eastern meadowlark

Holding the haying for grassland birds

Holding the haying for grassland birds

In southern Wisconsin, the rolling hills and family farms go hand in hand. We sometimes get questions from farmers about how to make sure their practices support birds, as well as the livestock and crop needs of their farm. Here is the answer to a question we hear from farmers: when can I hay my fields so grassland nesting birds can raise their young?

Photo by Carolyn Byers

Into the Nest: It's hatch day!

Into the Nest: It's hatch day!

While incubating eggs looks pretty boring, it seems easy enough. Stay quiet and hidden. Don’t attract predators to the nest. Keep the eggs at an ideal temperature and rotate them frequently. All of that changes as soon as there are chicks in the nest.

Photo by Carolyn Byers

Into the Nest: An egg is just the beginning

Into the Nest: An egg is just the beginning

The grassland birds that we’ve been following this summer have completed the arduous journey back to Wisconsin, set up territories, and found mates. They have built a nest and laid a clutch of breathtakingly beautiful eggs. Now they need to ensure the eggs survive until hatching-- no small feat.

Photo by VSPYCC

Into the Nest: Let's build a nest

Into the Nest: Let's build a nest

Grassland bird nests are just about my favorite things ever. They’re perfect little secrets hiding in the foliage, holding precious babes. I love the way they are often fairly similar, but have subtle differences that let you identify who built them. (Sparrows are my favorite group of birds, which might explain why I love small brown things that look alike!) Nest searching is tricky business too -- and it feels like an incredible accomplishment when you find one.

Photo by Carolyn Byers