I just skimmed the Cornell Cooperative Extension publication "Hayfield Management and Grassland Bird Conservation" and I respectfully disagree with Geo that it is mostly impractical for a person in the hay farming business.
It provides a discussion of the current research on the nutritional value of hay of various ages and talks about tradeoffs a farmer would want to consider if he/she cares about helping grassland birds. It also talks about rotating hayfields for grassland bird conservation and other related strategies that consider the whole farm area from year to year. It is at least a place to start for a farmer to read this publication. In addition, it shows a plan to mow a field in such a pattern so as to help the birds in the grass to escape from the machinery outward through cover to adjacent areas, something that some farmers might want to know, no matter when they mow. I am glad to know about this publication, since in the past I don't recall such an information source appearing on the Cayuga Bird List when people have asked for this kind of advice. Thanks all for this discussion. Donna Scott (former Senior Extension Associate in Food Science/Cooperative Extension at Cornell) Lansing -----Original Message----- From: bounce-120269317-15001...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-120269317-15001...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Geo Kloppel Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 5:53 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L <cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] help determining the time to mow fields The NYDEC and Cornell Cooperative Extension documents that were mentioned seem to be oriented toward management for grassland wildlife, so they say that no cutting should take place between late April and mid August. That's fine if you're managing a nature preserve, but it's probably not practical for people in the business of making hay, like the one Michael was talking to at Winter Market. Farmers who want guidance about reducing the negative impact of their hay making operations on grassland birds need a scheme that recognizes the contingencies of avian breeding and the economic constraints of farming. -Geo -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
