[wisb] Re: Prairie Chickens
- From: Sunil Gopalan <sgopalan@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Anne Moretti <amoretti@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 08:59:07 -0500
I got this email from one of the farmers who usually sets up blinds near
Junction City:
*I believe that everyone would agree that this past winter was difficult
and very cold for humans and animals alike. Whereas humans had houses that
provided warmth and shelter from the brutal winter, the animals did
everything they could. Sadly, for the animals, it has become apparent that
the death loss will be higher than we want it to be. *
*This is the first year that the prairie chickens have not returned to the
lek, and I was born here. The prairie chicken scouts have reported seeing
them in areas that are not usually known to have a population. The
chickens that they see are young and it appears that without the older
birds to show them the ancestral booming grounds, they are lost and
scattered. It has many people concerned.*
*As a result, I will not be setting out my blinds this year. I will
carefully watch, hoping that some mature males will have survived and be
able to make their way back to the lek, and if they do, I don't want them
to be stressed in any way. Right now, that is all we can do, and I will do
my part by continuing to farm in the manner that the birds found so
inviting. I want to thank everyone for their past, present and future
support.*
*It is fortunate that a prairie chicken study was scheduled to take place
this year. It will be important to understand which chickens have
survived, and what we might be able to expect in the future. *
Sunil Gopalan
Madison - Dane Co.
On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 8:51 AM, Anne Moretti <amoretti@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi Sandy,
>
> A group of 8 of us from the Ben Goss Bird Club in Waukesha were scheduled
> to
> make the trip to see the Prairie Chickens on Thursday morning. Some of us
> were already on our way when we got a call from another member of our group
> telling us that the rest of the season had been cancelled due to the lack
> of
> sightings! I wonder what that's about? Did the Gyrfalcon eat too many
> chickens, was the winter too hard on them or did they go elsewhere to
> dance?
>
> Anne Moretti
> Dousman
> Waukesha Co.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Sandy Petersen
> Sent: Monday, April 21, 2014 4:19 PM
> To: Wisconsin Bird net
> Subject: [wisb] Prairie Chickens
>
> A friend Nancy and I went to see the Prairie Chickens near Plainsfield
> yesterday, Sunday morning.
> We met with 6 other people at 430 am and were all sent to walk in to 2
> adjacent new-looking blinds at one site. Presumably the lek was just
> outside the blinds.
>
> The blinds seemed new and as we sat down inside and opened the peepholes,
> there was a loud crack from each window cover clip. That was at least 10
> loud cracks from each blind.
>
> We never did see the chickens though we heard about 5 of them in the
> distance. However, many other lovely species graced us with their presence
> and song including Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Eastern Meadowlark,
> Horned Lark, several species of sparrows, and more. Western Meadowlark
> song
> was missing.
>
> Apparently the group the night before also did not see Prairie Chickens
> though they were in a different location.
>
> I do remember a number of Prairie Chicken adventures with Ornithology
> students in the past when everyone got to see the chicken performance.
>
> I would be happy to hear from anyone who did see the chickens this spring -
> how many and where?
>
> Thank you.
>
> Sandy Petersen, rural Stoughton, Dane County
>
>
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