Many grassland birds have experienced severe declines in the past decades and understanding whether different management regimes could halt or reverse species declines is an important conservation challenge. In collaboration with the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Northern Research Station scientists are investigating whether bison can play a role in habitat restoration and support their historic companions, grassland birds.

In 2016, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie managers introduced bison as an experimental approach to prairie restoration to determine the effectiveness of bison in improving the diversity of native prairie vegetation and providing suitable habitat for grassland bird species. In June 2021, Northern Research Station scientists and university partners joined the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in a new, multi-year research project on best management practices, including bison grazing, for prairie restoration. Research objectives include tracking bison movement, monitoring plant communities, and surveying grassland birds, their nest success, and habitat use throughout the experimental areas. The project also provides an opportunity for scientists to mentor and promote Native American and international students in natural resources. In other grassland systems, bison reintroductions have occurred after the establishment of a native prairie plant community, however at the Midewin, managers are exploring whether bison grazing could help to facilitate restoration concurrently with active treatments. Research will fill important data gaps and inform the design and implementation of a grazing management program for prairie restoration that promotes desired conditions for imperiled grassland birds and other wildlife species.