The grasses, shrubs, and forbs found in early successional habitat provide important qualities needed by a variety of wildlife, specifically ground-nesting birds. What exactly is “early successional habitat?” It is the plants and ground cover that develop in an area shortly after a disturbance. There are different types of disturbances: natural disturbances which include extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, and in some cases, insects or disease. There are also human-caused disturbances such as logging or mowing. Succession is the process in which plant communities develop and change over time – starting at early stages and eventually leading to their final maturity, known as “climax communities.” The phrase “develop and change over time” is a key component of why much of our early successional habitat in Connecticut, and in the United States, is declining.
Early successional habitat is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the US, and it is important to understand that one of the ways we can stop this decline is through active management. When left unmanaged, early successional habitat begins to fade away. As the tree canopy develops, the plant species that formerly thrived in those conditions do not receive enough sunlight. This habitat can very quickly become mature forest, no longer supporting the same species. Although mature forests provide their own benefits, species like American Woodcock, Prairie Warblers, Indigo Bunting, and Eastern Towhee are left without nesting and breeding habitat once early successional habitat starts disappearing. Many of these species are listed as threatened or endangered in several northeastern states and studies have shown that the American Woodcock has declined by 40% over the past 30 years. The Prairie Warbler, as listed in the 2025 State of the Birds report, is designated as a Yellow Alert Tipping Point species, meaning that it has lost more than 50% of its population in the past 50 years. According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, this species declined by an estimated 1.9% per year between 1966 and 2023, resulting in a total decline of 67%.
How can you as a landowner and community member contribute to wildlife success? Firstly, it’s important to understand that cutting or thinning trees, mowing, and prescribed burns help support wildlife that depend on this habitat. Moreover, being able to identify invasive species that can overtake and outcompete native shrubs and plants is another crucial element involved in active management. With increased sunlight reaching these habitats, invasive species often have a better chance of establishing themselves. Keeping an eye out for these non-native plants and removing them will help natives that would otherwise struggle without your intervention. Alex D’Amico, Stewardship Coordinator at Joshua’s Trust, has been putting in the time at Agnes’ Pasture – a property that was historically meadow and has since grown in with invasive autumn olive, eastern white pine, and fast-growing hardwood species. “We are reclaiming the meadow through mowing and are making brush piles which will in turn improve nesting for a variety of species,” says Alex.
Mature forests and more heavily forested areas provide nesting and breeding habitat to certain species, while other species, like the Indigo Bunting and Eastern Towhee, will continue to decline in the absence of early successional habitat. More than 73% of forestland in the region is privately owned, and it is important that landowners take an active role in managing these habitats for the variety of plants and animals that depend on them for their survival.
As climate change, increased development, and invasive species continue to shift the landscape, the impact you can have as a landowner will continue to grow. By understanding the value of early successional habitat and taking part in active management, you can help sustain the wildlife that depend on these disappearing ecosystems.