Habitat management considerations for prairie chickens
Wildlife Society Bulletin
By: L.M. Kirsch
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Abstract
Lack of nesting and brood rearing habitat appears to be the universal limiting factor for prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) throughout their range. Grasslands are essential to prairie chickens, but vary widely in quality and thus in their ability to support prairie chickens. High-quality habitat is grassland providing residual vegetation averaging about 20 inches in height in spring and sufficiently dense to completely conceal a nesting prairie chicken. Annually grazed, annually hayed, or long-term (10 years or more) idled habitats are undesirable. The most successful method for maintaining high-quality nest-brood habitat is prescribed burning at 3- to 5-year intervals; such habitat may be established by seeding grass or grass-legume mixtures. Seeded habitat may be maintained by prescribed burning at 3- to 5-year intervals. Management units should contain at least 2 square miles of high-quality habitat within an area not to exceed 8 square miles. High-quality habitat blocks should be at least 160 acres with a minimum width of one-half mile. Based on available evidence, funding to provide winter food or cover is not recommended.
Suggested Citation
Kirsch, L., 1974, Habitat management considerations for prairie chickens: Wildlife Society Bulletin, v. 2, p. 124-129.
ISSN: 1938-5463 (online)
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Habitat management considerations for prairie chickens |
| Series title | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Volume | 2 |
| Year Published | 1974 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Publisher location | Crookston, MN |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| First page | 124 |
| Last page | 129 |