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Jill A. Shaffer

Publications and source records attributed to Jill A. Shaffer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Nelson’s Sparrow ( Ammospiza nelsoni nelsoni )

The key to Nelson’s Sparrow ( Ammospiza nelsoni nelsoni ) management is providing dense grasses or emergent vegetation near damp areas or freshwater wetlands. Nelson’s Sparrows have been reported to use habitats with 20–122 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 41 cm visual obstruction reading, 40–58 percent grass cover, 24 percent forb cover, 5 percent shrub cover, 13 percent bare ground, and 2–7 cm litter depth.

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USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Lesser Prairie-Chicken ( Tympanuchus pallidicinctus )

The key to Lesser Prairie-Chicken ( Tympanuchus pallidicinctus ) management is maintaining expansive sand shinnery oak ( Quercus havardii ) or sand sagebrush ( Artemisia filifolia ) grasslands. Within these grasslands, areas should contain short herbaceous cover for lek sites (that is, an area where male prairie-chickens gather to engage in courtship displays to attract mates); shrubs or tall residual grasses for nesting; and areas with about 25 percent canopy cover of shrubs, forbs, or grasses 25–30 centimeters (cm) tall for brood rearing. Historically, the Lesser Prairie-Chicken was considered a gamebird that was hunted throughout its range. In response to low population levels and considerations related to listing the species as State or Federally threatened, recreational hunting seasons currently are closed throughout the species’ range. This account does not address harvest or its effects on populations but instead focuses on the effects of habitat management. Lesser Prairie-Chickens have been reported to use habitats with less than or equal to (≤) 600 cm average vegetation height (including shrubs), ≤70 cm visual obstruction reading, 4–78 percent grass cover, ≤30 percent forb cover, ≤66 percent shrub cover, 3–61 percent bare ground, 2–58 percent litter cover, and ≤3 cm litter depth.

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USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Sedge Wren ( Cistothorus stellaris )

Keys to Sedge Wren ( Cistothorus stellaris ) management include providing tall, dense grasslands with moderate forb coverage and minimizing disturbances during the breeding season. Sedge Wrens have been reported to use habitats with 30–166 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 8–80 cm visual obstruction reading, 15–75 percent grass cover, 3–78 percent forb cover, less than or equal to (≤) 15 percent shrub cover, less than (<) 35 percent bare ground, 10–30 percent litter cover, and ≤6 cm litter depth.

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USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Savannah Sparrow ( Passerculus sandwichensis )

Keys to Savannah Sparrow ( Passerculus sandwichensis ) management are providing extensive grasslands of intermediate height and density with a well-developed litter layer, controlling succession, and protecting nesting habitat from disturbance during the breeding season. Savannah Sparrows have been reported to use habitats with 11–190 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 4–50 cm visual obstruction reading (VOR), 15–66 percent grass cover, 4–45 percent forb cover, less than (<) 29 percent shrub cover, <38 percent bare ground, 10–63 percent litter cover, and less than or equal to (≤) 21 cm litter depth.

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USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—LeConte’s Sparrow ( Ammospiza leconteii )

Keys to LeConte’s Sparrow ( Ammospiza leconteii ) management include controlling succession and providing uplands and lowlands with tall, thick herbaceous vegetation and thick litter. LeConte’s Sparrows have been reported to use habitats with 30–90 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 19–41 cm visual obstruction reading, 35–43 percent grass cover, 16–27 percent forb cover, less than (<) 18 percent shrub cover, <4 percent bare ground, 39–45 percent litter cover, and 2–6 cm litter depth.

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USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Baird’s Sparrow ( Centronyx bairdii )

Keys to Baird’s Sparrow ( Centronyx bairdii ) management are providing native or tame grasslands with moderately deep litter, controlling excessive grazing, and curtailing shrub encroachment. Baird’s Sparrows have been reported to use habitats with less than or equal to (≤) 101 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 3–46 cm visual obstruction reading (VOR), 15–71 percent grass cover, 5–25 percent forb cover, ≤50 percent shrub cover, less than (<) 44 percent bare ground, 10–63 percent litter cover, and ≤21 cm litter depth.

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USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Chestnut-collared Longspur ( Calcarius ornatus )

Keys to Chestnut-collared Longspur ( Calcarius ornatus ) management are providing and maintaining native pastures with fairly short overall vegetation and sparse litter accumulation but with areas of taller and denser vegetation and accumulated litter for nesting, and tailoring grazing intensity to local conditions. Chestnut-collared Longspurs have been reported to use habitats with 10–77 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 1–50 cm visual obstruction reading, 15–67 percent grass cover, 5–16 percent forb cover, less than (<) 6 percent shrub cover, 1–44 percent bare ground, 6–63 percent litter cover, and <7 cm litter depth.

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USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Lark Bunting ( Calamospiza melanocorys )

Keys to Lark Bunting ( Calamospiza melanocorys ) management include providing short vegetation with protective nest cover and tailoring grazing systems to the type of grassland. Lark Buntings have been reported to use habitats with 6–72 centimeter (cm) average vegetation height, 2–11 cm visual obstruction reading, 13–71 percent grass cover, less than or equal to (≤) 48 percent forb cover, ≤17 percent shrub cover, 10–57 percent bare ground cover, 25 percent litter cover, and ≤2 cm litter depth.

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USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Merlin ( Falco columbarius )

The key to Merlin ( Falco columbarius ) management is maintaining an interspersion of groves of deciduous or coniferous trees for nesting and open grasslands for hunting. Merlins do not build their own nests but rather use former nests of other bird species, including those of corvids (crows, ravens, and magpies) and accipitrids (hawks). In recent decades, Merlins have established breeding populations in urban and residential areas in the northern Great Plains.

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USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Sprague’s Pipit ( Anthus spragueii )

Keys to Sprague’s Pipit ( Anthus spragueii ) management include providing suitable grassland habitat, especially native prairie, with intermediate vegetation height and low visual obstruction, and controlling succession therein. Sprague’s Pipits have been reported to use habitats with no more than 49 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 4–14 cm visual obstruction reading, 15–53 percent grass cover, less than (<) 21 percent forb cover, <18 percent shrub cover, <44 percent bare ground, 10–63 percent litter cover, and less than or equal to 11 cm litter depth.

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USGS2020

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Horned Lark ( Eremophila alpestris )

The key to Horned Lark ( Eremophila alpestris ) management is maintaining areas with short, sparse vegetation by burning, mowing, or grazing. Horned Larks have been reported to use habitats with less than or equal to (≤) 70 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 3–26 cm visual obstruction reading, 15–67 percent grass cover, 3–70 percent forb cover, ≤21 percent shrub cover, 1–44 percent bare ground, ≤63 percent litter cover, and ≤9 cm litter depth.

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USGS2019

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii)

The key to Thick-billed Longspur ( Rhynchophanes mccownii ) management is providing short, sparsely vegetated native grasslands of adequate size. Mixed-grass prairies can be made suitable for breeding Thick-billed Longspurs by implementing moderate-to-heavy or season-long grazing. Thick-billed Longspurs have been reported to use habitats with 5–42 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 3–7 cm visual obstruction reading, 15–67 percent grass cover, less than (<) 8 percent forb cover, <7 percent shrub cover, 2–60 percent bare ground, 10–63 percent litter cover, and <5 cm litter depth.

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USGS2019

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Northern Harrier ( Circus hudsonius )

The key to Northern Harrier ( Circus hudsonius ) management is providing tall, dense vegetation in extensive mesic or xeric grasslands or in wetlands. Northern Harriers have been reported to use habitats with 15–106 centimeter (cm) average vegetation height, 28–75 cm visual obstruction reading, 24–53 percent grass cover, 18–25 percent forb cover, less than or equal to 2 percent shrub cover, 3–5 percent bare ground, 23–30 percent litter cover, and 2–6 cm litter depth.

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USGS2019

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Eastern Meadowlark ( Sturnella magna )

The key to Eastern Meadowlark ( Sturnella magna ) management is providing large areas of contiguous grassland of moderate height with significant grass cover and moderate forb density. Eastern Meadowlarks have been reported to use habitats with 10–187 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 6–88 cm visual obstruction reading, 53–86 percent grass cover, 4–50 percent forb cover, less than or equal to (≤) 4 percent shrub cover, less than 38 percent bare ground, 6–23 percent litter cover, and ≤13 cm litter depth.

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USGS2019

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Mountain Plover ( Charadrius montanus )

The key to Mountain Plover ( Charadrius montanus ) management is maintaining sparsely vegetated grasslands. Grasslands can be made suitable for breeding Mountain Plovers by preserving large prairie dog ( Cynomys species) towns, conducting prescribed burns, or implementing heavy grazing in some situations. Mountain Plovers have been reported to use habitats with 2–38 centimeters average vegetation height, 14–87 percent grass cover, 2–14 percent forb cover, 4–55 percent shrub cover, 9–72 percent bare ground, 2 percent litter cover, and 4–6 cm litter depth.

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USGS2019

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Upland Sandpiper ( Bartramia longicauda )

The key to Upland Sandpiper ( Bartramia longicauda ) management is providing grasslands of various heights with few shrubs. In general, Upland Sandpipers forage within short vegetation and nest and rear broods within taller vegetation. Upland Sandpipers have been reported to use habitats with less than (<) 93 centimeters (cm) vegetation height, 5–75 cm visual obstruction reading, greater than or equal to 33 percent grass cover, less than or equal to (≤) 50 percent forb cover, ≤13 percent shrub cover, 3–12 percent bare ground, 11–30 percent litter cover, and <13 cm litter depth.

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