Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge

Coordinates: 29°39′36″N 96°16′23″W / 29.66000°N 96.27306°W / 29.66000; -96.27306
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Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Attwater's prairie chicken
Map showing the location of Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
Map of the United States
LocationColorado County, Texas, United States
Nearest citySealy, Texas
Coordinates29°39′36″N 96°16′23″W / 29.66000°N 96.27306°W / 29.66000; -96.27306
Area10,528 acres (42.61 km2)
Established1972
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteAttwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
Designated1968

Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge is a federally protected

Attwater's prairie chickens, a ground-dwelling grouse of the coastal prairie ecosystem
.

The 10,528-acre (43-km2) refuge, located in eastern

national wildlife refuges managed specifically for an endangered species. In 1968, Attwater Prairie Chicken Preserve was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.[1]

In the mid-1960s, the

World Wildlife Fund purchased 3,500 acres (14 km2) of land to preserve some remaining coastal prairie for Attwater's Prairie Chicken. The land was transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
in 1972, which brought the refuge up to its current acreage.

Many of the Attwater's prairie chickens in the refuge are hatched at captive-breeding programs at

radio transmitter
and released at the refuge once they are capable of independent survival.

To maintain the prairie ecosystem, the refuge staff does prescribed burns of 2,000 to 3,000 acres (8.1 to 12.1 km2) annually in January or February. The burns help invigorate the grasses by removing dead stems, and control the growth of brush and invasive species of plants. The staff also converts formerly cultivated land in the refuge back to prairie by replanting native grasses.

Over 250 species of birds in addition to Attwater's prairie chicken have been observed in the refuge. Some of these include the

softshell turtles. American bullfrog
and upland chorus frog calls are heard in the refuge.

Indian paintbrush, bluebonnets, and butterfly milkweed are some of the many wildflowers that bloom in the park.

The refuge has an auto tour and two hiking trails. The auto tour loop winds through 5 miles (8 km) of coastal prairie habitat. The Pipit Trail to the Refuge Lake is 1.5 miles. The Sycamore Trail transects 1.2 miles (1.9 km) of coastal prairie and a section of forest in the Coushatta Creek bottomland.

The San Bernard River runs on the eastern boundary of the refuge.[2]

Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge gallery

  • Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge in February
    Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge in February
  • Dickcissel (Spiza americana), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    Dickcissel (Spiza americana), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • Texas bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    Texas bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • Refuge Lake in Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    Refuge Lake in Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, April storm arriving
    Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, April storm arriving
  • Meadowlark (Sturnella) Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    Meadowlark (Sturnella) Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • Refuge Lake, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    Refuge Lake, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • Purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    Purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • Texas bullnettle (Cnidoscolus texanus) and plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    Texas bullnettle (Cnidoscolus texanus) and plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • Northern crested caracara (Caracara cheriway), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    Northern crested caracara (Caracara cheriway), Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
  • Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge in November
    Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge in November

References

  1. ^ "National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-27. Year designated: 1968
  2. ^ Phillips, Bob, (foreword). 2008. The Roads of Texas. MAPSCO Inc. Addison, Texas. 176 pp. ISBN 1-56966-421-8

External links

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.