Greater Prairie-Chicken

IOWA AUDUBON IOWA IBA EDUCATION INITIATIVE PART 4: SPECIES ACCOUNTS

STATUS: HIGH Greater Prairie-Chicken CONSERVATION PRIORITY IN IOWA Tympanuchus cupido Introduction At one time, the eerie hollow moaning of male Greater Prairie-Chickens displaying on their spring booming grounds, or leks, was a common sound across much of central and eastern North America. Where native prairie was intermixed with oak woodland in Iowa and other states, this species thrived. But due to a 99% + loss of native prairies, this interesting species is quite uncommon and severely localized where pockets of appropriate habitat still exist. The distribution of this essentially non-migratory species changed as prairie and woodland habitats were converted to cropland. Remaining populations are restricted to prairie intermixed with cropland. In Iowa this is primarily in the Kellerton and Ringgold Grassland BCA and IBA in Ringgold County near the Southern border of the state. The three recognized subspecies of Greater Prairie- Chickens vary only slightly in appearance but dramatically in status. One, the Heath Hen, became extinct in 1932. Another, Attwaterʼs Prairie-Chicken, found in small parcels of habitat in Texas, is seriously endangered. The Greater Prairie-Chicken is extinct, or in danger of extinction, in 15 states and provinces; but numerous enough to be hunted legally in 4 other states. Some of the earliest efforts to manage wildlife populations in North America were initiated in 1791 when legislation was passed to protect the Heath Hen from market hunting. Declining populations, its status as a game bird, and spectacular breeding displays make the Greater Prairie-Chicken a popular subject of study.

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Habitat Preferences females. Typically 8 to 20 males will be present, and at times many times more The primary habitat type that Greater than this. When displaying, males lower Prairie-Chickens evolved with was native their heads, raise their tails, inflate air sacs tallgrass prairie. Elimination or alteration of on their necks, and create hollow moaning permanent grasslands which are suitable sounds called “booming.” At times males for nesting, brood rearing, and roosting was also leap into the air and make loud a huge factor in the drastic population cackles. Males also dance at the lek, and declines that this species endured. It can be this involves elaborate and forceful no surprise that when more than 99% of stomping of the feet. Females eventually this once dominant habitat of native visit the booming ground and mates with tallgrass prairie was eliminated from Iowa, the male of her choice. Greater Prairie-Chickens were doomed to exist as best they could as remnant After mating the female constructs a nest populations in a few localized, remnant on the ground among thick tall grass. This habitats of this same type. It has taken a nest consists of a shallow depression lined great deal of careful management by Iowa with fine grass, leaves and feathers. DNR Biologists at the Kellerton and Usually 10 to 12 eggs are laid, but the Ringgold BCA and IBA in Ringgold County number may be as few as 7 or as many as to produce the positive results that have 17. Incubation lasts from 23 to 25 days, and been seen there. done by the female only. Shortly after Habitat used by this species is hatching the young follow the female away characterized by a quilt-work pattern of mid from the nest and the precocial young begin and tall grass prairie mixed with cropland. It to find their own food very early in life. Short is actually a testament to this species flights are possible in as little as 2 weeks adaptability that it can survive in areas once after hatching, and strong flight is achieved dominated by native prairie are now equally by 3 weeks of age. The young usually dominated by fields of intensively used remain with the female for nearly 3 months. cropland, pasture and hayland. Concerns and Limiting Factors Feeding Habits Market hunting and poaching once reduced The summer diet of Greater Prairie- or limited populations of Greater Prairie- Chickens consists primarily of seeds, buds, Chickens. Non-hunted populations tend to berries, leaves, and insects. The winter diet have higher survival rates than hunted is also made up of leaves and seeds, but populations, 48% vs. 37%–41%; but also waste grain from agricultural fields. hunting is not a factor in Iowa. Historical records indicate that acorn mast The Heath Hen subspecies became extinct was a major component of the diet in primarily because of loss of prairie habitat. winter, particularly during periods of heavy The Attwaterʼs Prairie-Chicken subspecies snow. Acorns may still be eaten where they declined drastically in Texas as grazing are available. pressure and cropland increased Foraging is done largely on the ground, but throughout its area that was once mostly occasionally in trees as well. Most feeding native prairie. The same is true for the is done in early morning and evening. Greater Prairie-Chicken subspecies. Intensive agricultural activities have had Breeding Biology tremendous negative effect on populations In early spring males gather on booming of all three subspecies as well as grounds (leks) and display to attract

LINK TO IOWA IBA: GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN IOWA AUDUBON IOWA IBA EDUCATION INITIATIVE PART 4: SPECIES ACCOUNTS agricultural practices simply eliminating the Several other factors also have an impact habitat that was needed for survival. on prairie-chicken populations. Removal of Interestingly, historical peaks in populations pheasants may reduce inter-specific of Greater Prairie-Chickens in Iowa competition between pheasants and occurred during the transition from native Greater Prairie-Chickens. Some have prairie to cropland; and then populations postulated that artificial food and water declined to extinction as the proportion of sources may be used by the Greater cropland continued to increase. It has taken Prairie-Chicken, though this has not been years of intensive grassland management shown to influence populations. While for Iowa DNR Biologists to reintroduce and removal of predators may improve nesting then nurture a small but evidently stable success, predator removal has not been population of this species at the specific shown to improve the long-term size and IBA and BCA locations in Ringgold County. stability of populations. Most management effort has been directed toward Pesticides are one of several other improvement of habitat. Effective strategies concerns in landscapes dominated by have included manipulation of grazing intensive agriculture, and may reduce pressure, control of burning, provision of insect availability during the breeding thick vegetation for protective cover, and season, particularly for chicks. establishment of preserves. Reintroduction Habitat Management of prairie-chickens into formerly occupied Recommendations habitats may be necessary to expand their distribution, particularly in regions where The first legislation to protect the Heath there are no dispersal corridors between Hen from market hunting in the New occupied and unoccupied habitats. But England states during spring and summer because of problems associated with was passed in 1791. Subsequently, inadequate habitat at the release site and/ legislation frequently has been used to or poor survival and reproductive success protect populations, with mixed success. of transplanted birds, few transplants have Heath Hens became extinct in 1932. been successful. Similarly, populations of the Attwaterʼs Prairie-Chicken subspecies have continued When all discussions are over, protecting, to decline in Texas despite their status as restoring and managing the appropriate an endangered species. Legislative quantity and quality of grassland habitat is measures have been more effective with essential to sustaining prairie-chicken Greater Prairie-Chickens, perhaps because populations. And more specific information of their larger and more diverse distribution. on grassland management is found under that heading in Part 3 of this project. As large grassland areas continue to be fragmented into smaller parcels, understandably, prairie-chicken nests become more concentrated and more susceptible to predation; and planted hedgerows and trees invading grasslands provide hunting perches for raptors and travel lanes for mammalian predators, further reducing chances to sustain this species.

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