Attwater's prairie-chicken
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Attwater's prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) is a highly endangered subspecies of prairie chicken related to the now extinct heath hen.
Over a century ago, one million Attwater’s prairie-chickens graced the Texas and Louisiana gulf coastal prairie. Today, less than 1% of their native coastal prairie habitat remains and in 1998 it was estimated that only 260 remained, with less than 60 living in the wild. Their sole refuges in the wild is the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge near Eagle Lake, Texas and another tiny parcel of land that was recently set aside. Captive breeding programs are underway at places such as Texas A&M University, Seaworld of Texas, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, and the Houston Zoo.
The Attwater's Prairie Chicken measures 17-18" (43-45.5 cm) and weighs roughly 1.5 to 2 pounds (0.7-0.9 kg). It has a 28 inch (70 cm) wingspan. These grouse-like ground birds have strong vertical bars of dark brown and buff-white in a zebralike pattern over the mantle, flanks, and underparts. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism with the males having elongated feathers, called pinnae, erected to form earlike structures. The male also has as a bright orange to reddish air sac on either side of neck which he inflates during mating displays.
The mating display can be seen in January or February when the birds gather in small groups on short grass, bare ground, rock outcropping or hilly areas in order to choose a mate. This area is called a "booming ground" or a "lek". In these areas, the females watch the males and choose their mate. The males make a booming, "woo-woo" sound from their throat sac, and strut around to attract females. Some of the traditional dances of the North American Plains Indians, notably that of the Lakota or Sioux are based on this booming display. Later, the hens build grass nests on the ground, hidden in tall grass, where she will lay .
The bird has a diverse diet, eating leaves, seeds, and insects such as grasshoppers. Their predators include Red-tailed Hawk, owls, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, Opossum, and snakes. Many young birds also die from causes such as flooding.
Loss of habitat is believed to be the prime reason for their downfall. In addition to loss due to urbanization, the entire prairie ecosystem where they once thrived no longer exists in the same form. Where once grazing bison and period fires due to lightning reduced ground cover, the birds now have difficulty making their way through thick undergrowth. It is possible that other less apparent changes in the ecosystem have had an effect as well.
In March 1967 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service placed Attwater's prairie chicken on the endangered species list.
External Links
- Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/texas/attwater/index.html)
- Texas Parks and Wildlife on the Attwater's Prairie Chicken (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/endang/apc.htm)
- National Geographic Article (http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/data/2002/03/01/html/ft_20020301.3.html)
- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (http://www.fossilrim.com/research/attwater.php)
- Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/PP/tbp2.html)
