BIRDS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY 



63 



tions that are almost predictable. Attempts to correlate these fluctuations 

 with changes in food availabiUty have proved unsuccessful thus far. 



Habitat: Nesting ruffed grouse occur in a variety of upland deciduous forest 

 types. In the Northern Highland and parts of the Central Plain, ruffed 

 grouse are most commonly associated with medium-aged aspen forests that 

 contain scattered openings. In the Western Upland and areas of the Central 

 Plain adjacent to the St. Croix River, nesting ruffed grouse are associated 

 with medium-aged oak forests and woodlots. A well-developed shrub layer 

 consisting of prickly ash, thorn apple, and beaked hazel is usually associated 

 with high-quaUty ruffed grouse habitat. 



Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) 



Status: Extirpated as a natural breeding species; reintroduced in 1974. 



Former Distribution: Until the late 1890's, the greater prairie chicken was 

 an abundant species on the prairies of Pierce and St. Croix counties and 

 ranged north to Grantsburg, Burnett County. Schorger (1943) summarized 

 numerous accounts of the status of this species including newspaper ac- 

 counts of abundance. Populations appeared to remain at high levels through 

 1865. The winter of 1873 was reportedly very severe and St. Croix County 

 farmers reported the winter was extremely hard on the greater prairie 

 chicken. Populations fluctuated considerably after 1875. 



Reduced numbers of greater prairie chickens remained in St. Croix County 

 until the 1920's, although they were still well distributed between Hammond 

 and New Richmond. The last greater prairie chicken observed in St. Croix 

 County was shot near Hammond in 1932. At Crex Meadows, the last greater 

 prairie chicken reported on a booming ground was observed in April 1949. 



Former status of the greater prairie chicken in the Minnesota counties is 

 poorly known. Roberts (1932) made no reference to this species in three coun- 

 ties considered in the present report. Greater prairie chickens were known to 

 breed in the vicinity of the Twin Cities at the time of Roberts. A Umited 

 amount of information is provided by Partch (1970) in summarizing the 

 demise of this species in central Minnesota. Partch shows that greater 

 prairie chickens were common or abundant in southern Washington County 

 in 1849. Dispersal north through the Valley probably happened in the "late 

 1800's." This movement northward along the St. Croix was attributed to 

 logging and fires creating favorable openings in sandy areas. Surber (1919), 

 in describing an area of Pine County, stated that greater prairie chickens 

 near Hinckley occurred "in goodly numbers" in 1919. He made an appeal to 

 local residents to report illegal shooting so the "overflow" (of chickens) into 

 surrounding areas would manifest another hunting season. 



Current Distribution: The WDNR began a greater prairie chicken reintro- 

 duction program at Crex Meadows during October 1974. This project met 

 with Umited success during the first 2 years. In 1977, at least one female was 

 observed with a brood near the original release site. Continued research and 

 habitat management at Crex Meadows may prove essential in the restora- 

 tion of this species in portions of its former breeding range. 



