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Greater
Prairie Chicken Management
by Gerald
J. Horak and Roger D. Applegate
BROODS
Prairie chicken brood habitat consists of the grassland
niche between the short grasses of the booming ground and
the heavy cover of nest sites.
After
hatching, the hen and young leave the vicinity of the nest
as soon as the young are dry. Hens move their broods to
vegetation sufficiently sparse for the young to move about
but dense enough to provide shelter from the hot summer
sun and from predators.
Broods
utilize a diverse habitat to live. During the cooler part
of the day, young prefer open areas such as trails, overgrazed
areas, and cattle rubs; but stay close to taller vegetation
for escape cover. These areas of grass overutilization allow
easy movement and keep the young out of early morning and
evening dew. During the midday, forbs provide an overhead
canopy that shades out grass growth and direct sunlight
creating the ideal habitat for broods. Shallow range sites
where soils are poor and the substrate favors short forb
growth with minimal grass cover are preferred brood habitat.
Forb-grass habitats also provide numerous niches for high
insect populations - the primary food of young prairie chickens.
Young
prefer habitat created by moderate grazing of pastures in
good condition. This provides the necessary brood habitat
because the plant diversity, livestock paths and small areas
of reduced sparse cover permit the easy movement of birds.
This variability also encourages higher insect populations.
Burning every three to four years is a necessary management
tool for maintenance of brood habitat on this type of range.
In cropland/grassland
areas, broods will use the grassland and cropfield borders.
Edges of row crops, alfalfa fields, or abandoned lands can
provide excellent prairie chicken brood habitat. Good insect
populations and overhead vegetative canopy with little residual
ground cover are the benefit of these fields. Cool season
pastures are sometimes used if they offer a habitat of grasses
and forbs that allow easy brood movement and provide protective
cover.
A forb
is any herbaceous plant that is not a grass. Examples are
sunflowers, compassplant, and wild indigo. Forbs are important
because they produce edible seeds and harbor insects that
are necessary food for chicks. Forbs also provide shelter
for nests and birds alike. Since many forbs have colorful
showy flowers, they add beauty to the prairie.
Weather
conditions are important both directly and indirectly to
young prairie chickens. If heavy rains occur in May and
June, many young chickens drown or get chilled and die.
Weather affects habitat conditions, thus affecting the young.
A wet and cold spring and summer will adversely affect prairie
chicken populations. In contrast, a dry and warm spring
and summer will have a positive effect on populations.
Next:
Fall and winter habitat
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