As the breeding season draws to an end so the cattle are put out onto the fields. They are an essential ally in our quest to keep the wet grassland in prime condition for ground nesting wading birds. Using their rough tongues to tear away at grass and vegetation they produce a 'tussocky' grass sward which is preferred by waders and invertebrates. This in combination with the grass cutting (topping) that we do using the tractor means that when the next breeding season comes round we have the fields ready and waiting for the birds. Areas of uniform short grass are preferred by the lapwing, redshank prefer more tussocky areas (often, on Otmoor at least, seeming to favour tussocks that have grown up out of cow pat enriched areas), whilst snipe nest in wetter areas with longer vegetation that the cattle don't find quite as tasty. Grazing during the summer also helps produce the short grass areas that are favoured as feeding areas by the winter wildfowl that visit otmoor including wigeon and white-fronted geese.
The cattle are monitored throughout the grazing season and we also keep a close eye on the condition of the fields to make sure they aren't being too heavily churned up or 'poached'. Otmoor would be a very different place without the cattle so I'd like to extend our thanks to these hairy volunteers.