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Gove County, Kansas, offers a prime example of the benefit provided to a declining wildlife species by the Conservation Reserve Program.
The population of lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) has declined since the 1800s, primarily as a result of a loss in habitat, and the bird has become a species of concern. The lesser prairie chicken is an upland, grass-nesting bird. Large portions of native habitats-specifically the sand sage prairie and mixed prairie- have been converted to cropland under center pivot irrigation.
Some of this cropland has now been enrolled in CRP, and conservation practices beneficial to the lesser prairie chicken have been implemented. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Park surveys confirm that the land area occupied by lesser prairie chicken has expanded substantially since CRP was implemented.
A study conducted during the 2002 and 2003 breeding seasons showed that nesting hens used CRP acreage. CRP cover, especially areas devoted to warm season native grass mixtures or native grasses interseeded with forbs, showed more use than expected.
The same study indicated that CRP acres containing a significant forb component were more likely to produce lesser prairie chicken young than other habitats. In the study, 15 of 26 radio-collared hens nested in CRP. Six broods hatched in CRP, but due to the record breaking drought of 2002, only two survived. The survivors, however, were on CRP acreage that contained a good stand of interseeded alfalfa.
Close-up alfalfa.
Interseeded alfalfa narrow.
Interseeded alfalfa wider strips.
Lesser and Greater Prairie Chickens.
Lesser Prairie Chicken.
Native range.
Newly seeded CRP with alfalfa.
Pre CRP lesser prairie chicken distribution.
Post CRP lesser prairie chicken distribution.
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