PROTECTION OF PRAIRIE CHICKENS 



Oskaloosa, Iowa, April 10, 1913. 

 Dr. T. 8. Palmer, 



Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, D. C. 



Dear Friend : Our mutual friend, Col. G. 0. Shields, 

 suggests that prairie chickens ought to be protected as 

 migratory birds. 



Allow me to suggest what the facts are so far as Iowa 

 is concerned. In the northwestern part of the state there 

 are still a few birds there. In the eastern and southern 

 part of the state there are none of them whatever breed- 

 ing in that locality. But in the winter very good flocks 

 are often seen. Last winter there were flocks of several 

 hundred that visited Mahaska county (where I live) and 

 were reported by farmers and others as having remained 

 some little time with us. The same was true the year be- 

 fore. The year before I think their migration was caused 

 by the intense severity of the winter and the depth of the 

 snows, and they were driven south hunting for food. 

 Last winter we had one of the mildest winters ever known 

 but the birds did not seem to remain, though they had 

 come back to us on a visit. They seem to have gone back 

 to North and South Dakota and western Iowa and Minne- 

 sota to breed. 



If any additional protection could be given to these 

 birds under the McLeon act it certainly would be a proper 

 thing to do. Yours truly, 



John F. Lacey. 



