{"id":7297,"date":"2016-04-05T12:23:34","date_gmt":"2016-04-05T16:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=7297"},"modified":"2016-04-05T14:17:30","modified_gmt":"2016-04-05T18:17:30","slug":"protect-the-bobolink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/protect-the-bobolink\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect the Bobolink"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Lindall Kidd, Bird Conservation Associate<\/em><\/p>\n

With spring officially here, one of the world\u2019s most impressive songbird migrants, the bobolink, will be returning to Massachusetts. \u00a0Bobolinks travel some 6,000 miles to South America for winter, with some returning to breed in Massachusetts hayfields. Over their lifetime, a bobolink can travel over 100,000 miles\u2014that\u2019s about halfway to the moon!<\/p>\n

The Problem<\/h3>\n
\"Bobolink

Bobolink eggs<\/p><\/div>\n

Sadly, bobolink populations are declining in Massachusetts, New England, and beyond. Part of this decline is caused by the intensification of agriculture. Bobolinks build their nests on the ground in hayfields; in the northeast, agriculture is the only widespread land use that maintains the open land that they depend upon for breeding.<\/p>\n

However, financial pressures force farmers to mow their fields during the weeks that bobolinks are nesting. Nestlings hatch in June, which is when farmers typically harvest their first\u2014and most valuable\u2014cut of hay. Haying the fields when bobolinks are nesting typically results in a complete loss of eggs and nestlings.<\/p>\n

A Solution<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"copyright

copyright Martha Akey<\/p><\/div>\n

A promising solution to this is The Bobolink Project<\/a>, which helps farmers and birds by financing bird-friendly mowing practices. There are many hay farmers in New England who are willing to delay mowing for the sake of nesting grassland birds, but to do so costs money: late season hay is less valuable than early season hay.<\/p>\n

The Bobolink Project \u201cbuys time\u201d for grassland birds to successfully nest on working farms by providing financial support, collected from conservation donors, which is paid to farmers who are willing to manage their fields for grassland birds.<\/p>\n

In 2015, approximately 550 young fledged from fields enrolled in The Bobolink Project. These hayfields also supported other declining grassland bird species such as savannah sparrows, eastern meadowlarks and northern harriers.<\/p>\n

This year, Mass Audubon has joined forces with Audubon Vermont<\/a> and Audubon Connecticut<\/a> to help expand The Bobolink Project and we need your help! Pass this information to your friends, farmers or donors, and ask them to tell their friends, too. For 2016, we need the support of both farmers <\/a>and donors<\/a> by April 22<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Lindall Kidd, Bird Conservation Associate With spring officially here, one of the world\u2019s most impressive songbird migrants, the bobolink, will be returning to Massachusetts. \u00a0Bobolinks travel some 6,000 miles to South America for winter, with some returning to breed in Massachusetts hayfields. Over their lifetime, a bobolink can travel over 100,000 miles\u2014that\u2019s about halfway […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[28,166],"class_list":["post-7297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-get-involved","tag-birds","tag-bobolink-project"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-1TH","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8510,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/you-made-2016-amazing\/","url_meta":{"origin":7297,"position":0},"title":"You Made 2016 Amazing","author":"Hillary T.","date":"December 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The past year was one for the record books! Thanks to you, endangered terrapins hatched, more bobolinks fledged, a century of sanctuaries was celebrated, and a remarkable amount of land was protected for wildlife and people to enjoy. Below, just a snapshot of 2016 by the numbers. You can help\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/12\/kristinforesto_ladysslipper.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/12\/kristinforesto_ladysslipper.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/12\/kristinforesto_ladysslipper.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/12\/kristinforesto_ladysslipper.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16884,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/species-highlight-5-birds-for-bird-a-thon\/","url_meta":{"origin":7297,"position":1},"title":"Species Highlight: 5 Birds for Bird-a-thon","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"May 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"On May 13, birders from across the state will be hiking quietly through bushes, binoculars in hand, patiently waiting for a bird to come into view. Throughout the heat of the day and into the cover of darkness, these dedicated birders silently wait. Why, you may ask? All for a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/05\/KForesto-3663-750x500-69214820-c7a7-4824-8adc-c1f5db65b2b5-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/05\/KForesto-3663-750x500-69214820-c7a7-4824-8adc-c1f5db65b2b5-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/05\/KForesto-3663-750x500-69214820-c7a7-4824-8adc-c1f5db65b2b5-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/05\/KForesto-3663-750x500-69214820-c7a7-4824-8adc-c1f5db65b2b5-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10574,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-dinner-to-go\/","url_meta":{"origin":7297,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Dinner To Go","author":"Ryan D.","date":"February 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Order up! If you think French\u00a0fries are fast food, you should see how fast-moving some of the meals our wildlife friends enjoy are. Even if the meal itself is slow, many animals have to be fast to outrun predators and beat their competitors to the buffet. Here are five wildlife\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron \u00a9 Kimberlee Bertolino","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/02\/864Kimberlee_Bertolino12408_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/02\/864Kimberlee_Bertolino12408_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/02\/864Kimberlee_Bertolino12408_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7584,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/100-great-wildlife-sanctuary-birding-spots\/","url_meta":{"origin":7297,"position":3},"title":"100 Great Wildlife Sanctuary Birding Spots","author":"Hillary T.","date":"May 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Bird-a-thon, Mass Audubon\u2019s annual birding competition takes place on May 13-14. Teams of birders will attempt to see (or hear) the most species in a 24-hour time span. At the same time, birders and \u201cBird-a-thon\u00a0Boosters\u201d are raising money to support wildlife sanctuaries and programs. 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He\u2019s hoping to raise $500 to help Arcadia manage its grassland and forests to help local wildlife like the bobolink, the kestrel, and the eastern meadowlark. \u201cI feel happy when I feel close to all the different\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/04\/Kaiden.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/04\/Kaiden.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/04\/Kaiden.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14270,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-triumphant-return-of-bald-eagles\/","url_meta":{"origin":7297,"position":5},"title":"The Triumphant Return of Bald Eagles","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"June 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) recently confirmed that there are now more than 70 active Bald Eagle nests in the Bay State, including the first nesting effort on Cape Cod since 1905.\u00a0 The Bald Eagle spotted nesting on the Cape \u00a9 Heather Fone This nest, located in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1607David_Ennis18233-750-e1592405157267.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1607David_Ennis18233-750-e1592405157267.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1607David_Ennis18233-750-e1592405157267.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1607David_Ennis18233-750-e1592405157267.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7297"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7396,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7297\/revisions\/7396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}