Our southeastern grasslands are the primary destination for more than a dozen species of Nearctic migratory grassland birds. However, there are large gaps in information concerning winter distribution, habitat requirements and population changes in this group of nationally-recognized declining species. In fact, some of Partners in Flight's highest priority birds are grassland species such as LeConte's, Grasshopper and Henslow's Sparrows. Because of their declining status, the interest in this group has greatly increased, but even so, few studies address winter distribution or winter densities. Following-up on the need for new information, the project partners listed above developed and initiated Project Prairie Birds in the winter of 1998. Designed as a 5-year, all-volunteer program, our first task was to engage and train a bevy of excellent birders to map the distribution and identify specific habitat requirements of all over-wintering avian grassland species along the upper Texas coast--our pilot area.

The objectives of Project Prairie Birds are to: (1) determine the abundance of wintering grassland species, (2) identify their winter habitat preferences, and (3) utilize the data collected to develop land management guidelines and recommendations for these little-known species.

Click here for more information on Project Prairie Birds at the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.