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Platte River Status: An abundant migrant, common nesting species, and fairly common winter resident. Tout (1947) considered the western meadowlark very common in Lincoln County during the nesting season; dates of peak numbers were late March to early April and during the first week of November. Rosche (1979) considered the western meadowlark a permanent resident in the lower North Platte River Valley. Gates (1954) summarized 6 roadside transects through upland and wet meadow areas in Lincoln County. A mean of 4.2 meadowlarks was recorded per stop of which 4.0 were western and 0.2 were eastern meadowlarks.

Breeding Range: The western meadowlark is one of the most evenly distributed nesting species in the study area. We found them abundant on the Sandhills and Western Plain physiographic regions; common on the Dissected Plain and Eastern Plain regions and fairly common and locally distributed in the Platte River Valley.

Breeding Population: Western meadowlark was the most abundant nesting species in the study area in 1979-1980. The estimated nesting population of 302,500 pairs made up 10.2% of total breeding bird abundance.

Habitat: Highest mean breeding densities were in upland native prairie (19.0 pairs/km²), followed by wet prairie (17.7 pairs/km²), alfalfa (14.0 pairs/km², domestic hayland (11.0 pairs/km²), wheat (5.5 pairs/km²), corn (3.0 pairs/km²), lowland forest (0.5 pairs/km²), and river channel islands (0.2 pairs/km²). Kantrud and Kologiski (1982) reported highest breeding densities among western meadowlarks occurred on moderately grazed native grasslands associated with high-moisture soils on the northern Great Plains. Western wheatgrass and fringed sage were especially characteristic of optimum western meadowlark habitat. Other plant species of importance were crested wheatgrass, buffalograss, and green needlegrass. Lingle and Haugh (1984) reported a western meadowlark nesting density of 43 pairs/km² from wet meadow vegetation dominated by smooth brome, alfalfa, big bluestem, and Kentucky bluegrass.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Western meadowlark is negatively impacted by over-grazing of native grasslands by livestock (Kantrud and Kologiski 1982). Our data suggest that the extensive conversion of upland native grasslands and wet meadows to agricultural production exerts a negative impact on this species. Although western meadowlarks occupy agricultural habitats for nesting, mean densities in cornfields were 6.5 times lower than in native grasslands. Because this species evolved in open grassland habitats, encroachment of wooded vegetation on wet meadows and wet prairie also has a negative impact. However, we believe that the extensive and continual conversion of upland grassland is more important in terms of total impact.

Nesting Data: Among 18 active nests we have found on the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, 10 were parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds. Flooding, cattle, and abandonment were the primary causes for unsuccessful nesting. Egg dates ranged from 19 May to 14 June. Mean clutch size among 19 nests in Lincoln County was 4.0 eggs during 10 April to 27 June. Johnsgard (1979) reported Kansas egg dates from 10 April to 30 July, with peaks in early May and early June indicative of first and second broods.