Probably the only realistic way to encourage farmers to delay cutting is to *pay* them for the lost crop or to leave the field fallow all season. THis is being done in the UK to protect the endangered Corn Crake (with some success) and for other grassland species, which are also declining there as they are here (and for most of the same reasons). This would seem a good project for Nongame/Endangered funds... does anyone know if this is being considered in Maryland or Virginia? Gail Mackiernan Silver Spring, MD gail@umdd.umd.edu