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Grasslands in CTGrasslands are a vital but diminishing natural resource throughout the northeastern United States. Numerous wildlife species, particularly birds, are dependent on these areas for food, cover or breeding. Animals that can be found in grasslands include bobolink, eastern meadowlark, black racer, horned lark, northern leopard frog, small rodents, turkey, wood turtle and numerous insects. This website provides information on grasslands in Connecticut and a map of where the larger grasslands can be found.
Definition of GrasslandHistory of Grasslands in ConnecticutDescription of GrasslandsBirds of Warm and Cool Season GrasslandsManagement of GrasslandsMore Information on Grassland Establishment and Management
Definition of Grasslands
History of GrasslandsPrior to European settlement, Connecticut was largely forested with grasslands found naturally in areas with dry, sandy deposits, tidally flooded areas, areas along rivers and streams with excessive erosion and sedimentation, and in wetlands too wet to support woody plant growth. In addition, some grasslands were created and maintained by Native Americans and fire. European settlement brought the clearing of most of the forests for agriculture and later, charcoal production, such that by the 1800’s grasslands maintained by plowing and grazing were widespread throughout the state.
Land clearing by settlers 
Photo courtesy Paterson GlobalFoods Inc.
Description of GrasslandsGrasslands are generally divided into two broad categories: cool season and warm season grasslands with the difference based on the type of photosynthetic cycle used by the plants. Cool season grasslands are dominated by grass species that actively grow in the spring and fall when air and soil temperatures are cool. Most cool season grasses are non-native, brought in during European settlement. Warm season grasslands are dominated by native grasses that actively grow during June through mid-September with warmer air and soil temperatures.
Examples of cool season grasses are: timothy, Kentucky bluegrass, orchard grass, tall fescue, smooth brome grass, and Virginia wild
Examples of warm season grasses are: big bluestem, little bluestem, switch grass, Indian grass, and broom sedge.
As you can see from the photos, height and structure of a grassland varies depending on the species mix. Grasses range in height from several feet to just a few inches. Some grasses are bunch (or clump) forming while others form sod. Grasslands with bunch grasses tend to have bare ground between clumps allowing for rodent movement and foraging by chicks. This aerial photograph shows the structure of the plants (grass clumps and open spaces on the ground) in this grassland.
Photo courtesy of Joel Stocker
Warm season grassland with mix of species 
Photo courtesy of Joel Stocker
An aerial view of a cool season grassland - Horsebarn Hill in Storrs, CT 
Photo courtesy of Joel Stocker
A mown cool season grassland 
Photo courtesy of Joel Stocker
Only small remnants remain of Connecticut’s natural grasslands. Now, the most common grassland areas are agricultural fields including hayfields and pastures. Fields at airports, capped landfills, and military installations may serve as grassland habitat depending on the plant composition.
In 2006, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP) announced a Grassland Habitat Conservation Initiative – the goal of which is to conserve grassland habitat in order to protect critical nesting and breeding grounds for birds and other species. The objectives of this initiative are to:
More information on the CT DEP Grassland Habitat Initiative may be found at: CT DEP Grassland Initiative. Audubon Connecticut, a part of the National Audubon Society, Connecticut Audubon and Mass Audubon have helped document the decline in grassland bird species and are active participants in the above objectives. Birds of Warm and Cool Season GrasslandsGrassland bird species habitat use varies depending on both the type of grassland (warm or cool) and also the size of the grassland. Many of these birds have minimum habitat size requirements for nesting, and have plant species or structure preferences. Some will nest only in grasses of a particular height; others prefer a mix of tall and short vegetation, or a particular grass species or a mix of grass and forbs.
Warm season grassland bird species include upland sandpipers, grasshopper sparrows, and vesper sparrows. (All these species are included in Connecticut's list of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species.) The CT DEP has fact sheets on the following bird species: Cool season grassland bird species include savannah sparrows, eastern meadowlarks, and bobolinks. (The first two species are state listed rare species). These birds require smaller grasslands for nesting – usually less than 25 acres. They are generalists in comparison to warm season grassland birds, nesting, foraging and raising young in a variety of habitats includes hayfields, meadows and pastures. These birds will sometimes also use warm season grasslands for nesting.
Savannah Sparrow 
© David Pavlik
Bobolink 
Photo courtesy of Tom Pavlik
Management of Grasslands
Controlled burn of a small grassland 
Joel Stocker
Controlled burn of a small grassland 
Joel Stocker
Mowing Field 
More Information on Grasslands Establishment and ManagementRothbart, Paul and Steve Capel. 2006. Maintaining and Restoring Grasslands (Chapter 3) in Managing Grasslands, Shrublands and Young Forests for Wildlife. J.D. Oehler, D.R. Covell, S.Capel, B. Long (editors). Published by the Northeast Upland Habitat Technical Committee, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. (p.14 – 27)
Chapter 3 (pertaining specifically to grasslands) is available online at: Maintaining and restoring grasslands Hardcopies of the entire book are available for purchase at the Connecticut DEP Store.
The creation of this web page and cool season grassland map development was funded in part through a grant from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to the University of Connecticut |
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NEMO is a program of the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR). |
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Grasslands are defined as areas in which grasses contribute more than 50% of the herbaceous cover. Most grasses are in the plant family Poaceae and are adapted to hot, dry climates. They have linear, narrow leaves and extensive root systems. The other species that may be present in grasslands are plants called forbs: broadleaved, herbaceous plants such as milkweeds, asters and goldenrods. Few, if any, trees and shrubs occur.
