Now, hay is mowed earlier, in late June and early July, and then mowed again in the summer. Mowing during the breeding period destroys adult birds and eggs or nestlings in their nests on the ground. In the Northeast, nine species of grassland birds are regionally threatened or endangered. Across the country, they are experiencing great population declines because of habitat loss. Overall, the greatest source of habitat loss for grassland birds in North America was the conversion of open prairie to till agriculture, and more recently, the conversion of pasture or hay fields to row crops.
Similar land use conversions in South America also play an important role in declining populations.
Management practices for grassland bird species have been suggested for the Northeast. For technical assistance with these practices, landowners and land managers in Maine may contact the wildlife biologist in their regional office of the Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. There are suggestions for managing grasslands that are mowed or grazed by livestock as well as grasslands at airfields and on capped landfills. The primary goals of the landowner, such as farm production, can be achieved while managing habitat for grassland birds. When mowing hay is postponed until after August 1, species raising a second brood have time for the young to fledge in late July.