Jack Lindaas, the Aldo Leopold Foundation’s Wildlife Monitoring Fellow, recently sat down with me to talk about his valuable field research this summer on the Leopold-Pines Conservation Area (LPCA). We covered topics ranging from the vegetation and bird surveys he completed, to changed perceptions and appreciation for the little members in our interconnected land community. This interview provided great insight into what Jack does for the Foundation and how his work will assist in habitat restoration in the future. A large focus of Jack’s research was monitoring bird species on and near restored grassland habitats.
To conduct bird surveys well, one must be up at a time when birds are most talkative– early mornings! Rising with the sun, Jack, armed with his bird book and Merlin Bird ID app, would set out for the day. Once settled at the designated point-count site, Jack would begin to collect data on the species of birds he could hear or see. Then he would change locations, repeating the process day after day. With the data he collected, Jack was hoping to see a difference in bird abundance between agricultural fields managed by the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the restored grasslands, prairies, and oak savannas on the 4,500-acre property.
“I’ve heard many species of birds around the immediate property, but I have not heard as many near the agricultural fields,” Jack said. Predominantly, grassland birds need open fields of grass and shrubs; many of these grassland species use dense grasses and sedges to build their nests. Habitats like these also benefit other songbirds, raptors, and species who need open areas for mating displays and hunting grounds.
Restoration work done on the LPCA to improve grassland and prairie habitat has had positive impacts on the steady population of grassland songbirds the Aldo Leopold Foundation property hosts year to year. When I asked Jack how these restorations have impacted his bird surveys, he said, “improving and conserving the land will always improve what we see. The more [grasslands] we have, the more birds we’ll see.” Reminds me of the saying from Field of Dreams, “if you build it, they will come”, but in a much less menacing tone.
Ollie’s Prairie—a 176.09-acre ongoing grassland restoration site— was always a rewarding site for Jack to survey, and a beautiful example of the results of dedicated restoration work. This grassland habitat accommodates many bird species Jack has become very familiar with over the summer, including field sparrows, dickcissels, and sometimes even the elusive Henslow’s sparrow. Day after day, Jack would take down notes of the species he saw, and routinely he always had a dickcissel nearby.
Dickcissels are common grassland birds, “a little bigger than the size of your closed fist” and very territorial. Their call is distinct and unique, Jack says, which helped him identify them more accurately every day. Some articles even state that their calls are “the songs of the Midwest prairie,” proving to Jack that these prairie sites are special habitats and play an important role in converting spaces lacking diversity into exuberant bird hotspots.
Seeing dickcissels every day became a comfort to Jack as they began to exhibit some signs of curiosity towards him. Spending so much time together, I would expect nothing less than a bond to flourish. And soon enough, as if introducing a friend, Jack said to me with a shrug and a smile, “Yeah, Richard is a dickcissel that I met in the field while surveying Ollie’s Prairie." It turns out that “Richard” is many different male and female dickcissels that would watch Jack as he conducted surveys. He was able to distinguish between male and female dickcissels quickly when they perched or flew due to the tell-tale marking on the males' chests —a dark black ‘V’ shape.
As both Jack and Richard(s) grew to enjoy each other's company, Jack began to take a keen interest in their behaviors. “They seem like they are very inquisitive birds. Or they’re being territorial towards me,” Jack says. “I was a large potential predator towards them and their nests.” Unable to speak the mystic call of the dickcissel, Jack couldn’t help but feel like they were trying to tell him something.
Soon, Jack noticed he was the one being monitored. The dickcissels began to grow braver, and they would move closer into the proximity Jack was monitoring, sometimes flying above him or within 10 meters of him. Jack remarked, “I felt like Snow White when I was out there!”
These experiences at the Foundation were fundamental in altering Jack’s perceptions of birds and our intertwined ecosystems. Having minimal birding experience at the start of this job, Jack feels grateful for the knowledge he has acquired, as well as the friendships he has gained, those of-a-feather included. “I gained a higher appreciation for how birds interact with their environment, what environmental factors can change the way they behave, and how field types can alter the birds present.”
As the summer season nears its end, there have been many tranquil moments where Jack has been able to reflect on his time at the Leopold Foundation. This inter-species friendship, Jack says, will be a staple in his memory and a reminder of his time at the Foundation. “I got to have a really fun interaction with an animal I had never seen or heard before. With the photos and videos I captured, I will never forget Richard and the experience of surveying the birds.”
Learning about Jack’s friendship with Richard and having the privilege to share his story with you all is a great treat. Beholding the excitement in his voice, seeing the passion he carries with him at work and beyond, and hearing his many field stories has been a great honor this summer. Watching Jack indulge himself in the Leopold landscape, it is clear he has truly left his mark on the landscape in the best way possible – with love and respect for it all.
If you’re interested in being a part of the restoration story here at the Aldo Leopold Foundation, be sure to check out our Fellows program. Whether you’re supporting the Fellows or applying to be one, there are endless opportunities to write your story on this landscape!
The Aldo Leopold Foundation was founded in 1982 with a mission to foster the land ethic through the legacy of Aldo Leopold, awakening an ecological conscience in people throughout the world.
