Is Hay for the Birds? Investigating Landowner Willingness to Time Hay Harvests for Grassland Bird Conservation

Abstract

Birds in agricultural environments have exhibited steep global population declines in recent decades, and effective conservation strategies targeting their populations are urgently needed. In grasslands used for hay production, breeding birds’ nest success improves substantially if hay harvests are delayed until after mid-July. However, few studies have investigated private hay producers’ willingness to alter their harvesting practices, which is a critical factor for bird conservation where most land is privately owned, such as in the North American Great Plains. We surveyed Nebraska hay producers to examine whether livestock production, wildlife knowledge, and hunting activity affects their willingness to alter haying practices for bird conservation. The majority (60%) of respondents expressed willingness to delay harvesting hay to allow birds time to nest successfully. Livestock producers and those more knowledgeable about wildlife were more willing to delay hay harvests, whereas active hunters were less willing to do so. Our findings suggest that a majority of private producers show a high potential for engaging in grassland bird conservation activities. Landowners’ willingness to participate in bird conservation programs and actions could be further encouraged through extension and education efforts connecting hay producers with information, support, and funding for bird conservation.

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) Declines Follow Bison (Bison bison) Reintroduction on Private Conservation Grasslands

“…Managing grasslands to avoid overgrazing in general and disturbance to nesting and juvenile birds in particular, whether from grazing by bison or cattle, hay harvesting, or patch burning, makes a critical difference for Bobolinks and other ground-nesting birds [ 22 , 40 ]. Our findings show that both Bobolink abundance and productivity significantly increased following the departure of grazing animals ( Figure 4 and Figure 5 ), while both Bobolink abundance and productivity exhibited significant declines when cattle grazing was replaced with bison grazing in our study area ( Figure 2 ).…”

“…Given the relative lack of protection for grasslands, most of which are privately owned [ 21 , 22 ], reintroducing bison may bring more attention and support for grassland conservation, benefiting grassland birds. Public interest and funding for popular species have been leveraged to meet multiple conservation objectives in other cases, such as Northern Bobwhites ( Colinus virginianus ) acting as an umbrella species for some other species of grassland and shrubland birds [ 23 ].…”

Functional traits and metacommunity theory reveal that habitat filtering and competition maintain bird diversity in a human shared landscape

“…Hay fields may provide important habitat for a handful of species. However, haying can lead to declining bird abundance (Bollinger et al 1990), though Gruntorad et al (2021) found that most farmers were willing to delay haying in order to benefit birds. Unlike corn and soy fields, hay fields were most preferred by several bird species (Supporting information).…”

Grazing subirrigated meadow regrowth influences subsequent‐year plant production and nutritive value

“…2023;115:3035-3044. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/agj2 3035 within the larger ecosystem (Vinton & Larsen, 2022;Whitcomb, 1989). The primary use of Sandhills subirrigated meadows is hay production, which provides a major source of winter feed for cattle operations (Coady & Clark, 1993;Gruntorad et al, 2021;Volesky et al, 2011). Haying on meadows typically occurs from late-June to August.…”

“…The primary use of Sandhills subirrigated meadows is hay production, which provides a major source of winter feed for cattle operations (Coady & Clark, 1993; Gruntorad et al., 2021; Volesky et al., 2011). Haying on meadows typically occurs from late‐June to August.…”