Keystone species are central to the ecology and conservation of grassland birds. But although the role of fire and bison has been well-studied, less is known about how prairie dogs affect grassland birds. In this talk, Andrew Dreelin will discuss his work conducting an extensive literature review on the ecological relationships between prairie dogs and grassland birds, synthesizing what we know about the myriad ways prairie dogs influence the entire grassland bird community (not just Burrowing Owls). In addition, he will identify what we don’t know and how we can fill these important knowledge gaps to inform conservation efforts for both imperiled groups. While we’ve learned quite a lot about the importance of this keystone species, there’s much more to unravel…
Andrew Dreelin is a 5th year PhD candidate in the Evidence-based Restoration Lab at Northern Illinois University and a Fellow with the Smithsonian Great Plains Science Program. After falling in love with birds and nature via the Georgia pine savanna, he attended Cornell University to pursue his dream of becoming an ornithologist. He has been working with grassland birds since 2020 and is passionate about using ecological research to address conservation issues, particularly in our under-appreciated prairie ecosystems.
