INCREASING CAPTURE RATES OF GRASSLAND BIRDS OVER THIRTEEN YEARS INDICATES SUCCESSFUL GRASSLAND RESTORATION.

Grassland bird populations are being lost at an alarming rate due to human modifications to grassland ecosystems. Grassland restoration has been shown to mitigate population declines for many species that use these habitats at some point in their annual cycles. We examined capture rates of adult, breeding, and hatch-year birds at a restored grassland site in the piedmont of central Georgia to determine whether colonization, breeding success, hatching success, and recruitment processes were impacting populations of grassland birds. We banded birds approximately twice per month from January 2009 through December 2021 at Panola Mountain State Park. Restoration efforts started in 2001, and include annual prescribed burns, control of invasives, and revegetation with native grassland plants. We documented an increase in total capture rates when all grassland species were combined (p=0.03, r²=0.37) and for several grassland species, including Chipping Sparrows (p=0.01, r²=0.44) and Marsh Wrens (p=0.004, r²=0.55). Capture rates of grassland birds in breeding condition increased as well, including when grassland species were combined (p=0.01, r²=0.45), Common Yellowthroats (p=0.05, r²=0.30), Indigo Buntings (p=0.04, r²=0.34), and Field Sparrows (p=0.002, r²=0.59). Capture rates of hatch-year birds increased for Chipping Sparrows (p=0.02, r²=0.39). Species-specific responses to restoration occur at different rates depending on habitat preferences, yet the only species that significantly declined was the Red-winged Blackbird, a bird more associated with water than grasslands. We attribute these increases and, importantly, the lack of significant declines, to successful ongoing restoration, which is providing adequate and appropriate resources for grassland birds. If managers identify target species, we recommend that restoration efforts include activities that are aimed at species-specific habitat requirements and habitat-level threats of those target species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]