ATTWATER'S GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN Tympanuchus cupido attwateri (Bendire) 



Order GALLIFORMES Family: TETRAONIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : A generally brownish hen-like bird, brown barred with 

 black above, buffy barred with black below. Darker and more tawny above, and light 

 colored spots smaller and more tawny above, and light colored spots smaller and more 

 tawny than northern greater prairie chicken; also tarsi longer and more scantily feathered. 



Present distribution : Very local and scattered over 11 counties in small, disjunct popu- 

 lations in the gulf coastal prairie of Texas , chiefly in Refugio and Colorado Counties . 



Former distribution : Over the entire gulf coastal prairie of southwestern Louisiana and 

 Texas south to the Nueces River . 



Status : Exists in small numbers and there is a downward trend of population and habitat. • 



Estimated numbers : About 2,200 in 1971. 



Breeding rate in the wild : Average about 12 eggs per set. 



Reasons for decline : Reduction of natural tall grass prairie habitat below minimum 

 requirements , chiefly by plowing and overgrazing the original prairie . The coastal 

 prairie tall grass country is very valuable land for grazing and culture of grain sorghums, 

 rice, and cotton. 



Protective measures already taken : A thorough study of this form has been made by 

 V. W. Lehmann. It has been protected from hunting by law for many years. The World 

 Wildlife Fund, with assistance from the Nature Conservancy, has purchased about 3,400 

 acres in Colorado County, most of it original prairie, with a population of 300 to 400 

 Attwater's prairie chicken. A 5-year study by Texas A&M University is in progress on 

 this area to devise management methods including controlled fires and grazing. An 

 addition to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge includes a few of these birds . Brush i= 

 being cleared there to improve habitat . Extensive inventory of bird populations and land 

 ownership of occupied areas completed. 



Measures proposed : Acquisition of several additional preserves of at least 5,000 acres 

 each, in good habitat, and in as many of the areas where the birds now occur as possible. 



Number in captivity : Unknown . 



Breeding potential in captivity : Limited . 



References : 



Lehmann, V. W. 1941. Attwater's prairie chicken, its life history and management. 

 North American Fauna 57. 



. 1968. The Attwater's prairie chicken current status and restoration 

 opportunities . Trans. 33rd N. A. Wildlife Conf. : 398-407 . 



and R. G. Mauermann. 1963. Status of Attwater's prairie chicken. 



Jour, of Wildlife Mgt. Vol. 27, pp. 713-725. 



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