Native Species
The populations of northern bobwhite and other bird species with similar habitat requirements have declined over the last several decades with changes in agricultural activities that produced landscapes dominated by large cropfields, annually overused hayfields and heavily grazed pastures of tall fescue. Early-successional wildlife habitat characterized by shrub thickets, bare ground, fields with a diversity of grasses, forbs, legumes and crops and ungrazed woodlots, is not as abundant as it once was.
Next Generation of Conservation
Talk About Landowner Assistance
Whether you own a working farm or just a piece of rural Missouri, you own wildlife habitat. Find out what you can do to create a healthy balance with the life on your land. Send your comments and follow related links.
Habitat Decline
Tall fescue and smooth brome invasion into bobwhite-friendly vegetation and the succession of trees into areas once dominated by annual plants and shrubs adversely impact bobwhite and songbird habitat. The result is less compatibility between certain bird species that need diverse early-successional habitat and modern agriculture. These species include Greater prairie-chicken, Henslow's sparrow, dickcissel, field sparrow, bobolink, northern bobwhite, grasshopper sparrow, loggerhead shrike, eastern kingbird and others.
