Eastern Meadowlarks, American Kestrels and Great Spangled Fritillary Butterflies laid their eggs in short-lived grasslands hewn from the forest by Native Americans. Eastern Bluebirds relied upon beavers, occupying the sunny openings created by the toothy rodents. Upland Sandpipers and Regal Fritillary Butterflies, two prairie specialists whose population strongholds are west of the Mississippi River, probably arrived in the farmlands of the Garden State during the 1700's. Originally uncommon prairie plants, such as Little Bluestem, increased in abundance as open habitats proliferated. Finicky prairie specialists couldn't survive in New Jersey in big numbers, until makeshift prairies became widespread.
Prairie species are somewhat claustrophobic.
They require an unfettered view over great distances, otherwise they cannot detect approaching predators. Upland Sandpipers and Vesper Sparrows still occur in New Jersey, but their populations are small and unstable. Grassy expanses at airports and closed landfills could end up being their only chance for survival in the makeshift prairie. As farms have been transformed to subdivisions, warehouses, and malls, and as agricultural practices have changed on remaining farms, Regal Fritillary Butterflies, once widespread in the east, have disappeared. At the same time, Meadow Fritillaries have increased, but no one knows exactly what gives one species the edge over another.