Case study: Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
Historically, the Swainson’s hawk winged over native prairie grasslands and seasonal wetlands, foraging for voles and other rodents. It is now a threatened species. Integrated agriculture practices can help to support the hawk’s future.

With the decrease in native grasslands, the Swainson’s hawk has become adept at using dry-land farmlands such as row crops, alfalfa, and grain for hunting grounds. It’s possible, and usually economically quite feasible, to focus farming techniques in ways that will maximize cropland values for the hawk. For example, the Swainson's hawk is known for following tractors and mowers, preying on the rodents that are exposed by the machinery. By mowing a field in successive swatches, rather than all at once, a farmer can provide the hawk with several days of hunting. Flood irrigation also flushes the hawk’s prey, concentrating the rodents on higher ground.

In an ecological preserve, providing suitable foraging habitat requires maintaining the vegetation heights between 4 and 12 inches to allow the hawk to spot its prey. Controlled grazing of grasslands is an alternative to frequent mowing.