Rights-of-Way

Many species can benefit from wildlife-oriented management practices on ROWs. Vegetation management efforts will likely be successful and beneficial to wildlife if the species is one that is known to inhabit the surrounding area, or is known to use the ROW as a migratory staging area. Practices targeting endangered or threatened species in a region have also been implemented in the past with amazing results.

BEES

Recent studies have shown that richness and composition of bee communities was greater in shrubland ROW habitats than in regularly mowed tall grass habitat. Shrublands can be covered in blueberry, huckleberry, and raspberry bushes, along with thistle, goldenrod, and a great variety of other wildflowers. Bees depend on these flowers for food and for creating their nests. Increasing the amount of shrubland plants in a ROW will, in turn, increase the diversity and abundance of bees.

BUTTERFLIES

Lepidopterans, or butterflies, play important roles as pollinators. Unfortunately, habitat loss and fragmentation are responsible for changes in landscape patterns and in habitat quality that have negatively affected butterfly populations. To maintain local butterfly population densities, it may be possible to compensate for losses in habitat area with improvements in habitat quality, such as seek a floristic diversity within the right-of-way and ensure the presence of nectaring plants. These management techniques will attract butterflies and transform the ROW into a suitable habitat.

In addition, habitat loss and fragmentation appear to have a particularly strong impact on threatened or endangered species, such as the endangered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). Females lay their eggs on or near wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), which accounts for the sole food source of the larvae. It is important to consider the specific habitat requirements of native species of interest found along ROWs. Visit the ROWs Resource Directory to learn more.

GRASSLAND BIRDS

Each grassland-nesting bird species has a unique set of habitat requirements. While there are similarities among many species’ habitat requirements, habitat management to meet the specific needs of one species may or may not benefit other species. However broad concepts can be addressed and considered in developing habitat management plans for grassland-nesting birds on ROWs. 

Best Management Practices for Grass-Nesting Birds

 Determine the available grassland’s size : large landscapes of more than 10,000 acres; medium landscapes of 1,000 to typically around 5,000 acres and small blocks of 40 to 1,000 acres. Specific bird species will usually inhabit of one of those 3 land size. Improve habitat for wildlife that will likely make use of the area available on the ROW.
 Practices that would result in fragmentation within the grassland should be avoided as it lowers the probability of attracting grassland birds.
 Avoid row crops, as they are not suitable breeding habitat for grassland birds.
 If mowing is planned, avoid mowing during the breeding season (April to August) and use an annual rotational mowing system in which some sections are left un-mowed each year.
 Provide, maintain and monitor nest boxes for the common barn owl, eastern bluebird, and American kestrel.
 A few small trees scattered throughout the area can benefit species such as the loggerhead shrike, dickcissel, field sparrow, and American kestrel.
 Minimize human disturbances to grasslands, especially during the breeding season.

SHRUBLAND BIRDS

Bird nest in shrubland habitat.

Best Management Practices for Shrubland Birds

 When managing for shrubland birds, the treatment that provides the densest shrub cover should be the preferred treatment.
 Use selective herbicide application methods to regulate shrub growth.Selective herbicide application seems to support, on a long-term basis, greater diversity and densities of shrub-nesting birds than mowing.Such methods also positively affect plant species composition and structure towards heterogeneity.
 Avoid hand-cutting and mowing, as they produce more homogenous environments less suitable for nesting.
 Transition Vegetation Management or Wire Zone-Border Zone method (also referred to as using feathered edges) should be used when possible as it creates two different habitats, both utilized by different bird species. Consequently, this method benefits more species under one area.

WETLAND BIRDS

Photo by Stephen Genua.

Wetland birds, have special habitat needs that differ from one species to the other. These individual requirements should be taken into consideration when drawing up the management plan. 

The vegetation management program along the Pepco Rights-of-Way in the Washington DC area provides habitat for Atlantic flyway waterfowl, migratory songbirds and other wildlife like the yellow-crowned night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea) (pictured left). A mixture of low-growing wildflowers, shrubs and grasses offers desired nesting cover. The night-heron will use similar habitat types for both nesting and roosting, avoiding areas with insufficient cover. Colonies may be located in dense shrubby thickets, forests with an open understory or suburban areas.

Listed here are best management practices for common wetland birds in eastern forested landscapes that are known to use ROWs.

Best Management Practices for Wetland Birds

 Pied-billed grebes: ensure that the wetland area is larger than ten acres and that it houses abundant submerged aquatic vegetation, as they mainly feed on aquatic invertebrates.
 Herons: for green herons, use shrubby vegetation adjacent to open water areas to allow fishing. For great blue herons, manage long shorelines with extensive beds of emergent vegetation.
 Rails: render large amounts of wild rice available or in its absence, Polygonum spp.
 Northern harriers: generally opt for larger marsh units with abundant emergent vegetation showing some perching and roosting woody species.

WHITE-TAILED DEER

The use of the ROW corridor by white-tailed deer may be associated with the availability of habitat. Deer have been observed using the ROW for feeding, bedding down and escape cover. If feeding areas are available away from the ROW, then deer will avoid the right-of-way. If most available forage is within the ROW corridor, as is the case in many forested areas, then deer will make use of the area, especially if a water source is also in the surroundings. Make sure to improve habitat with some favorite sources of food such as dogwoods, viburnums, sumacs, witch-hazel, and most berry shrubs. The potential vegetation list also provides numerous native plant species that can help in white-tailed deer habitat management. 

White-tailed deer. Photo courtesy of Berg, W. J., USFWS.