Vol. 1$, No. 3 
Page 2 
Responses of Prairie Chickens to Habitat Manipulation R. L. Westemeier, 
D. R. Vance 
The high predation rates on prairie chicken nests at Bogota in 1973 and 1974 
prompt us to promote the development of the most predator-resistant habitat 
possible on nest sanctuaries,, if indeed such habitat exists. In 1974 three 
general cover types appeared to fit this description: (1) prescribed-burned 
plots of mixed prairie grasses, redtop, timothy, orchard grass, and brome that 
were in the second nest season after burning in March; (2) new seedings of 
redtop, timothy, legumes, and wheat stubble in the second or third nest season 
after seeding; and (3) in one instance, a well-drained old sod composed mainly 
of redtop, yarrow, and dewberries. Twenty-nine percent (7) of the hatched 
prairie chicken nests found on sanctuaries in 1974 were in second-year March 
burns, which comprised only 4 percent (26 acres) of the total of 400 acres 
searched. Twenty-five percent of the hatched nests were in new seedings, which 
comprised 18 percent of the cover searched. Twenty-one percent of the hatches 
were in a well-drained old sod on the Donnelley Sanctuary, which comprised 8 
percent of the cover searched. Hatch success was 54 percent in the second-year 
March burns, 50 percent in the new seedings, and 57 percent in the well-drained 
old sod, all of which were higher than the overall mean success rate of 41 
percent in 1974. 
The poorest hatch success in both 1973 and 1974 was in all categories of 
vegetation after prescribed burns made in August. In contrast, during the 
years 1969 through 1972, the vegetation that was present after August burns 
provided some of the highest densities of nests and the highest hatch success. 
Likewise, from 1969 through 1971* the vegetation after burns made in March 
showed good densities of nests and good nest success. Then in 1972 and 1973, 
March burns were among the poorest cover for nesting prairie chickens. 
Many variables and limited sample sizes in some categories for some years 
are involved in these data. Thus, we are unable at this time to draw any 
strong conclusions regarding cover types and management practices that will 
work well for nesting prairie chickens every year under all conditions. 
Renovation of old sods is essential both by plowing and reseeding and by 
prescribed burning. However, in numerous instances the abnormally wet con¬ 
ditions prevailing in 1973 ar *d 1974 prevented plowing and reseeding operations 
on the sanctuaries. The extreme wetness also made prescribed burning of the 
desired intensity and acreage impossible during the past 2 years. 
