Dramatic Increase of Le Conte's Sparrow in Conservation Reserve Program Fields in the Northern Great Plains

Authors

Lawrence D. Igl, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Douglas H. Johnson, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Date of this Version

1995

Comments

Published in Prairie Naturalist 27(2): June 1995.

Abstract

During a continuing investigation in the northern Great Plains, we documented substantial increases of the Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus Leconteii) in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields in 1994 compared with 1990-93. The most dramatic increases occurred in Eddy County, North Dakota, and Sheridan County, Montana. The changes in habitat associated with the drought from 1989 to early 1993 and above-normal precipitation from mid-1993 through mid-1994 likely produced favorable breeding conditions for this species in CRP fields in 1994.