{"id":44,"date":"2016-04-26T15:34:25","date_gmt":"2016-04-26T19:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/?page_id=44"},"modified":"2021-09-29T09:26:28","modified_gmt":"2021-09-29T13:26:28","slug":"grasslands","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2016\/habitats\/grasslands\/","title":{"rendered":"Grasslands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Chihuahuan
Chihuahuan desert grasslands. Credit: Tim Gallagher.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Remnant habitat is vitally important for birds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Grasslands<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n


Prairie was once at the heart of our continent. Prior to European settlement, an inland sea of grass ran unbroken from the prairies of Canada to the high plateau of central Mexico. Today, large intact grasslands exist in only a few places in North America. Cropland expansion and residential development threaten both bird habitat and the private ranches that maintain grasslands for their cattle. Sustainable livestock grazing can keep ranchers on the land and provide habitat for grassland birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Status: Birds and habitat are disappearing fast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One-third of all grassland bird species are on the Watch List due to steeply declining populations and threats to habitat. Birds that breed in the Great Plains of Canada and the U.S. and winter in Mexico\u2019s Chihuahuan grasslands are experiencing exceptionally steep declines, a nearly 70% loss since 1970. Other temperate grassland birds have declined by 33% in that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"
Many grassland species that breed in the Great Plains depend upon the Chihuahuan grasslands during winter. Map from Partners in Flight, Saving our Shared Birds, 2010.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Building on Success: Sustainable grazing restores habitat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A pilot sustainable grazing program on 15 cattle ranches in Chihuahua, Mexico, is recreating the historic grazing patterns of bison. Through rotational grazing, some ranchers have seen their grass cover increase by 80%, which results in heavier cattle and better bird habitat. The program currently covers 250,000 acres. Expanding this program would help counter the ongoing losses of grasslands in this region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Action: Continue the prairie-pasture legacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grassland policies in North America\u2014which have supported thousands of ranching families and millions of hectares of important breeding bird habitat\u2014need support and strengthening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n