Ron Reid Couchiching Conservancy

Ron Reid
Couchiching Conservancy
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Grassland bird
populations declining
3-4% per year
Pasture acreage
dropping
Future health of
grassland birds tied
directly to beef
grazing
CARDEN ALVAR
Over 8000 acres
owned by NCC, OP,
Couchiching
About half is grazed
grassland habitat
Bobolink, Eastern
Meadowlark,
Loggerhead Shrike
Barn Swallow
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Previous survey work in Carden
of Bobolink nesting colonies:
In a DRY year, when most hay
cut in late June, only 7%
produced fledged young,
compared to 57% in pastures.
In a WET year, when haying
delayed, bobolinks had a
BONUS crop of fledged young,
with 70% of hayfields and 80%
of pastures successful.
Conversion to cropland difficult
to influence, but pasture
restoration from succession
benefits cattle grazing.
ABANDONMENT
“IMPROVEMENT”
HABITAT LOSSES
ONGOING
Sites with Bobolinks
decreased by 60%;
similar drop in
populations.
Sites with Meadowlarks
dropped 11%, but EAME
populations dropped
45%.
Similar declines for other
grassland birds except
for Grasshopper
Sparrow.
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Maintain cattle
grazing to manage
grass height
Prescribed burning
Control invasive
species
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Follow MNRF
guidelines – minimum
site size of 4 ha;
minimum width of 200
metres; fence 50% to
exclude early grazing
Select sites where
scattered trees and
shrubs degrade habitat
quality
STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
CONTRACTED
EQUIPMENT
PILING AND BURNING
CHIPS REMOVAL OR
COMPOSTING
REMOVAL OF SALVAGE
SEEDING OF GRASS MIX
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Site treatment is always more laborious and
expensive than anticipated
Unless you can do everything during ideal
weather conditions – dry or frozen – there will
be rutting
Need to monitor for invasives and re-treat in 3
to 5 years
ONE BOBOLINK PAIR
SEVEN BOBOLINK PAIRS
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Habitat offset
(SARBEX) agreements
Efficiencies in habitat
restoration,
monitoring
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Treatment sites
completed on two
owned properties and
one leased property –
150 ha total
Agreements in place
or pending for
another two
properties this year
Thank you