FRIENDS OF
GRASSLAND BIRDS INITIATIVE
2018-2020
For a summary and photographic highlights from the 2018 Bobolink nesting season, go to FROM THE FIELD and seek out the Bobolink Summer post dated 9/15/2018.
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Bobolinks at Moore State Park, Paxton, 2018 Photos by Bill Platenik
2018-2020 SUMMARY
Photo by Alan Rawle
Eastern Meadowlarks
We’re always on the lookout for Eastern Meadowlarks, but they are in steep decline in the state. In 2018 a pair of meadowlarks was present at East Quabbin Land Trust’s Mandell Hill Preserve, and presumably nested—or attempted to nest. Lacking sufficient volunteer effort, we have no direct information about confirmation of breeding or breeding success. In 2019 and 2020, no Eastern Meadowlarks were found at any of our monitoring locations. Birds at Wachusett Reservoir appear to be the closest successful breeders in Worcester County. Please let us know if you see any meadowlarks in central Massachusetts!
Moore State Park
Bill & Carol Platenik signed on to monitor Moore State Park in Paxton in 2018 and continued in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Before the 2018 nesting season, the Park instituted a mowing plan designating late August for mowing of the large field across from the parking lot. (It was presumed after that agreement was adopted that the field on the Davis Hill Road side was subject to the same mowing regime, but this became a questionable issue in 2020. More about this later in the report.)
The Plateniks made weekly visits from May through August all three years, methodically gathering population statistics. This site for those years turned out to be the most productive location that we monitored, with 26-30 males present in the large field in June and 5 or 6 in the Davis field in that first year. Over 130 Bobolinks of all ages were congregating before migration in the main field by mid-August.
There were fewer numbers of estimated pairs—still using both fields-- in 2019. At one visit in August almost 100 were counted. Since all are in similar plumage at this time of year, the age distribution is unknown, but it seems that families remain together as they stage for migration.
In the 2020 season, a number of variables probably contributed to the decline in numbers that occurred at Moore State Park, as noted by our volunteers. First of all, following the onset of COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions in early spring, people and their dogs descended upon the Park and its trails in huge numbers. Although dogs are required to be leashed, enforcement was non-existent and the Park was understaffed. In spite of attempts to keep posters asking people to keep their dogs from running in the fields and elsewhere, dogs were frequently allowed off-leash, and the large field acts as the entry point for most of the Park trails. WRNC put up posters addressing the issue, but they were repeatedly removed; initially it was presumed that dog-owners removed the posters, but we later learned that Park staff had removed them because they were unauthorized by DCR Parks.
Two more factors that likely contributed to the reduced number of successful nestings were the “moderate” (in official lingo) drought throughout the summer and the fact that the large field had not been mowed the previous August. (It’s possible the field was not mowed in August 2018, either, due to contract issues.) Bill noted a decline in the quality of the vegetation/grass and an increase in the number of invasive woody sprouts and thick stems.
Adding to the overall concerns about the welfare of nesting Bobolinks was the unauthorized mowing of the Davis Hill field around the third week of July. The Plateniks were concerned about the timing since Bobolinks were known to be nesting in that field. It was their concern that the young birds and molting males were vulnerable and could have been harmed. Bill and Carol appealed to Park personnel, this Club, our state ornithologist, and Environmental Police for information about the mowing. Park personnel stated that they did not do the mowing and claimed they didn’t know who did it. As stated earlier, the Grassland Bird Initiative/WRNC assumed that the Davis Hill field was part of the mowing plan designating an August mowing date, but attempts to have this clarified by Park management and supervisors were unsuccessful. After much discussion and personal investigation, WRNC is quite certain about the identity of the individual who mowed the field (with good intentions). It’s likely that Park personnel also know who mowed the field but are purposely turning a blind eye. The course of advocacy action going forward is unknown at this time.
Despite all the hardships facing the Bobolinks, a count at the large field on August 20th turned up an estimated 60 Bobolinks in one flock. Sadly, this is a significant decrease in what had been our “shining jewel” Bobolink site.
Regarding the 2020 season, this is a good place to mention that drought conditions led to a deluge of June hay harvests, and it was difficult to find any fields in central Massachusetts that were not cut in June. This meant 100% mortality for nestlings that were present and/or destruction of nests and eggs at a time in the season when this species is unable to attempt re-nesting due to the energy already expended. We predict much-reduced number of Bobolinks on the landscape in 2021. Unfortunately, the steep population decline of this species continues. There are very few places that provide protection for grassland nesting birds.
We’re always on the lookout for Eastern Meadowlarks, but they are in steep decline in the state. In 2018 a pair of meadowlarks was present at East Quabbin Land Trust’s Mandell Hill Preserve, and presumably nested—or attempted to nest. Lacking sufficient volunteer effort, we have no direct information about confirmation of breeding or breeding success. In 2019 and 2020, no Eastern Meadowlarks were found at any of our monitoring locations. Birds at Wachusett Reservoir appear to be the closest successful breeders in Worcester County. Please let us know if you see any meadowlarks in central Massachusetts!
Moore State Park
Bill & Carol Platenik signed on to monitor Moore State Park in Paxton in 2018 and continued in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Before the 2018 nesting season, the Park instituted a mowing plan designating late August for mowing of the large field across from the parking lot. (It was presumed after that agreement was adopted that the field on the Davis Hill Road side was subject to the same mowing regime, but this became a questionable issue in 2020. More about this later in the report.)
The Plateniks made weekly visits from May through August all three years, methodically gathering population statistics. This site for those years turned out to be the most productive location that we monitored, with 26-30 males present in the large field in June and 5 or 6 in the Davis field in that first year. Over 130 Bobolinks of all ages were congregating before migration in the main field by mid-August.
There were fewer numbers of estimated pairs—still using both fields-- in 2019. At one visit in August almost 100 were counted. Since all are in similar plumage at this time of year, the age distribution is unknown, but it seems that families remain together as they stage for migration.
In the 2020 season, a number of variables probably contributed to the decline in numbers that occurred at Moore State Park, as noted by our volunteers. First of all, following the onset of COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions in early spring, people and their dogs descended upon the Park and its trails in huge numbers. Although dogs are required to be leashed, enforcement was non-existent and the Park was understaffed. In spite of attempts to keep posters asking people to keep their dogs from running in the fields and elsewhere, dogs were frequently allowed off-leash, and the large field acts as the entry point for most of the Park trails. WRNC put up posters addressing the issue, but they were repeatedly removed; initially it was presumed that dog-owners removed the posters, but we later learned that Park staff had removed them because they were unauthorized by DCR Parks.
Two more factors that likely contributed to the reduced number of successful nestings were the “moderate” (in official lingo) drought throughout the summer and the fact that the large field had not been mowed the previous August. (It’s possible the field was not mowed in August 2018, either, due to contract issues.) Bill noted a decline in the quality of the vegetation/grass and an increase in the number of invasive woody sprouts and thick stems.
Adding to the overall concerns about the welfare of nesting Bobolinks was the unauthorized mowing of the Davis Hill field around the third week of July. The Plateniks were concerned about the timing since Bobolinks were known to be nesting in that field. It was their concern that the young birds and molting males were vulnerable and could have been harmed. Bill and Carol appealed to Park personnel, this Club, our state ornithologist, and Environmental Police for information about the mowing. Park personnel stated that they did not do the mowing and claimed they didn’t know who did it. As stated earlier, the Grassland Bird Initiative/WRNC assumed that the Davis Hill field was part of the mowing plan designating an August mowing date, but attempts to have this clarified by Park management and supervisors were unsuccessful. After much discussion and personal investigation, WRNC is quite certain about the identity of the individual who mowed the field (with good intentions). It’s likely that Park personnel also know who mowed the field but are purposely turning a blind eye. The course of advocacy action going forward is unknown at this time.
Despite all the hardships facing the Bobolinks, a count at the large field on August 20th turned up an estimated 60 Bobolinks in one flock. Sadly, this is a significant decrease in what had been our “shining jewel” Bobolink site.
Regarding the 2020 season, this is a good place to mention that drought conditions led to a deluge of June hay harvests, and it was difficult to find any fields in central Massachusetts that were not cut in June. This meant 100% mortality for nestlings that were present and/or destruction of nests and eggs at a time in the season when this species is unable to attempt re-nesting due to the energy already expended. We predict much-reduced number of Bobolinks on the landscape in 2021. Unfortunately, the steep population decline of this species continues. There are very few places that provide protection for grassland nesting birds.
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Rutland
DCR Watershed Prison Camp Area Doug Wipf and Linda Mueller observed at the Prison Camp fields in Rutland’s DCR Ware River Watershed during the 2018-2019 seasons, and Ted Purcell joined the effort 2019-2020, filling in some of the gaps. At this site, the Bobolinks prefer the fields south and west of Longmeadow Brook, even though the features of the large field north of Intervale Road and east of Prison Camp Road, alongside the east branch of the Ware River seem to be Bobolink-friendly. Perhaps if the population grew the birds would colonize the latter field. In 2018, 7 – 9 males were present, and on July 12th a small flock including 7 males and 10 females/immatures was flushed in the largest and most popular field. Ted Purcell joined the monitoring effort here in 2019. One eBird report from May 29th shows 2, possibly 3 male Bobolinks present. On July 7th Ted found 5 males and one female. Although Bobolinks are polygynous, the presence of five males probably indicates that more females were around but undetected. For the 2020 season, Ted observed 4 male Bobolinks on May 31st. An eBird checklist from the non-existent “Rutland State Forest”—somehow this got designated as a Hotspot on eBird—on June 1st reports 8 Bobolinks. Although the Hotspot pin is not at the Prison Camp area, this is the most likely place (habitat) where the birds were spotted. At least one pair was present on July 8th. Given the “under-the-radar” habits of this species, pinning down an accurate count for this spot requires more formal monitoring. |
Female Bobolink Photo by Alan Rawle
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Photo by Anne Greene
Rutland
Glenwood Elementary School fields
In our efforts to identify public lands where Bobolinks are nesting, we added the field adjacent to Rutland’s Glenwood Elementary School to our list of observation sites after Ted Purcell found some of the birds there in 2018. The Club didn’t have time to mount an advocacy effort, and the fields were mowed in June. A letter was written to the Town Administrator at that time, who seemed supportive of a delayed mowing plan. Unfortunately, the administrator departed her post before the 2019 season, and the line of communication was lost.
In 2019 both Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows were found at the Glenwood site in early spring. Anne Greene joined Ted in the monitoring and helped with advocacy. It was hoped that information gathered as well as advocacy by the Club would prevent proposed development of soccer fields here. The Club took a number of advocacy actions including writing letters to the new Town Administrator, who was inconsistent and unclear in his responses; the DPW Director, who ignored outreach efforts; and to the editor of The Landmark. There was communication with the Chair of the Board of Selectmen, but she wasn’t present when two Club members attended a Selectboard meeting in June to plead for dual protection: 1) stop development of the grassland for soccer fields, and 2) adopt a late mowing policy for the field. The Club also asked for an after July 4th first-cut date at the site. Selectboard members present assured Club representatives that this was the plan for the Glenwood fields. For various reasons the soccer field construction did not occur that year.
There were 5 male Bobolinks and a few females noted at the beginning of the 2019 nesting season, along with one pair of Savannah Sparrows. Throughout June and July, 2-6 birds were recorded on Ted’s eBird checklists, indicating probable successful nestings.
Glenwood Elementary School fields
In our efforts to identify public lands where Bobolinks are nesting, we added the field adjacent to Rutland’s Glenwood Elementary School to our list of observation sites after Ted Purcell found some of the birds there in 2018. The Club didn’t have time to mount an advocacy effort, and the fields were mowed in June. A letter was written to the Town Administrator at that time, who seemed supportive of a delayed mowing plan. Unfortunately, the administrator departed her post before the 2019 season, and the line of communication was lost.
In 2019 both Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows were found at the Glenwood site in early spring. Anne Greene joined Ted in the monitoring and helped with advocacy. It was hoped that information gathered as well as advocacy by the Club would prevent proposed development of soccer fields here. The Club took a number of advocacy actions including writing letters to the new Town Administrator, who was inconsistent and unclear in his responses; the DPW Director, who ignored outreach efforts; and to the editor of The Landmark. There was communication with the Chair of the Board of Selectmen, but she wasn’t present when two Club members attended a Selectboard meeting in June to plead for dual protection: 1) stop development of the grassland for soccer fields, and 2) adopt a late mowing policy for the field. The Club also asked for an after July 4th first-cut date at the site. Selectboard members present assured Club representatives that this was the plan for the Glenwood fields. For various reasons the soccer field construction did not occur that year.
There were 5 male Bobolinks and a few females noted at the beginning of the 2019 nesting season, along with one pair of Savannah Sparrows. Throughout June and July, 2-6 birds were recorded on Ted’s eBird checklists, indicating probable successful nestings.
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Although it was thought that the post-July 4th mowing date was going to be a regular policy, this assumption was shattered in 2020 when the Glenwood field was mowed in late May, after Bobolinks and at least one Savannah Sparrow had arrived. Five Bobolinks were seen by Doug Wipf on May 16th. On June 9th Ted saw a single singing male there. Surprisingly, on July 5th one male Bobolink was still present. It’s possible that a pair or pairs stayed on to nest, but no effort was made to continue monitoring for the rest of the season. Although we were unable to determine the Town’s mowing strategy and the reasons behind it, it was obvious that a permanent protective mowing policy had not been put in place as we were led to believe.
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Savannah Sparrow Photo by Doug Wipf
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In an update from Sheila Dibb, Selectboard, on June 15th : A year ago, the board had voted in principle to lease a portion of the Glenwood fields, still a part of the hay contract, to the local soccer nonprofit for playing field development, though in fact the actual lease was not finalized until January 2020, and the soccer organization is not close to being at groundbreaking at this point; I believe they are still in fundraising mode.
With the arrival of the pandemic, youth sports activities and planning stalled.
With the arrival of the pandemic, youth sports activities and planning stalled.
Mt. Jefferson Conservation Area, Hubbardston
To our knowledge, the Town’s policy designating “after July 4th” for first-mowing of the main Bobolink field, Field 5, is still in force. The Town has designated “after July 4th” for first mowing of Field 5. A slightly later date is more desirable, and sometimes that does occur due to various logistics/weather patterns. Todd & Alice Livdahl monitored Bobolinks here in 2018. Early in the season, there seemed to be a decrease in Bobolink numbers from previous years, with fewer than 10 males present. In July at least a dozen juveniles were spotted. Oddly, in spite of a large section of tall grasses that were still standing, a search of the fields in August yielded no sightings.
Todd reported the intriguing appearance of a pair of Bobolinks in the small (< 5 acre) field at the end of Malone Road in the middle of the breeding season, but nesting status was never determined. WRNC contacted Hubbardston’s Open Space committee to alert members of the possibility of nesting Bobolinks in that field, perhaps a pair spilling over from the Malone Road colony. [Letter sent to the Open Space Committee 6/21/2018.]
Letter sent to the Open Space Committee 6/21/2018. A response from Mark Kresge included the map used by the Open Space Committee, along with a request for our notes about the numbered fields, which was sent 6/22/2018.
In 2018 the actual mowing date occurred on 7/18, a safer option.
While definitely present in 2019-2020, formal counts were not conducted, but Todd characterized numbers in both years as fairly robust. One eBird checklist from June 13, 2020 reports 6 Bobolinks.
In 2020, Todd noted that Fields 1, 3 and 4 were cut early. Bobolinks aren’t attracted to Fields 1 and 4, but they will nest in Field 3 if given the opportunity, and especially if numbers are high in Field 5, so early mowing of Field 3 is a concern. Fortunately, Fields 2 and 6 were mowed around July 10th, and Bobolinks were observed using those fields. Field 5 wasn’t cut until September. (In 2019, a very wet year, it wasn’t cut at all, which can affect quality in the following year. The impact on the 2020 grassland quality was unknown.)
To our knowledge, the Town’s policy designating “after July 4th” for first-mowing of the main Bobolink field, Field 5, is still in force. The Town has designated “after July 4th” for first mowing of Field 5. A slightly later date is more desirable, and sometimes that does occur due to various logistics/weather patterns. Todd & Alice Livdahl monitored Bobolinks here in 2018. Early in the season, there seemed to be a decrease in Bobolink numbers from previous years, with fewer than 10 males present. In July at least a dozen juveniles were spotted. Oddly, in spite of a large section of tall grasses that were still standing, a search of the fields in August yielded no sightings.
Todd reported the intriguing appearance of a pair of Bobolinks in the small (< 5 acre) field at the end of Malone Road in the middle of the breeding season, but nesting status was never determined. WRNC contacted Hubbardston’s Open Space committee to alert members of the possibility of nesting Bobolinks in that field, perhaps a pair spilling over from the Malone Road colony. [Letter sent to the Open Space Committee 6/21/2018.]
Letter sent to the Open Space Committee 6/21/2018. A response from Mark Kresge included the map used by the Open Space Committee, along with a request for our notes about the numbered fields, which was sent 6/22/2018.
In 2018 the actual mowing date occurred on 7/18, a safer option.
While definitely present in 2019-2020, formal counts were not conducted, but Todd characterized numbers in both years as fairly robust. One eBird checklist from June 13, 2020 reports 6 Bobolinks.
In 2020, Todd noted that Fields 1, 3 and 4 were cut early. Bobolinks aren’t attracted to Fields 1 and 4, but they will nest in Field 3 if given the opportunity, and especially if numbers are high in Field 5, so early mowing of Field 3 is a concern. Fortunately, Fields 2 and 6 were mowed around July 10th, and Bobolinks were observed using those fields. Field 5 wasn’t cut until September. (In 2019, a very wet year, it wasn’t cut at all, which can affect quality in the following year. The impact on the 2020 grassland quality was unknown.)
Photo by Anne Greene
High Ridge Wildlife Management Area, Westminster/Gardner
Bobolink observation at this site was not formal from 2018-2020 as we still had been unable to attract a volunteer monitor. However, eBird and anecdotal reports confirm that good numbers of Bobolinks nest regularly in the large field on North Gardner Road and along Overlook Road. EBird checklists furnish some robust numbers ranging from 20-25 individuals early in the season to slightly more in August and September. It’s likely there are juveniles present but laying low in the tall vegetation late in the season, making them more difficult to count.
The species is adequately protected here by a late mowing policy, although the chief field these birds use—the model airplane flying area--was cut sometime in July in 2020, a breach of the official policy.
Todd and Alice volunteered to watch the High Ridge Wildlife Management Area in Westminster for Bobolinks for one season, particularly the expanse near the model airplane flying area that’s preferred by the Bobolinks in 2018. No formal data was gathered, however. Bobolinks nest here regularly, but the size of the potential nesting acreage requires a dedicated observation effort. Coverage from the roadside is difficult. This WMA is presently lacking a regular monitoring volunteer. In 2018 the WMA began a field management policy including a “no cut before August 1st “ clause, so the Bobolinks appear to be adequately protected.
Although many eBird checklists for High Ridge are submitted every year, observations increased in 2020 (most likely due to the pandemic encouraging solitary outdoor activities), so a stable population of more than at least a dozen pairs could be confirmed.
Bobolink observation at this site was not formal from 2018-2020 as we still had been unable to attract a volunteer monitor. However, eBird and anecdotal reports confirm that good numbers of Bobolinks nest regularly in the large field on North Gardner Road and along Overlook Road. EBird checklists furnish some robust numbers ranging from 20-25 individuals early in the season to slightly more in August and September. It’s likely there are juveniles present but laying low in the tall vegetation late in the season, making them more difficult to count.
The species is adequately protected here by a late mowing policy, although the chief field these birds use—the model airplane flying area--was cut sometime in July in 2020, a breach of the official policy.
Todd and Alice volunteered to watch the High Ridge Wildlife Management Area in Westminster for Bobolinks for one season, particularly the expanse near the model airplane flying area that’s preferred by the Bobolinks in 2018. No formal data was gathered, however. Bobolinks nest here regularly, but the size of the potential nesting acreage requires a dedicated observation effort. Coverage from the roadside is difficult. This WMA is presently lacking a regular monitoring volunteer. In 2018 the WMA began a field management policy including a “no cut before August 1st “ clause, so the Bobolinks appear to be adequately protected.
Although many eBird checklists for High Ridge are submitted every year, observations increased in 2020 (most likely due to the pandemic encouraging solitary outdoor activities), so a stable population of more than at least a dozen pairs could be confirmed.
Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, monitoring efforts were impacted as volunteers had to pay attention to property closures as well as health protocols and personal decisions about participation. Moore State Park was fully monitored; Prison Camp (DCR) and Glenwood School fields were monitored sporadically.