 A male Northern Harrier on the hunt. |
Northern Bobwhites whistle, elusive Henslow’s Sparrows nest, Northern Harriers hunt; this Kentucky grassland oasis is springing back to life on the remains of one of the most desolate landscapes on Earth – reclaimed coal mine land. Thousands of aces scraped bare by mining operations are slowly being restored to provide habitat for declining populations of grassland birds. The burgeoning bird biodiversity there is testament to dedicated study and restoration by the staff at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Federal regulations require coal companies to replant mine lands when operations cease, but the actions are more focused on preventing erosion than on benefitting wildlife. At the 46,000-acre Peabody Wildlife Management Area, more than 9,000 human hours have been invested to eliminate invasive non-native plants and restore native grass species more attractive to native birds – and it’s working! Since the restoration work began in 2015, Bobwhite populations in the treated areas have increased 56 percent, bucking a nationwide trend in declines for the species.
Learn more about this remarkable transformation at https://www.audubon.org/news/what-comes-after-coal-sometimes-answer-has-feathers