OWENSVILLE, Ind. (AP) – State wildlife crews have burned hundreds of acres of grasslands in southwestern Indiana to keep a wildlife area in good shape for an endangered water-loving bird.

DNR assistant non-game bird biologist Amy Kearns tells the Princeton Daily Clarion (http://bit.ly/1FyKPmE ) the burn cleared out young trees and will help promote “a nice mix of grasses'' for the wildlife area's population of least terns.

Indiana's least tern populations have grown significantly since a single pair of the petite shorebirds was found in Gibson County in 1986.</p>

DNR crews say they try to conduct prescribed burns before most reptiles and amphibians emerge from winter hibernation.