Henslow's Sparrow update This species was long a resident on the grass lands of the Saratoga Battlefields. The staff found that the birds needed to have the grass burned or cut for the habitat to be maintained and for them to continue to breed in the area. So they cut the grass at the proper time of year all over. And the sparrows disappeared. What subsequent research discovered was, the Henslow's Sparrows breed in second and third year growth. You can't cut the grass every year. You have to rotate your cutting.
Attempts to reintroduce this species anywhere has been mostly a total failure. Hence, the sighting of a singing bird in the Shawangunk Grassland is an extraordinary event. They are doing every thing right. It's a great place to visit and it's a paradise for birders looking for grassland birds. They have parking, viewing platforms and blinds. The bird song is unique. They sing loudly from a clump top but are can be hard to see. Lets not go playing songs and chasing the bird. Be patient and look. This is a new breeding area and we need them to be successful now and for the future. Sy Schiff -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
