Bobwhite and Upland Songbird Response to CCRP Practice CP33, Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds

Summary Findings

• The Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds practice (CP33) is the first Federal conservation practice to target species-specific population recovery goals of a national wildlife conservation initiative (the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative).
• Over 14 states, breeding bobwhite densities were 70 to 75 percent greater around CP33 buffered fields than around unbuffered crop fields.
• Fall bobwhite covey densities were 50 to 110 percent greater around CP33 fields than around unbuffered crop fields, and this positive response to CP33 increased each subsequent year of the study.
• Several upland songbirds (e.g., dickcissel, field sparrow) responded strongly to CP33 in the landscape.
• Area-sensitive grassland birds (e.g.,grasshopper sparrow) exhibited little response to CP33 buffers.
• These findings illustrate the wildlife value of field borders and other buffer practices implemented through EQIP, WHIP, and other conservation programs.

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