14 Million Prairie Chickens Roamed Illinois Before Europeans Arrived. That Population Dwindled to 62 Birds Last Year

Prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) require vast expanses of grassland to survive. Agricultural practices are thought to be the prime reason for the bird’s demise. Biologists recognized the precipitous decline nearly 80 years ago. As a result, the state purchased a couple of parcels of property around the Iroquois and Green rivers in northern Illinois. However, the birds eventually disappeared in those areas. Once again the state stepped in, buying property in Marion and Jasper counties, forming the Prairie Ridge State Natural Area in the early 1960s. And, the prairie chicken population remained fairly stable until the past few years. In a last ditch effort to save the residual population, a federal grant was obtained to move 300 prairie chickens from Kansas to Prairie Ridge. The program will introduce 100 birds per year over a three-year span. The first 91 birds, 50 males and 41 females, were released earlier this year. The birds are outfitted with radio telemetry equipment before being released. Early reports from the field are encouraging. Prairie Ridge State Natural Area contains about 4,000 acres of habitat. The long-range plan is to release more birds in areas like Pyramid State Park. According to The Associated Press, the program will cost $520,000.

Source: The Southern Illinoisan, May 23, 2014
http://thesouthern.com/sports/outdoors/saving-the-illinois-prairie-chic…