NATIVE GRASSES

When asked what habitats in our world have been heavily altered or degraded, most biologists and ecologists in North America would reply emphatically “well, that’d be our wetlands.” And they’d be correct. But, nothing has been altered or degraded more than our native grasslands – once rich with a diversity of grasses and forbs. These grasses have been converted extensively to urban settings, parking lots, and pastures of non-native grasses like coastal bermuda here in the South. To appreciate the decline in our native grasslands, simply look at the continental declines in our grassland obligate birds – species that can occur nowhere else – including several species of prairie grouse and quail, several species of raptors, including owls, about a dozen species of sparrows and longspurs, and lots more. For more information on this topic, visit fws.gov/project/grassland-restoration-wildlife-and-pollinators.

In the Deep South, historical grasslands would have included two major habitat-types both with a lush ground cover of native grasses and forbs: prairies and open savannahs. And both were maintained with frequent naturally-occurring fire. Next time you’re thinking of planting grasses on your property, consider reintroducing a mix that includes what are known as the Four Horsemen of the prairie in the South: Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, and Switchgrass. These four species were the dominants of our area’s grasslands and, if maintained, can provide homes for many grassland animals both vertebrate and invertebrate alike. Bring back a little history into your life and on your property. Do it for the owls.Order your Owl Shack HERE.