Iowa's prairies are home to a diverse range of species that depend on our local ecosystems for survival. Prairie restoration efforts not only help to revive this essential landscape but also provide critical habitat for native wildlife and pollinators. In this blog post, we’ll focus on three species that greatly benefit from prairie restoration: the Monarch Butterfly, the Dickcissel, and the Prairie Skink.

These species have been dramatically impacted by the loss of native prairie habitats, and their recovery is closely linked to the restoration of these ecosystems.

1. Monarch Butterflies: The Most Popular Pollinator

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is perhaps the most iconic pollinator species in North America, known for its incredible long-distance migration and vibrant orange-and-black wings. When I was six or seven, I nearly had a whole monarch-growing business going out of my parent's dining room. I remember losing a caterpillar, crying for hours frantically looking for it, and then later finding it hauling across the garage floor towards the bushes outside. I wasn’t always the best caregiver—I was six, after all— I remember picking my favorite caterpillar, getting several leaves for him, putting him in a small box, and then bringing him to school to show my friends. As I’m sure you can guess, a caterpillar in a box in a six-year-old backpack didn’t always make them the happiest, but I learned quickly (thank god) and grew probably well over fifty monarchs to be successfully released, though I would have liked to do a lot more!

Childhood hobbies aside, Monarch populations need a lot of help (from all of us) and have seen a significant decline in recent decades, primarily due to habitat loss, particularly the loss of milkweed—the only plant where Monarchs lay their eggs.

How Prairie Restoration Helps Monarchs

Milkweed and Nectar Plants: Monarchs rely heavily on Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) for breeding. This is pretty well known now, and thankfully, so many efforts have helped to spread this knowledge. In addition to milkweed, Monarchs need a variety of nectar plants for nourishment during their migration and breeding season. Restoring prairies with diverse native plants provides Monarchs with both the milkweed they need to reproduce and the nectar-rich flowers they rely on for energy. Prairies are abundant with nectar-producing flowers— being jam-packed with everything the Monarch needs on its crucial journey.
Migratory Corridors: As I touched on above, Monarchs also need a network of healthy habitats along their migratory path. By restoring prairies and other native habitats, we can create essential corridors for Monarchs as they move through Iowa during their spring and fall migrations.

What You Can Do:

Plant Milkweed: If you have a garden or land, plant native milkweed species like Common Milkweed or Swamp Milkweed. This will provide Monarchs with the resources they need for breeding.
Support Monarch Conservation: Contribute to or get involved with local conservation efforts like the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, which works to restore Monarch habitats across the state.
Prairie patches can help more than just Monarchs, so consider planting a 5x5’ prairie patch/pollinator garden in your back or front yard. You’d be amazed at how many Monarchs you may see floating around your house come migration!

2. Dickcissels: Grassland Birds You Should Know

The Dickcissel (Spiza americana) is a small, colorful songbird native to Iowa’s prairies. This grassland bird is easily recognizable by its bright yellow chest and the “dick-dick-ciss-ciss-ciss” call it makes during the breeding season. Dickcissels primarily rely on tallgrass prairies for both nesting and feeding. However, habitat loss due to urban development and the conversion of prairie land to agriculture has caused a dramatic decline in their population. They are considered unpredictable among birders, with seeing a ton one year and seeing hardly any the next.

How Prairie Restoration Helps Dickcissels

Nesting Habitat: Dickcissels build their nests on the ground or low in dense grasses, making tallgrass prairies an ideal habitat. Restoring prairies with dense, native grasses and forbs provides safe nesting sites for these birds, as well as an abundance of seeds and insects for food. If you have a prairie, being mindful of mowing times can be essential to allow for nesting (similar to pheasants).
Foraging Grounds: During the summer, Dickcissels feed on a variety of seeds, insects, and small invertebrates that thrive in prairie ecosystems. By restoring prairies, we help ensure a steady food source for these birds, which is vital for their survival during the breeding season. For landowners who have prairies and like to collect seed, leaving 2/3rd for the birds can be an effective practice in providing lots of food for them through the highs and lows of winter.

What You Can Do

Support Grassland Restoration: If you’re a farmer, consider participating in conservation programs that promote grassland restoration, such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which incentivizes planting native grasses and establishing wildlife habitat. If you are a landowner with a couple acres, consider turning a half acre or acre to prairie.
Advocate for Grassland Bird Conservation: Support initiatives that focus on protecting and restoring Iowa’s grasslands to provide safe habitats for Dickcissels and other at-risk species.

3. Prairie Skinks: A Reptile In Iowa?

The Prairie Skink (Plestiodon septempunctatus) is a small, ground-dwelling lizard native to Iowa's prairies and oak savannas. This species is known for its distinctive pattern of dark stripes running along its body. Did I mention its a REPTILE! Pretty cool! Prairie Skinks are often found in areas with loose, sandy soils, where they can burrow and find shelter under rocks or dead vegetation. Unfortunately, much of their habitat has been lost due to land conversion for agriculture and development, making them increasingly rare in Iowa.

How Prairie Restoration Helps Prairie Skinks

Shelter and Nesting Sites: Prairie Skinks need areas with loose soil or sandy substrates where they can burrow and seek refuge from predators. Restoring diverse areas of property with native grasses, wildflowers, and diverse soil types helps provide these critical microhabitats. Compared to other types of prairies in Iowa, sand prairies are pretty rare. Sand prairies occur on more stable sandy soils that are well-drained, coarse-textured sands, loamy sands, and sandy loams. If you have this on your property, consider working with us to convert this soil type to grow prairie!
Food Sources: As insectivores, Prairie Skinks depend on abundant insect populations. A healthy prairie supports a rich variety of insects, including ants, beetles, and grasshoppers (and so many more), which provide essential food sources for skinks. Prairie restoration ensures that skinks have the resources they need for survival, especially if they are located in your county! This plays into the ecological role of the prairie skink as a natural predator. It helps to control insect populations by preying on various small arthropods like grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, caterpillars, spiders, the list goes on. When those populations get too big (think: Japanese beetles) this can tilt the entire ecosystem off balance.

This map from IowaHerps.com shows which counties prairie skinks have been located in!

What You Can Do

You already know what I’m going to say!
Restore Native Prairie Habitat: If you have land, consider restoring areas with sandy or loamy soils and planting native grasses and forbs. This can help provide the shelter and food that Prairie Skinks need to thrive.
Minimize Chemical Use: Pesticides and herbicides can harm insect populations that skinks rely on for food. Reducing or eliminating pesticide use in prairie restoration projects can support a more balanced, healthy ecosystem for reptiles and amphibians in Iowa.

The Big Picture: A Thriving Prairie Ecosystem

By zooming in on species like the Monarch Butterfly, the Dickcissel, and the Prairie Skink, we can see the interconnectedness of prairie ecosystems.

Iowa's prairies once teemed with life, and with dedicated efforts to restore these habitats, we can help bring back species that have been displaced or are struggling to survive in the face of modern land use practices. Prairie restoration is an investment in the future of our state's ecosystems, and by supporting these efforts, we ensure that Iowa's rich biodiversity continues to thrive.

There is room for both: prairies and agriculture. We just have to work to find a balance, and build prairies wherever we can!

At Sown Ecological Solutions, we are passionate about helping Iowa’s prairies thrive. Whether you’re a farmer, landowner, or nature enthusiast, we’re here to guide you through the process of prairie restoration. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can restore native prairie habitats or support wildlife conservation in your area, contact us today for a consultation.

Restoring Iowa’s Prairies for Wildlife and Pollinators: Monarchs, Dickcissels, and Prairie Skinks