Thank YOU, Diane for your lovely, kind comment. I never cease to be amazed by these migratory journeys. I don't know how any birds survive, given the pressures they are up against along the whole journey, in addition to on their wintering and breeding grounds. Such extraordinary creatures! Incredibly resilient, yet so fragile. Saba sends greetings!
Let me know what you hear about the best mowing schedule for birds in your part of the world. I have a definite northern bias (as did the sources I consulted), so I'm always grateful for your MS perspective!
Hello, little beautiful Saba! Another great article that is equally informative (12,000 miles? Think what an agonizing flight that is on an airplane at 600 mph!!!!!) and poetic! Your eloquent descriptive words help us paint our own virtual masterpieces! Thanks again, Sophie!
Loved this Soph! As you know, grassland birds are near and dear to my heart. Seeing our local hayfields mown right in the middle of nestling season this year was tough. Thankfully, there are groups like the Bobolink Project and Vermont Center for Ecostudies doing what they can to make people aware of the situation. Small shifts in mowing schedules could make a world of difference! And holy cow! What an amazing migration for the Bobolink! Love love love hearing them bubbling away here in the summer!💜
Thank you! Each year, I am more and more heartbroken when I see hayfields mowed
during the bird nesting season (and so many of our local deer fawns are killed too). I was so glad to discover The Bobolink Project's great work. And I'm grateful to other organizations that are helping too, along with biologists like you who have studied grassland birds! Bobolinks are incredible! : )
The catio made an appearance—yay! And the phoebes fledged! And the bobolinks survived the journey!
Here in MS it’s hard to fathom what an unmowed field would look like by Aug 15. Most people I know here who are trying to maintain prairies do two mowings in a summer. They wait until spring flowers have gone to seed for the first mowing (maybe around now?). I’m guessing the birds have mostly fledged by then here—at least their first clutch, if grassland birds will have more than one? I’m going to start asking prairie owners about that.
Thank YOU, Diane for your lovely, kind comment. I never cease to be amazed by these migratory journeys. I don't know how any birds survive, given the pressures they are up against along the whole journey, in addition to on their wintering and breeding grounds. Such extraordinary creatures! Incredibly resilient, yet so fragile. Saba sends greetings!
Let me know what you hear about the best mowing schedule for birds in your part of the world. I have a definite northern bias (as did the sources I consulted), so I'm always grateful for your MS perspective!
Hello, little beautiful Saba! Another great article that is equally informative (12,000 miles? Think what an agonizing flight that is on an airplane at 600 mph!!!!!) and poetic! Your eloquent descriptive words help us paint our own virtual masterpieces! Thanks again, Sophie!
Loved this Soph! As you know, grassland birds are near and dear to my heart. Seeing our local hayfields mown right in the middle of nestling season this year was tough. Thankfully, there are groups like the Bobolink Project and Vermont Center for Ecostudies doing what they can to make people aware of the situation. Small shifts in mowing schedules could make a world of difference! And holy cow! What an amazing migration for the Bobolink! Love love love hearing them bubbling away here in the summer!💜
Thank you! Each year, I am more and more heartbroken when I see hayfields mowed
during the bird nesting season (and so many of our local deer fawns are killed too). I was so glad to discover The Bobolink Project's great work. And I'm grateful to other organizations that are helping too, along with biologists like you who have studied grassland birds! Bobolinks are incredible! : )
The catio made an appearance—yay! And the phoebes fledged! And the bobolinks survived the journey!
Here in MS it’s hard to fathom what an unmowed field would look like by Aug 15. Most people I know here who are trying to maintain prairies do two mowings in a summer. They wait until spring flowers have gone to seed for the first mowing (maybe around now?). I’m guessing the birds have mostly fledged by then here—at least their first clutch, if grassland birds will have more than one? I’m going to start asking prairie owners about that.
A very nice article.
How wonderful to have the songs! Thank you!