AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Conservation of Grassland Birds in an Urbanizing Landscape: A Historical Perspective

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2002
Authors:Jones, ZF, Bock, CE
Journal:The Condor
Volume:104
Issue:3
Date Published:2002
ISBN Number:00105422
Keywords:Ammodramus, Ammodramus sandwichensis, Ammodramus savannarum, Athene, Athene cunicularia, Calamospiza, Calamospiza melanocorys, Caprimulgidae, Chordeiles, Chordeiles minor, Dolichonyx, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Emberiza, Emberiza godlewskii, Emberizidae, Icteridae, Laniidae, Lanius, Lanius ludovicianus, Passerculus, Passerculus sandwichensis, Pooecetes, Pooecetes gramineus, Speotyto, Speotyto cunicularia, Strigidae, Sturnella, Sturnella neglecta
Abstract:Landscape alterations resulting from urban expansion are among those factors negatively impacting Great Plains grassland birds. The City and County of Boulder, Colorado, manage one of the largest grassland open-space systems in North America, but it is embedded in an area of rapid urban growth. We compared bird count data from the 1980s and 1990s with checklist information about the Boulder grassland avifauna between 1900 and 1937, with the goal of determining what proportion and which species of the historical grassland avifauna are being sustained on Boulder open space. Of 29 native species present in 1900, 22 (76%) appeared on our counts in the 1990s. Formerly common species that disappeared or declined mostly were birds associated with shortgrass prairie, including Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), and Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys). By contrast, species associated with mixed and tallgrass habitats increased or held steady, including Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus), Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), and Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). We conclude that municipal open spaces can support populations of many Great Plains grassland birds, but that sustaining species associated with the shortgrass prairie may prove especially challenging. /// La alteración del paisaje causada por la expansión urbana es uno de los factores que impacta negativamente a las aves de los pastizales de los "Great Plains." La ciudad y el condado de Boulder, Colorado, maneja uno de los sistemas de espacios abiertos de pastizal más grande de Norteamérica, el cual se encuentra rodeado por un área de crecimiento urbano. Comparamos datos de conteo de aves de los 1980s y 1990s con informacíon de la avifauna de Boulder entre 1900 y 1937, con el propósito de determinar qué proporción y cuántas especies de las aves de pastizal registradas históricamente se mantuvieron en los espacios abiertos de Boulder. De 29 especies nativas presentes en 1900, 22 (76%) aparecen en nuestros conteos de los 1990s. Especies anteriormente comunes pero que desaparecieron o disminuyeron en cantidad, fueron aves relacionadas principalmente con praderas de pasto corto, incluyendo Athene cunicularia, Chordeiles minor, Lanius ludovicianus y especialmente Calomospiza melanocorys. Por el contrario, especies asociadas a hábitats mixtos o de pasto alto han aumentado o se han mantenido, incluyendo Pooecetes gramineus, Passerculus sandwichensis, Ammodramus savannarum, Dolichonyx oryzivorus y Sturnella neglecta. Concluimos que los espacios abiertos municipales pueden sostener poblaciones de varias especies de aves de pastizal. Sin embargo, será más difícil mantener aquellas especies que prefieren praderas de pasto corto, porque las áreas continuas y amplias que necesitan, ya no existen.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/1370744
Short Title:The Condor
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith