Grasslands: Farmlands

Farms are a product of human activities and are fields of corn and wheat. On farms, we find barns, sheds, homes, overgrown vegetation on the borders and many species of birds.

There are many niches on the farmland for bird habitats. Barn Swallows are the most common birds on farmlands making their cup-shaped mud and straw nest in rafters and eaves of the barns. Farm buildings are also homes for the Barn Owl and is the most nocturnal of owls and captures the mice, rats and voles in the unmowed fields. Overgrown vegetation that lines the farms attract Ring-necked Pheasants, Meadowlarks, Catbirds, sparrows and Cedar Waxwings which feed on the wild grapes and berries. The trees surrounding the house provide habitats for Orioles, House Sparrows, Robins, Starlings, and Cardinals.

Farmlands also provide hunting grounds for Owls and Hawks and can be seen sitting on a telephone wire or the fences that line the farms looking for a mouse.

Birds of Farmlands
(Not all birds are listed)

Birds	Breeding/Nesting Facts
American Crow	Breeds late February to early May. Nest in tree, shrub, bush or poles.
American Kestrel	Breeds May-July. Nest in tree or shrub or tall weeds near water.
American Robin	Early April to mid May. Nest in tree or shrub or ledge of building.
Baltimore Oriole	Begins in May. Nest suspended at end of branch 25-30 feed above ground.
Barn Owl	Early February through March. Nest in cavity of tree or nestboxes.
Barn Swallow	Breeds early June and ends late July. Nest in corse grass and weeds.
Brown Thrasher	Late March to mid May. Nest near ground in shrub or bush.
Cedar Waxwing	Begins early June. Nest in tree from 5' and up.
Chipping Sparrow	Mid March to early June. Nest in tree or shrub from 3-20 feet above ground.
Common Grackle	Mid March to mid May. Nest in tree or shrub or ledges of buildings.
Eastern Bluebird	Breeds mid March to early April. Nest in cavity of tree, nestbox or post.
Eastern Meadowlark	Begins late March to early May. Nest on ground concealed by tall grasses.
European Starling	Begins mid April. Nest in tree hole, buildings or nestbox.
Gray Catbird	Begins early May and ends early August. Nest low in tree, shrub or bush.
House Sparrow	Begins May. Nest in hole or crevice near a building.
House Wren	Early April to late May. Nest in cavity or crevice of tree and nestboxes.
Northern Cardinal	Late March to early April. Nest in shrub or vine.
Northern Mockingbird	Late February to late April. Nest low in tree, shrub or vine.
Orchard Oriole	Late April to early June. Nest in tree or shrub.
Red-tailed Hawk	Mid February to early April. Nest in tall tree 35-80 feet above ground.
Ring-necked Pheasant	Mid April to early May. Nest on ground among tall vegetation.
Yellow Warbler	Mid April to mid June. Nest in twig fork of tree from 3-12 feet above ground.