Reproductive success of songbirds and waterfowl in native mixed-grass pasture and planted grasslands used for pasture and hay

Abstract

ABSTRACT Conservation of grassland birds in agricultural landscapes requires an understanding of the demographic consequences of nesting in native and planted grasslands. Much of the native grassland in agricultural regions has been converted to cropland. Subsequently, seeding cropland to perennial grasslands has become a common strategy to restore habitat for grassland birds, but these grasslands also may be used as hay and pasture forage for livestock. Our objectives were to determine (1) if the abundance of grassland songbirds and the reproductive success of songbirds and waterfowl varied between native pasture and planted grassland, and (2) if the amount of grassland in the surrounding landscape influenced the abundance and reproductive success of songbirds or the nest survival of waterfowl in native and planted grasslands. Our results suggest that planted grasslands used for pasture and hay in our region are likely ecological sinks for grassland specialist songbirds. Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii...