Attwater's prairie-chicken
Attwater's prairie-chicken | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Galliformes |
Family: | Phasianidae |
Genus: | Tympanuchus |
Species: | T. cupido |
Subspecies: | T. c. attwateri
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Trinomial name | |
Tympanuchus cupido attwateri |
Attwater's prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) is a highly endangered subspecies of the greater prairie-chicken that is native to coastal Texas and formerly Louisiana in the United States.[4]
Description
Attwater's prairie-chicken measures 17–18 in (43-45.5 cm) and weighs roughly 1.5 to 2.0 lb (0.7 to 0.9 kg). It has a 28-in (70-cm) wingspan. These grouse have strong vertical bars of dark brown and buff-white pattern over the mantle, flanks, and underparts. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with the males having elongated feathers, called pinnae, erected to form what looks like ear-like structures. The male also has as a bright orange or golden air sac on either side of his neck, which he inflates during mating displays.[5] They have a lifespan of 2–5 years.
Habitat and range
T. c. attwateri is endemic to the Western Gulf coastal grasslands. Its range historically stretched west from Bayou Teche in Louisiana to the Nueces River in Texas,[6] possibly as far south as Tamaulipas, Mexico,[7] and inland for 75 mi (121 km). This covered an area of 6 million acres (24,000 km2).[6] Today, populations exist in the wild at two locations: the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge near Eagle Lake, Texas, and on private lands in Goliad County.[8]
Reproduction
The mating display can be seen January through mid-May, peaking in mid-March, when the birds gather in small groups on short grass, bare ground, or hilly areas to choose a mate. This area is called a
In late spring, the hens lay 10 to 14 eggs in nests on the ground, hidden in tall grass. The eggs hatch about 26 days later. Only about 3 in 10 eggs hatch and the others are lost to predators. The chicks stay with the hen for about six weeks.
Diet and predation
This species has a diverse diet, eating grass shoots, petals of flowers, seeds, and insects such as grasshoppers. Their predators include hawks, owls, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and snakes. Chicks are susceptible to flooding.
Conservation
In 1900, up to 1,000,000 Attwater's prairie-chickens inhabited the coastal grasslands.
A 1937 study recorded about 8,700 Attwater's prairie-chickens remaining in four Texas counties. Attwater's prairie-chicken has been on the
In 1999, The Nature Conservancy decided to permit new drilling close to primary breeding grounds on Texas land owned by the Conservancy.[12][13] That harmed the prairie-chicken population at that location in the view of some organizations, including the Wildlife Society.[14] [15] The number of Attwater's prairie-chickens nesting on the land owned by the Conservancy fell from 36 in 1998 to 16 in 2003.[15] Attwater's prairie-chickens have since disappeared from the site.[12]
In 2014, an estimated 260 birds remained, with about 100 living in the wild. Captive-breeding programs are underway at places such as
In 2016, the population declined to 42 birds following heavy spring floods, which wiped out an entire generation of eggs. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 was even more disastrous, likely killing at least 32 birds, with only five females found during the post-hurricane survey of the area.[18] However, in the spring of 2018, the estimated wild population was 12.[19] As of February 2019, with the Houston Zoo having released many individuals the previous year, the wild population was around 200.[20] Since then, the wild population has decreased again. A count done later that year indicated only 108 birds remaining[21] and a report from February 2021 stated fewer than 100.[22]
In popular culture
In 2023 Attwater's prairie-chicken was featured on a
See also
References
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ "Tympanuchus cupido attwateri". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- ^ "Attwater's Prairie Chicken". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ Chamberlain, Kendra (2019-09-24). "ESA rules could spell trouble for the lesser prairie chicken". The NM Political Report. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
- ^ a b c "Attwater's Prairie Chicken History of Species Decline Historic Populations". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ Silvy, Nova J.; Brown, Dennis L.; Labuda Jr., Stephen E.; Teer, James G.; Williams, Dennis (1996). Attwater's Prairie Chicken Recovery Plan (PDF) (Report). United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
- ^ "Attwater's Prairie Chicken History of Species Decline Current Range". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ Flack, S. & E. Furlow. 1996. "America's least wanted "purple plague", "green cancer" and 10 other ruthless environmental thugs". Nature Conservancy Magazine. Vol. 46, No. 6 November/December.
- ^ Bruce, K. A., G. N. Cameron, & P. A. Harcombe. 1995. "Initiation of a new woodland type on the Texas coastal prairie by the Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.)". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 122:215-225.
- ^ "Attwater's Prairie-Chicken". Society of TympanuchusCupido Pinnatus, Ltd. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ a b Abrams, Lindsay (2014-08-04). "The country's largest environmental group is profiting from oil drilling". Salon. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
- ^ Wilson, Janet (2002-08-20). "Wildlife Shares Nest With Profit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
- ^ ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
- ^ "Animal Conservation". Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- ^ "Attwater's Prairie Chicken Recovery Program". Houston Zoo. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
- ^ "How Hurricane Harvey Affected Birds and Their Habitats in Texas". Audubon. 2017-09-25. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
- ^ "Attwater's prairie chickens dealt critical blow by Hurricane Harvey". Archived from the original on 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
- ^ Gordon, Maggie (February 13, 2019). "'Match.com for chickens': Houston Zoo's secret weapon for saving a species". Houston Chronicle.
- ^ "26th annual Attwater Prairie Chicken Fest Mar. 28-29". Colorado County Citizen. March 11, 2020.
- ^ "As Extreme Weather Events Increase, What Are the Risks to Wildlife?". EcoWatch. February 22, 2021.
- ^ "Postal Service Spotlights Endangered Species". United States Postal Service. April 19, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
External links
- Fight to save a prairie chicken The New York Times, 2015
- Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge Archived 2005-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
- Texas Parks and Wildlife on the Attwater's Prairie Chicken
- National Geographic Article Archived 2008-08-29 at the Wayback Machine
- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
- Handbook of Texas Online
- Houston Zoo