was Schmidt WPA, located in the SE corner of Kidder County. This 60 acre WPA served as a reference site (idle grassland), rather than a treatment site (grazed grassland).
 
During 2001 and 2002, a total of six surveys were conducted on Schmidt WPA. Surveys were comprised of a 200 x 100 meter belt transect, followed by a 15-minute walk-about throughout the site. Twelve different species were observed on Schmidt WPA. The table below lists the survey dates, observed species, and number of pairs recorded during the belt transect completed each survey period.
 
  Species
6/04/01
6/16/01
6/24/01
6/07/02
6/15/02
7/01/02
  
  Red-winged blackbird
1
0
0
0
0
0
  
  Clay-colored sparrow
3
2
1
2
2
0
  
  Bobolink
1
0
1
0
1
0
  
  Brown-headed cowbird *
0
0
0
0
1
1
  
  Eastern kingbird
2
0
1
0
2
0
  
  Common yellowthroat*
0
0
0
0
0
0
  
  Savannah sparrow
1
0
0
0
0
0
  
  Common grackle*
0
0
0
0
0
0
  
  Tree swallow*
0
0
0
0
0
0
  
  Willow flycatcher*
0
0
0
0
0
0
  
  Yellow warbler
1
0
0
0
0
0
  
  Brown thrasher*
0
0
0
0
0
0
  
  Grasshopper sparrow**
0
0
0
0
0
0
  
 
 
Total Pairs
9
2
3
2
6
1
  
 
 
* = Species only observed during at least one 15-minute walk-about period, 2001
  ** = Species only observed during at least one 15-minute walk-about period, 2002  
 
 

Please direct questions and comments to:

Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
12000 353rd St. SE
Moffit, North Dakota 58560-9704
Phone: 701-387-4397
E-mail: longlake@fws.gov