Go Wild in the Conservation Reserve
Wisconsin Job Sheet 137
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Wisconsin
The Conservation Reserve Program offers landowners
a chance to protect wildlife and retire highly erodible
cropland without a financial burden. In the Reserve,
landowners plant grassy or woody cover that isn’t
harvested or removed for at least ten years.
Many Wisconsin grassland bird species are
disappearing because there isn’t enough undisturbed
grass nest cover. Intensive farming leaves few idle
grass fields where birds can nest safely. Years ago,
birds could nest in hayfields which were left uncut
until mid-June or later -- long enough for a
successful hatch. Now most farmers mow hay at the
bud stage for better quality. This means first crop hay
is mowed during the last week of May or first week
of June -- when birds are still nesting. The mowers
destroy nests and often kill hens, which often won’t
leave nests despite the roar of approaching
machinery.
But undisturbed grass cover on Conservation Reserve
land is ideal nesting habitat. And cover left from the
previous year’s plant growth attracts birds to nest in
CRP fields away from the risks of hayfields.
Which CRP mixtures will attract the birds you’re
interested in? Here are some recommendations:
PHEASANTS
The best seed mixtures for pheasants are:
1) alfalfa, bromegrass, and timothy,
2) switchgrass,
3) switchgrass and big bluestem, or
4) switchgrass, big bluestem, and Indiangrass.
Pheasants are attracted to fields with good grassy cover left from the previous
year’s growth. In Wisconsin, this residual cover must be sturdy enough to
remain somewhat upright under the weight of snow cover. Switchgrass stands
well under heavy snow, providing great winter cover as well as spring nesting
cover.
QUAIL
Quail generally nest in what’s called an “old field,” a mix of grasses,
broadleaved plants, and legumes. For quail, plant any of the grass/legume
mixes. Also plant hedges of shrubs such as