Ecology and habitat of grassland birds in South Texas

Habitat loss and degradation from conversion of native grassland to non-native grasses is one of many threats to grassland birds. Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is a common introduced sod-forming grass species planted widely for cattle grazing in U.S. states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Bermudagrass likely has negative effects on native fauna. Due to its economic and cultural importance as a game species, Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have received a great deal of research attention; however, very little research has examined bermudagrass effects on bobwhites. I studied effects of the restoration of native and exotic forbs and warm season bunchgrasses in areas formerly dominated by bermudagrass on bobwhite during the breeding season (Chapter 1). I also examined effects of restoration on wintering rangeland birds using avian line transects (Chapter 2). In addition to the effects of habitat restoration, I studied wintering ecology of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) and Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus). I estimated apparent survival, winter territory size, and winter site fidelity for kestrels in South Texas using color marked individuals (Chapter 3). I also quantified site use by kestrels and shrikes along roadways in South Texas (Chapter 4)