Ongoing Prairie Chicken research in Chase and Greenwood Counties until 2014.

"A KDWPT funded research project was initiated during the spring of 2011 through Kansas State University to evaluate the impacts of fire frequency and livestock grazing systems on greater prairie-chicken habitat use and productivity.  There are two focal areas in Chase and Greenwood counties where work will be conducted through 2014.  The first site is centered on the Tallgrass prairie preserve and includes several surrounding private ranches.  The second site includes most of the privately owned ranches from the cattle pens exit on I-35 eastward all the way into Greenwood County.  Within each study site, landowners are using numerous fire frequencies and grazing systems.

The KSU researchers are capturing prairie chickens on their spring display sites (a.k.a leks) and equipping them with radio-transmitters.  Each radio-marked bird has a unique frequency that researchers can identify with a hand-held receiver and a directional antennae can be used to pinpoint the bird's location.  Researchers locate up to 60 radio-marked birds multiple times each week throughout the year.  This regular monitoring allows them to locate nests, identify habitat use, and monitor survival.  When the project is completed, we should have a much better understanding about the impacts of various burning frequencies and grazing practices on prairie chicken populations in the Flint Hills.  If certain practices are much more beneficial than others, the KDWPT and other conservation agencies will work toward developing landowner programs to increase the use of those practices in the Flint Hills."

If a bird is harvested with a collar on it, please follow directions on the collar or Contact Jim

Jim Pitman, Certified Wildlife Biologist
Small Game Coordinator
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism

1830 Merchant, PO Box 1525
Emporia, KS 66801
Office: 620-342-0658
Fax: 620-342-6248