(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
OTHER COMMON NAMES - PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S; PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, ATTWATER'S;PRAIRIE CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S; PRAIRIE CHICKEN, ATTWATER'S;GROUSE, PINNATED; HEN and HEATH; PRAIRIE CHICKEN
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Birds
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - AVES,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - GALLIFORMES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - PHASIANIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - TYMPANUCHUS,
SPECIES AND SSP - CUPIDO, ATTWATERI
SCIENTIFIC NAME - TYMPANUCHUS CUPIDO ATTWATERI
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Attwater's Greater Prairie-chicken
Tympanuchus cupido attwateri Bendire, 1894
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Bird
PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Aves
ORDER: Galliformes FAMILY: Phasianidae
Bendire (01) described the Attwater's prairie chicken as:
"smaller than T. americanus (greater prairie chicken), darker in
color, more tawny above, usually with more pronounced chestnut on the
neck; smaller and more tawny light colored spots on the wing coverts,
and much more scantilly feathered tarsus, the latter never feathered
down to the base of the toes, even in front; a broad posterior strip
of bare skin being always exposed, even in winter, while in summer
much of the greater part of the tarsus is naked." Attwater's are not
perceptibly lighter in weight than greaters (02). Lehmann (03) noted
that altogether, physical differences between this and the northern
race (T. cupido pinnatus) are minor and insufficient to allow accurate
field identification, but that smaller measurements of wing, tail,
bill, and total length and differences in general ruddiness and
buffiness of the underparts were characteristic and could serve to
separate Attwater's Prairie chicken as a subspecies.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
The only taxonomic change has been at the specific level when T.
americanus was incorporated into T. cupido. This bird is a member of
the family Phasianidae subfamily - Tetraoninae.
Variations in the common name of T. cupido attwateri include:
Attwater's greater prairie-chicken, Attwater's greater prairie
chicken, Attwater's prairie-chicken, Attwater's prairie chicken,
pinnated grouse, heath hen, and prairie chicken.
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
E: Federal Endangered
Commercial/consumption
Game (Consumptive Recreational)
Non-consumptive recreational
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Attwater's greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido
attwateri) has been designated as Endangered pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat.
884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540), as amended. The species has this status
wherever found including the State of Texas. Critical Habitat has not
been designated.
This subspecies is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to import,
export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild animal
(alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation, or foreign law; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
STATE: Texas
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Texas Parks and Wildlife
STATE STATUTE: 31 TX Admin. Code, Sec. 57.133; TX Parks and
Wildl. Reg. 127.30.09.001-.006 as amended 6/77.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
The Attwater's greater prairie chicken is listed in Appendix I of
CITES and it is listed by the U.S. in the Convention on Nature
Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere Annex
(1970). The Attwater's prairie chicken is listed in the 1986 IUCN
Red List of Threatened Animals.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
During the colonization of Texas, prairie chickens were important
food for settlers. Before the disappearance of most of its habitat,
it was an important game bird, mostly for sport. Reports of piles of
rotting prairie chickens were not uncommon. Today they are an
important symbol of the changes that have occurred on the Texas coast,
and they are a valuable part of Texas' heritage. As an Endangered
species they have non-consumptive value for bird enthusiasts.
67/08/11:32 FR 40685/ - Listed as Endangered
77/02/22:42 FR 10462/10488 - Implementation of CITES (in Append. I)
78/03/06:43 FR 09168/09172 - Advanced notice on proposed rule (CITES)
78/05/03:43 FR 19176/19191 - Advanced notice on potential rule (CITES)
79/06/21:44 FR 29566/29577 - Status review
85/07/22:50 FR 29901/29909 - Notice of review
87/07/07:52 FR 25522/ - Notice of 5-year review completion
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
LAND USE -
Transportation, communications, and Util
Cropland and Pasture
Herbaceous Rangeland
Mixed Rangeland
Nonforested Wetland
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Estuarine, intertidal EM2
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Attwater's prairie chicken is an inhabitant of coastal prairie of
Texas and Louisiana. Grasslands that consist of more than 25 percent
trees or brush are usually avoided (04).
Diversification within the coastal prairie grassland is required
for optimum habitat (03). An interspersion of shortgrass, mid-grass,
and tallgrass prairie is evident in areas utilized by Attwater's
prairie chicken (05). The best habitat is characterized by knolls and
ridges since minor variations in topography and soil yield a variety
of vegetation types and escape from wet areas (03).
Moderate cattle grazing on coastal prairie grassland can be
beneficial to prairie chicken habitat (05). Chamrad (07) noted a
positive response by chickens to systematic grazing management.
Prescribed burning can be used to complement the grazing animals and,
where grazing is not permitted, prescribed burning can be used to
maintain desirable habitat (08).
Booming grounds may either be naturally occurring shortgrass
flats or artificially maintained areas such as roads, airport runways,
oil well pads, and drainage ditches. Active booming grounds are
usually in close proximity to stands of mid-grass habitat (04).
Eighty-five percent of booming activity was on artificially maintained
sites and 15 percent was on naturally occurring shortgrass vegetation
(05). Fallow rice fields are also sometimes used (10).
Some foraging occurred in cultivated crops of peanuts, hegari,
ripened rice, and corn (03). The prairie chicken may occur in or
near cotton fields (03,06).
Most nest sites are located in tallgrass prairie pastures (03).
Four nests were found in fallow rice fields (10). Fourteen of 19
nests found by Horkel (04) were in mid-grass types. All but one nest
were within 1.6 km of a known booming ground. All broods less than 5
weeks old were observed in mid-grass type (05). Clumped mid-grass
habitat and artificially maintained areas associated with it were
used by broods over 5 weeks old (04).
At times the prairie chicken inhabits coastal wetlands.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
OMNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Poaceae
General
General Forb Flowers/Fruit/Seed
General Crustaceans
General Forb Leaves/Stems
General Arthropods
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
Potential food sources available to Attwater's greater prairie
chickens (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) include vegetation, insects,
and seeds (08). Lehmann (03) identified parts of 50 plants and 65
species of insects as food sources; most (88 percent) of the food
utilized was native vegetation. Cogar (11) identified foliage of 56
plant species, seeds of 19 plant species, and 12 Families of insects
from adult Attwater's Prairie chicken droppings. She also found
chickens to be mostly herbivorous, eating more green foliage
(74 percent) than seeds (18 percent) or insects (08 percent), and
that the vegetational portion of the diet was almost entirely native
forbs. Kessler (10) found forbs to be eaten with a frequency of over
50 percent except during the fall, when agricultural crops such as
peanuts and rice were used.
Most researchers have found forbs to be most important to
chickens, particularly from mid-fall to mid-spring. Lehmann (03)
found Ruellia comprised 27 percent of their diet; other forbs
commonly consumed were stargrass (Hyposix), bedstraw (Gallium),
doveweed (Croton), and perennial ragweed (Ambrosia psilostacha).
Cogar (11) found foliage of yellow falsegarlic (Nothoscordum bivalve,
8 percent), upright prairie-coneflower (Ratibida columnaris,
5 percent), leavenworth vetch (Vicia leavenworth, 2 percent), and
seed of violet ruellia (Ruellia nudiflora, 12 percent) were the only
plants to contribute more than 1 percent to the annual diet. Kessler
(10) found grass and grass-like plants to be well represented in the
diet throughout the year.
Seeds are next in importance. In contrast to others (10,11),
Lehmann (03) found seeds and seed pods comprised over 50 percent of
the diet. Cogar (11) found prairie chickens to be more herbivorous
than granivorous but noted seed use was largest during autumn when it
nearly equalled foliage use. Kessler (10) found seed coats of native
plants in droppings throughout the year, but their frequency was lower
during the summer and fall when insects and agricultural crops were
used heavily. Lehmann (03) noted that peanuts, hegari, ripened rice,
and corn were the cultivated crops consumed by prairie chickens.
Cogar (11) found little use of nearby milo fields.
Insects are seasonally important. Lehmann (03) found insects
comprised 12 percent of the Attwater's prairie-chicken diet and their
use was greatest in summer. Kessler (08) found insect use occurred
mainly during the summer season and comprised 71 percent of the diet
in June. In contrast, Cogar (11) reported less insect use and found
their use greatest during autumn.
Feeding has been noted in vegetation heights of 55 cm and greater
(05,02).
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
Home ranges vary according to season and sex of birds.
Telemetered males have had ranges as small as 28 ha (August) and as
large as 211 ha (October). Female ranges were smallest in summer
(10-111 ha) and largest in winter (47-910 ha). Females with broods
moved only 0.4-0.8 km from the nest and had ranges of 10-31 ha. Daily
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
movements of hens with broods were only 23-366 m/day (04).
Chickens tend to stay in flocks during the winter, but are often
seen as singles or pairs during late summer and fall. In late winter
males gravitate to the leks but females stay in flocks until they
separate to nest (03).
The males of this species are territorial in spring, gathering in
leks on booming grounds. Each male defends a portion of the ground,
and struts, dances, and booms to attract females. The dominant males
are in the center of the ground, the majority of the females move
through the subordinate males to breed with the dominants (03).
PERIODICITY:
Attwater's prairie chickens are crepuscular. Lek activity is
limited to these same time periods, but limited to mid-February
through mid-May (03).
MIGRATORY PATTERNS:
These birds are non-migratory (03).
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
Several types of vegetation cover are utilized depending on
season and activity. Light cover (less than 25 cm in height),
artificially maintained and hardpan areas are used for courtship,
feeding, and avoidance of moisture during heavy dew or after rains
(04). This cover type is used when adjacent to the mid-grass cover
type (04). Light and medium light (25-40 cm) cover is used for
roosting and feeding by adults, and by chicks under five weeks of age
(03). Vegetation height in brood habitat ranges from 40-60 cm (05,19,
02). Eighty-two percent of the roost forms found by Cogar et. al.
(05) were in the mid-grass type. Medium to heavy (40-60 cm) cover is
utilized for nesting, loafing, feeding and escape cover. Heavy cover
(greater than 60 cm in height) is used for shade during hot weather,
protection against inclement weather and predators, and feeding during
fall (03). Cover types that consist of more than 25 percent trees or
brush are usually avoided (04).
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Booming grounds nest sites, and brood-rearing areas are required
for successful reproduction. Breeding commences in late February,
peaks in early March, and decreases gradually through April and early
May (09). Booming grounds may either be naturally occurring
shortgrass flats or artificially maintained areas such as roads,
airport runways, oil well pads, and drainage ditches. Active booming
grounds are usually in close proximity to stands of mid-grass habitat
(04). Eighty-five percent of booming activity was on artificially
maintained sites and 15 percent was on naturally occurring shortgrass
vegetation (05). Fallow rice fields are also sometimes used (10).
Sufficient booming grounds were available to all males due to the
large number of artificially maintained sites (05). However, recently
established grounds in fallow rice fields had poor territorial
hierarchy when compared to ancestral grounds (10).
Fourteen of 19 nests found by Horkel (04) were in mid-grass
types. All but one nest were within 1.6 km of a known booming ground.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
Some nesting has been noted in fallow rice fields. Other studies
(05,08) report most nesting in mid-grass prairie with some in tall
grass. Maximum vegetation height in preferred nesting grounds appears
to be 43-60 cm (05,08,02). All broods less than 5 weeks old were
observed in mid-grass type (05). Clumped mid-grass habitat and
artificially maintained grass associated with it were used by broods
over 5 weeks old (04). Heavy precipitation during the nesting and
brood-rearing seasons can result in poor recruitment into the
population and subsequent low population numbers (03).
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
Breeding commences in late February, peaks in early March and
decreases gradually through April and early May (09). The males of
this species are territorial in spring, gathering on leks or booming
grounds. Each male defends a portion of the ground and struts,
dances, and booms to attract females. The dominant males are in the
center of the ground, the majority of the females move through the
subordinate males to breed with the dominants (03).
Clutch size ranged from 4 to 15 eggs in Horkel's 19 nests, with
the earliest incubation starting on 1 April (one study (14) reports
egg laying in late February), the latest on 11 May. Lehmann (03)
reports laying as late as May 29. One renest was within 0.8 km of the
hen's first nest, but another was 1.9 km from the initial try. Ten
nests (53 percent) were lost to predation, eight (42 percent)
successfully hatched, and one (5 percent) was abandoned (04). Lutz
(09) found 31 percent of first nesting attempts were successful and
40 percent of the unsuccessful first nesters tried again.
Incubation requires approximately 26-28 days. Known hatching
dates varied from 24 April to the third week of June (the latest
hatchings may have been from renestings), with brood sizes ranging
from 9 to 13 chicks (04,14,19). All broods less than 5 weeks old were
observed in mid-grass type (05). Clumped mid-grass habitat and
artificially maintained areas associated with it were used by chicks
over 5 weeks old (04).
PARENTAL CARE:
Young prairie chickens are precocial and leave the nest within a
few hours of hatching. The hen stays with and protects them through
their early life. They grow rapidly and reach adult size in about 6-8
weeks and are no longer guarded by the hen, although they may stay in
the same flock as their mother through the winter (03).
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
There were probably in the neighborhood of a million Attwater's
prairie chickens in approximately 6 million acres of coastal prairie
before the arrival of civilization. Their numbers had decreased to an
estimated 8,700 by 1937 (03), 4,000 in 1948 (12), and had fluctuated
around 1200 to 1500 (est.) from about 1972 to 1982. Recent estimates
have been 1600 (1980), 1450 (1981), 1300 (1982), 1600 (1983), and 874
(1986) (02,17). The recovery plan sets a goal of 5,000 chickens for
recovery (02).
Hurricane Beulah in 1967 reduced the Aransas, Goliad, and Refugio
Counties population from 1200-1500 birds to 250 birds (13). The
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
Goliad County population rose to a high of 500 in 1976 but had
declined to only 60 in 1982. Land use patterns have remained
consistent and the reason for this decline is unknown (02). In 1985
and 1986, heavy rains and flooding during the nesting period are
believed to have caused severe mortality among hatchlings (17).
Thirty-seven of 90 radio-tagged chickens died during Horkel's
study (04). Twenty-three (16 females) of these were due to coyote
predation, two to owls, and the others were unknown. Nest predation
by skunks is also a factor (14). Nesting success was higher in an
area with predator control (82 percent vs. 33 percent), but hen
mortality was higher in the control area. This followed heavy
flooding in the control area (15).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
Reports of competition between pheasants and prairie chickens are
recorded in the literature (16). This includes attacks on displaying
chickens by pheasant cocks, nest parasitism by hen pheasants, and
increases nest abandonment by chickens that may be associated with
increasing pheasant populations. Removal of offending cock pheasants
was unsuccessful as they were quickly replaced by subordinates.
Efforts should be made to determine the extent of the competition and
the possibility of such an occurrence within the range of the
Attwater's chickens. If competition is found, all efforts should be
taken to control any competition detrimental to the prairie-chickens
(02).
Direct competition between waterfowl and the Attwater's prairie
chicken on waterfowl wintering grounds should be determined. No
introduction of exotic game birds within the historic Attwater's
prairie chicken range should be attempted until the possibility of
competition with the prairie chicken is determined. The effects of
the imported fire ant on prairie chickens should also be determined
(02).
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 4 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Road Maintainance Actions
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Pesticide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Agricultural Practice
Beneficial Reforestation
Beneficial Maintaining Later Stages of Succession
Beneficial Maintaining Early Stages of Succession
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Nonnative Vegetation
Beneficial Suppressing wildfire
Beneficial Prescribed/controlled burning of habitat
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Native Vegetation
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Supplemental Feeding
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Noncommercial Harvest
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Native Vertebrates
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Invertebrates
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Exotic Vertebrates
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Domestic Animals
Adverse Commercial Exploitation
Existing Commercial Exploitation
Adverse Sport Hunting/Fishing
Existing Sport Hunting/Fishing
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Existing Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Adverse Highway/Railroads
Existing Highway/Railroads
Adverse Grazing
Existing Grazing
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes
Existing Vegetation Composition Changes
Adverse Suppressing wildfire
Existing Suppressing wildfire
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Habitat loss is the greatest threat to existing Attwater's
populations. Throughout its former range most of its preferred
habitat has been altered by either conversion to cropland (i.e.,
cotton, soybean, etc.) or conversion into brushland through
overgrazing or fire suppression (02). Continued urban growth in
Harris and Brazoria Counties (where they have been extirpated) and in
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
Galveston County that is associated with the industrial growth of
Houston will probably destroy remaining habitat in that area.
Therefore, in the near future, there will be only three geographic
areas that will provide habitat for this subspecies (Austin and
Colorado Counties; Aransas, Goliad, and Refugio Counties; and Victoria
County). Extreme habitat alteration and disturbance in these areas
could cause drastic declines in populations and disastrous
consequences for the Attwater's prairie chicken (02).
Several biologists (03,04,05) have noted that the maintenance of
native Gulf coastal prairie is essential for the survival of
Attwater's prairie chicken. Conversion of coastal prairie grasslands
to other uses and the invasion of woody plants has reduced the amount
of suitable habitat available (03). While Lehmann (06) stated that
the amount of potentially productive habitat does not appear to be the
major limiting factor, population numbers can be expected to remain
low unless there is a drastic change in land use patterns of the
coastal prairie.
Other factors contributing to the decline of the prairie-chicken
include fire suppression (which allows succession to shrubby habitats
unsuitable for prairie-chickens), the presence of roads (road kills),
the historic consumption (both commercially in the 1900's and for
sport) of the prairie-chicken (18), and adverse weather.
Heavy precipitation during the nesting and brood-rearing seasons
can result in poor recruitment into the population and subsequent low
population numbers (03). Hurricane Beulah in 1967 reduced the
Aransas, Goliad, and Refugio Counties population from 1200-1500 birds
to 250 birds (13). In 1985 and 1986, heavy rains and flooding during
the nesting period are believed to have caused severe mortality among
hatchlings (17).
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Attwater's Prairie Chicken
Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM. 48 pp.
The recovery objective is to ensure the survival of the
Attwater's prairie chicken and delist by the year 2000 using the
following criteria.
1. Downlist to threatened status when the population reaches
3,000 birds.
2. Delist when there is a minimum population of 5,000 birds and
approximately 9,000 additional hectares of suitable habitat are being
managed for this prairie chicken.
Recommended recovery actions include:
1. Protect Habitat.
a. Protect larger suitable grasslands by incorporating them into
the National Wildlife Refuge system and protect smaller lands
not adjacent to a refuge by managing as satellite habitats.
Utilize land acquisition, easements, cooperative agreements,
etc. to control development of these areas.
b. Utilize Federal and State authorities to protect habitat.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
The Soil Conservation Service should assist by encouraging
brush control methods beneficial to the prairie chicken as
well as beneficial agricultural (cropland and grazing system)
practices. On the Federal refuges beneficial management
includes regulating grazing rates, implementing prescribed
burning, controlling invading woody plants (e.g., native
running live oak and exotic Macartney rose), controlling
native predators (e.g., skunk, coyote, and possibly
armadillo), implementing drainage for preferred nesting
habitat, taking fire control measures in certain areas,
planting food plots, mowing and disking for booming grounds,
feeding areas and to control pest plant growth, and
controlling public access to the refuges.
c. Implement air, land, and water quality regulation.
2. Manage habitat by maintaining favorable conditions and improving
less desirable conditions.
a. Landowners could be provided Federal and State financial
assistance or subsidies for maintaining and creating
grassland habitats.
b. Improve habitat through brush control (e.g., running live oak
and Macartney rose hedges), establishing food patches,
improved water drainage to alleviate flooding of nest sites
and improved grazing practices. Management for both early
and later (sub-climax) stages of succession is beneficial
since the species utilizes a varitey of habitat types.
3. Protect the species from accidental shooting.
4. Conduct transplants if shown to be a viable means of expanding
populations. Prevent the establishment of any other grouse
species in Texas.
5. Propagate Attwater's prairie chicken in captivity primarily to
develop good techniques. Captive propagation should be used for
restocking only as a last resort.
6. Control competing species. Determination of the extent of
competition between Attwater's prairie chicken and pheasant,
waterfowl, and introduced fire ants should be made and
appropriate measures taken.
7. Identify needed management practices through research.
8. Monitor populations.
9. Implement public education.
Although not specified in the Recovery Plan, herbicide and
pesticide use (e.g., for agricultural crops and road maintenance)
should be controlled as some of these substances are known to harm
prairie chickens.
Planning is underway to establish a 15,000 acre refuge in
Management Practices - 3 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
Victoria Co., TX, to be operated as a satellite of the Attwater
Prairie Chicken NWR.
Management Practices - 4 (DRAFT) - References
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Bendire, C.E. 1894. Tympanuchus americanus attwateri Bendire,
Attwater's or southern prairie hen. Auk 11:130-132.
02 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Attwater's Prairie Chicken
Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish & Wildl. Serv., Albuquerque, NM. 48 pp.
03 Lehmann, V.M. 1941. Attwater's prairie chicken, its life history
and management. N. Am. Fauna 57. U.S. Fish & Wildl. Serv. 63 pp.
04 Horkel, J.D. 1979. Cover and space requirements of Attwater's
prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) in Refugio County,
Texas. Ph.D. Thesis. Texas A&M Univ., College Station. 96 pp.
05 Cogar, V.F., J.D. Horkel, and N.J. Silvy. 1977. Vegetation type
preference of Attwater's prairie chicken in coastal prairie. Proc.
Southeastern Assoc. Fish and Wildl. Agencies 32:234-241.
06 Lehmann, V.M. 1968. The Attwater's prairie chicken, current
status and restoration opportunities. Trans. N. Am. Wildl. Conf.
33:398-407.
07 Chamrad, A.D. 1971. Effects of fire and grazing on coastal
prairie rangeland and Attwater's prairie chicken habitat. Ph.D.
Thesis. Texas A&M Univ., College Station. 120 pp.
08 Chamrad, A.D. and J.D. Dodd. 1972. Prescribed burning and grazing
for prairie chicken habitat manipulation in the Texas coastal
prairie. Proc. Tall Timbers Fire Ecol. Conf. 12:257-276.
09 Lutz, R.S. 1979. The response of Attwater's prairie chicken to
petroleum development. M.S. Thesis. Texas A&M Univ., College
Station. 82 pp.
10 Kessler, W.B. 1978. Attwater's prairie chicken ecology in
relation to agricultural and range management practices. Ph.D.
Thesis. Texas A&M Univ., College Station. 158 pp.
11 Cogar, V.F. 1980. Food habits of Attwater's prairie chicken in
Refugio County, Texas. Ph.D. Thesis. Texas A&M Univ., College
Station. 119 pp.
12 Jennings, W.S. 1950. Abundance, distribution, and present status
of Attwater's prairie chicken. Final Report to Texas Coop. Wildl.
Unit, Texas A&M Univ., College Station. 37 pp.
13 Lehmann, V.M. 1968. Attwater's prairie chicken, current status
and restroation opportunities. Trans. N. Am. Wildl. Conf.
33:398-407.
14 Jurries, R.W. 1979. Attwater's prairie chicken. Texas Parks and
Wildl. Dept. Series F.A., No. 18, P-R Project W-100R. 36 pp.
15 Lawrence, J.S. 1982. Effect of predator reduction on the
reproductive success of Attwater's prairie chicken. M.S. Thesis.
Texas A&M Univ., College Station. 105 pp.
16 Vance, D.R. and R.L. Westemeier. 1979. Interactions of pheasants
and prairie chickens in Illinois. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 7:221-225.
17 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Regional briefs. Endang.
Species Tech. Bull. 11(7):9.
18 Halvorson, G. 1987. Pers. know. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Albuquerque, NM 87103.
19 Morrow, M.E. 1986. Ecology of Attwater's prairie chicken in
relation to land management practices on the Attwater's Prairie
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species PRAIRIE-CHICKEN, GREATER, ATTWATER'S
Species Id ESIS102001
Date 14 MAR 96
Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. Ph.D. diss., Texas A&M, College
Station.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Attwater's Prairie Chicken
Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish & Wildl. Serv., Albuquerque, NM. 48 pp.
02 Lehmann, V.M. 1941. Attwater's prairie chicken, its life history
and management. N. Am. Fauna 57. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Washington, D.C. 63 pp.
03 Hoffman, S. 1987. Pers. know. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Albuquerque, NM 87103.
References - 2