Habitat Issues in the Central Susquehanna WPRA

A field of switchgrass on the right and a field of primarily big bluestem and Indian on the left

A lack of vertical winter cover is the problem on most CREP acres

The switchgrass field

Why We Need More Fields of Switchgrass

• I thought monoculture switchgrass was not good for wildlife? Due to Pennsylvania’s fragmented landscape, diversity is met by the small size of our fields. Pennsylvania is not the Midwest with large tracts of land.

• Switchgrass alone is not enough. A switchgrass field surrounded by woodlands will not work. It must be in a primarily agricultural setting.

Comparing Two FarmsFarm #1 Farm #2

Has 60 acres of solid Has all diversified grassesswitchgrass

Has had 80 wild pheasants Has had 4 wild pheasants flushed the last two years flushed the last two years

Fields of monoculture switchgrass provide the missing winter cover and nesting cover currently missing on the Pennsylvania landscape.

Habitat on Farm #1

Increasing the Wild Pheasant Population in the WPRA

• Simply stated, we must recreate the habitat we have on Farm #1 on other CREP farms in the WPRA.

•Forget what we think we know about pheasant habitat and listen to what the birds are telling us.