Maaidata in relatie tot legbegin van broedvogels in het beekdal van de Vledder Aa

In The Netherlands, mowing in semi-natural grasslands is normally delayed until 15 June, in order to protect broods of ‘meadow birds’. This practice, however, is based on breeding seasons of Lapwings, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Snipes and Ruffs. In many nature reserves in grasslands in Drenthe ‘typical’ meadow birds are (and sometimes have been for ages) only present at low densities. Instead, there importance is exemplified by high densities of Quail, Corncrake (at least in some years, as in 1998), Curlew, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Whinchat and Linnet. The breeding seasons of these species cover the period from mid-March through mid-September (Fig. 1). Given their nesting sites (Table 1) and habitat use mowing should be delayed till after 1 August if successful breeding is to be guaranteed.