Sagebrush Birds - Point Reyes Bird Observatory

Tom Grey
The Sagebrush Sea • A Mosaic of Habitats
Grasshopper Sparrow Western Meadowlark
Some areas, such as the Palouse Prairie region of
eastern Washington, are primarily made up of bunchgrasses
and include expanses where sagebrush is fairly
limited. The eastern edge of the sagebrush biome
grades into shortgrass prairie communities. Perennial
grasslands with a healthy flowering forb and legume
component provide important habitat for species such
as Grasshopper Sparrow and Western Meadowlark.
Perennial grasslands are important; their extensive
root systems help prevent soil erosion, and the aboveground
growth returns minerals and provides humus
to the soil as it decomposes. They are also a food base
for insects, a critical food source for many birds.
Bob Gress, BirdsInFocus.com
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