Habitat Selection and Reproductive Success of Grassland Birds in Western Maryland

Speaker: Marie Brady. Marie is a graduate student at Frostburg State University. Grassland bird populations in North America have significantly declined in the last 40 years, primarily due to habitat loss. In the eastern United States reclaimed surface mines are often converted to grasslands. This creates areas which may provide suitable breeding habitat and be of ecological significance to declining bird populations. Results will be presented from a study of the indicators of habitat quality and grassland bird communities on reclaimed surface mines and non-mined grasslands in Western Maryland.