The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently began installing Greater Prairie-chicken survey signs (pic) in the Buena Vista, Leola, and Paul J. Olson Wildlife Areas. This project, in cooperation with Town of Grant resident and local author/photographer Joe Reiderer, the Dane County Conservation League, The Ruffed Grouse Society, and the Prairie Chicken Project is intended to get citizens more aware of this local threatened bird species.

 

Greater Prairie-chickens (GPC) were historically only found in the southern 1/3 of Wisconsin. However, once large-scale logging occurred in the 1800s GPCs expanded their range into all 72 counties of the state. Market hunting was credited were nearly decimating their population and hunting of the species was banned in 1955. Today, only a remnant population of the millions that were now reside in the three Wildlife Areas noted above. Drs. Frederick and Francis Hamerstrom of Plainfield (she was Dr. Aldo Leopold’s first female graduate student) were credited with saving the last remaining birds in the state. Their research, which began in the 1950s, saved the GPC from extirpation (local extinction). They worked with the then Department of Conservation, UW-Stevens Point, and private donors and organizations to secure the critical grassland habitat needed. Today, less than 1000 birds exist in the State, but dozens of agency staff and volunteers work to keep the Hamerstroms’ pivotal efforts alive.

 

Really nice weather has finally arrived – enjoy it! Sharon