Fire and cattle grazing on wintering sparrows in Arizona grasslands
-
-
Authors: C. E. Gordon
Date: 2000
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 53
Number: 4
Pages: 384-389
Summary of Methods: The grazing portion of this study suggests that heavy grazing had a negative effect on the abundance of three sparrow species, grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), Baird's sparrow (Ammodramus bairdil), and Cassin's sparrow (Aimophila cassinnii). The grasshopper sparrow and Baird's sparrow had higher abundance during the winter on an active cattle ranch, with summer grazing, than on a comparative area that lacked livestock grazing for thirty years. Gordon notes that cattle (Bos taurus) grazing may be compatible with grasshopper and Baird's sparrows, but overgrazing could significantly reduce their abundance. Though more research on the effects of cattle grazing on wintering grassland birds is needed, this study suggests that economically-feasible cattle ranching and winter habitat for grasshopper and Baird's sparrows can coexist.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: grasshopper sparrow, ammodramus savannarum, baird's sparrow, ammodramus bairdil, cassin's sparrow, aimophila cassinnii, cattle grazing, conservation, bird-banding
Annotation: The grazed pasture was 1501 ha with 1091 AUMs.
-
Get article
Cite article with DOI
-