Restoration and Winter Avian use of Isolated Prairies in Eastern Texas

摘要: Numerous isolated prairies exist, or existed, on the West Gulf Coastal Plain east of main distribution prairie ecosystem. Changing land-use patterns and VXSSUHVVLRQRIZLOGoUHKDYHGHVWUR\HGDOPRVWDOORIWKHVHVPDOO �SUDLULHRFFXUUHQFHV��,QWHQVL - oHGUHVWRUDWLRQDQGPDQDJHPHQWRIGHJUDGHGSUDLULHKDELWDWRQW KH�6DP�+RXVWRQ�1DWLRQDO� Forest in southeastern Texas have been ongoing since approximately 2004. As a result, encroaching woody vegetation has substantially reduced, structure consistent with habitat restored. Beginning 2008, we conducted winter bird surveys these objective quantifying avian use, especially by grassland sparrows genus Ammodramus. With improvement structure, use sites Ammodramus spp. was rapidly established, typically following WKH�oUVWSRVWUHVWRUDWLRQJURZLQJVHDVRQ�� henslowii (Henslow's Sparrow), species conservation concern, responded particularly dramatically. These results dem- onstrate that aggressive restoration remnants can reestablish facilitate re-colonization at least some spe- cies characteristic habitats.