During the months of June and July, the Greenbelt Stewardship team conducted a series of grassland bird surveys at the Cox Reservation (Essex), Donovan Reservation (Hamilton/Essex), Castle Neck River Reservation (Ipswich), and Kamon Farm (Ipswich). The baseline data collected will be used to inform field management decisions aimed at protecting fragile grassland habitats during nesting season.
"Grassland birds may not be endangered, but they are highly vulnerable, with many species facing significant population declines," says Dave Rimmer, Director of Stewardship. He attributes this decline primarily to the loss of grassland habitats caused by agricultural expansion, urban development, climate change, and shifts in land management practices.
Over the past two months, Henry Hardy, Seasonal Stewardship Technician, and Beth Cooper, a dedicated Greenbelt volunteer and avid birder, conducted multiple surveys at each property using the point count method. At 4-10 designated spots on each site, they paused for five minutes to observe and record all birds seen or heard within a 50-meter radius. This method is often used for estimating bird abundance and diversity and tracking population trends over time. The primary focus this year was on monitoring Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks, and Grasshopper Sparrows.
“This was our first time conducting surveys like this, and it’s a great start,” says Dave. “The more data we gather on grassland bird populations, the better equipped we’ll be to manage the habitats they depend on in the future.”