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A decision made in the 1930s to maintain 4,000 acres of the Finger Lakes National Forest in grazing pastures led to the restoration of habitat for several declining species of migratory birds such as the Grasshopper and Henslow's sparrows. The Henslow's sparrow (shown) prefers high-quality, tall-grass pastures of at least 70 acres in size. These birds evolved with the native tall-grass ecosystems dominated by bunch grasses. These bunch grasses grow in clumps with openings between the plants that provide easy access for travel and a sure seed source for ground nesting birds.Much of today's agricultural practices on surrounding private lands have favored replacement of the tall grasses with introduced mat-forming grasses, like alfalfa and clover, that limit sparrow movement and hide any seeds that shatter and tall to the ground. Such large-scale changes in habitat contribute to the marked population decline of migratory birds in the Northeast.(source description)