Grassland Management
Have you noticed a difference in the appearance of Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge? The refuge began a major effort this fall to maintain and restore approximately 350 acres of the refuge’s grassland habitat. The refuge has received assistance in this effort through staff, equipment, and funds from Wallkill River, Montezuma and Iroquois NWRs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Northeast Regional Office.
Shawangunk Grasslands NWR was established in 1999 because it is one of the most important nesting and wintering areas for grassland birds in New York State. The refuge is one of only two grassland sites in the Hudson Valley large enough to support the entire assemblage of grassland birds. Grassland birds have declined more consistently and over a wider geographic area than any other group of North American birds over the last 30 years. Grassland dependant bird species that use the refuge as a nesting, wintering, or migratory stop-over site include northern harrier, short-eared owl, upland sandpiper, horned lark, grasshopper sparrow, Henslow’s sparrow, savannah sparrow, vesper sparrow, eastern meadowlark, and bobolink.
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Grasslands are a very management
intensive habitat type. Grasslands quickly become dominated by trees and shrubs,
and unsuitable to grassland birds, without frequent treatments. These treatments
could include mowing, grazing, haying, discing, herbicide applications, or
prescribed fire. Further, grassland birds require extensive fields to nest
in. The diversity and abundance of grassland birds decreases as field size
decreases.
Over
the last several years the main grassland area of the refuge has shrunk as the
woodlands and hedgerows around the perimeter have crept toward the center. Also,
the core of the grassland is becoming colonized by shrubs. In response, the
refuge has marshaled significant resources to mow, brush-hog, and Hydro-Ax the
refuge’s primary grassland area to restore and maintain a grass-dominated
plant community. |
