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Grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) performing his spring song.

This Month in Conservation Science

May 2021

~ a Virginia Working Landscapes (VWL) production ~
 
This newsletter is a platform for us to share and promote some of the latest advances in conservation science from around the world. It also provides a valuable opportunity for our interns to develop their skills in science communication. Newsletters are distributed the 2nd Monday of every month.
Next: June 14, 2021
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How Delaying Haying can Help Grassland Game and Song Birds 

 
“…adjusting haying schedules is recommended as the most effective action to assist [grassland-nesting birds’] recovery.”  
  • Many bird species rely on grassland habitats to nest and rear young, but agricultural activities such as haying have led to declines in grassland bird populations around the globe. In the United States, most grasslands are privately owned; therefore, private landowners are crucial to grassland bird conservation.  
  • Researchers surveyed hay producers in Nebraska to better understand if private landowners were willing to delay hay harvest dates in order to conserve grassland birds.  
  • Results showed that most survey respondents began harvesting hay in July, which is favorable for “early bird” nesters, such as eastern meadowlarks that nest during the beginning of May. Approximately 60% of respondents said that they were willing to delay hay harvest for nesting grassland song and game birds. Knowledge of wildlife and presence of livestock production were positive predictors of willingness to delay harvest, but involvement in hunting activities was a negative predictor of willingness.  
  • Although current haying practices in Nebraska may be beneficial to some grassland bird species, delaying harvests until July 15th or later would increase nesting success for later nesting birds, such as sparrows and sharp-tailed grouse. This delay allows time for more nesting attempts, giving nestlings and juveniles adequate time to fledge. This research demonstrates the impact that private lands have on grassland bird populations and landowners’ willingness to conserve these species. 

Read the full article by Matthew Gruntorad, Katherine Graham, Nico Arcilla, and Christopher Chizinski from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln here. 

Native Grasses: the Answer for Obesity-Prone Horses?

 
“Voluntary intake of [native warm-season] forages was lower than orchardgrass intake in our study and lower than reported values for other species. However, this may be ideal for horse owners struggling to find optimal forages for horses prone to obesity and laminitis.” 
  • The introduced cool-season grasses that dominate Virginia’s pastures are highly digestible for horses but can increase risk for obesity and laminitis-prone horses. Native warm-season grasses may have lower risk, but their palatability, digestibly, and toxicity to horses is understudied. 
  • A hay-feeding trial using native indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) hays found that horses voluntarily ate less warm-season grass hay than orchardgrass hay. The digestibility of the native grass hays was comparable to non-native orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) hay, and the native hays had lower levels of carbohydrates that pose risk to laminitis-prone horses. 
  • A grazing trial found that horses that grazed on the same native grasses (indiangrass and big bluestem) lost weight at a rate of 0.5 to 1.5 kg per day during both experimental treatments. This change in bodyweight is considered an optimal rate of weight loss in overweight horses. 
  • These results suggest that while native warm-seasongrasses are not ideal for maintaining weight in adult horses, they may be useful for managing obese and laminitic horses if fed with calcium and protein supplements. 
 
 
“Under a rapidly changing world, studies like this can help uncover the potential of technology for conservation and embrace cross-sectoral transformations from the onset.”
  • Advances in technology continue to offer more efficient and less invasive approaches to monitoring wildlife. A new study has applied cutting edge technology to monitoring nesting grassland bird communities with promising results.
  • Researchers flew a drone carrying a thermal sensor over agricultural fields to record images. These images were then fed to deep learning algorithms that were able detect the heat signatures of these nests.
  • Their results showed that weather, type of agricultural field, and height of the drone can affect detection accuracy and that automated nest detection with high accuracy is possible. 
  • Since traditional methods to monitor nests can be labor intensive and disruptive, these results suggest that the use of drones could be a widely applicable alternative. 
  • This study not only identifies a technique that could greatly enhance the conservation of grassland birds, but also helps pave the way to integrate technology and artificial intelligence with conservation efforts. 
Image credits:
Singing Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) by Bernadette Rigley (header), Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) by Bernadette Rigley (top), Grazing horses by October Greenfield (middle), Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) nest by Bernadette Rigley (bottom).
The spring has been bustling as the bird team kicks off the second season of our Bird Friendly Beef Project, a collaborative endeavor with the American Farmland Trust and local cattle producers. Interns Samantha Fishman and Margot Breiner join Research Fellow, Bernadette Rigley in the field to search for some of Virginia’s most vulnerable grassland species, like the eastern meadowlark. Sam Fishman joins us from North Carolina. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management in 2018 and most recently has worked with wood ducks and piping plovers. Margot Breiner received her bachelor's degree in Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech this past winter. Prior to joining VWL, she assisted with eastern hellbender and rainbow trout research.  
 
Over the next several months, the bird team will set out to better understand how regenerative grazing and haying practices are influencing the reproductive success of grassland birds. The team will survey fields for exhibited breeding behavior and search for nests as a way to measure reproductive success. Although the nesting season has just begun, the team has already discovered nests of both eastern meadowlarks and red-winged blackbirds!  
 
Last week, the team also deployed GPS tags on eastern meadowlarks in Warren County. In collaboration with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian’s Movement of Life Initiative, and George Mason University, we are setting out to better understand the migratory movements of eastern meadowlarks. Through GPS technology, we hope to reveal where breeding individuals migrate and how this species uses a unique mosaic of public and private lands throughout the year.  
 
Stay tuned for updates as the season progresses!
WEBINAR: SPOT. STOMP. SLOW THE SPREAD. A SPOTTED LANTERNFLY UPDATE FOR VIRGINIA

Miss the live webinar on March 30th? Watch it now on our website here! Learn about the status of the spotted lanternfly in Virginia from Kyle Rhodes, Spotted Lanternfly Crew Supervisor at the Virginia Department of Agriculture, who provide background on how this pest is moving and what we can do to prevent the spread.
2021 SMITHSONIAN BOTANICAL SYMPOSIUM
May 13-14
Registration is now open for the 18th Smithsonian Botanical Symposium, “Plant symbiosis: The good, the bad, and the complicated,” to be held 13-14 May 2021. This symposium will be held in a virtual setting over two days.
 
Register online for May 13th here and for May 14th here.

Native Plant Highlight: Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is a perennial herb that can be recognized by its distinctive peltate, or umbrella-like, leaves. It is found in rich woodlands and will form large colonies by sprouting new plants along its creeping rhizomes. Young plants will only have one leaf, while mature plants will have two leaves borne on a Y-shaped stem... Read the entire highlight here!


As part of Virginia Working Landscapes' Native Plant Watch project, we are sharing native plant highlights with contributions from our many collaborators and friends. To read more visit www.vaworkinglandscapes.org/native-plant-watch

 

About Us
Virginia Working Landscapes is a program convened by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) to promote the conservation of native biodiversity and encourage the sustainable use of working landscapes through research, education and outreach.

VWL is supported by private philanthropy and our work is made possible by the generous contributions from our community. Donate today to help support our research, education and outreach efforts.

The Smithsonian Institution is a 501(c)(3). All contributions are tax deductible.
 
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