VoI, 15, No. 5 
Page 3 
Responses of Prairie Chickens to Habitat Manipulation R. L. Westemeier, 
D. R. Vance 
Results of booming ground surveys conducted in nine areas in seven 
counties of south-central Illinois in the spring of 1972 revealed a total 
of 261 prairie chicken cocks. The 196 cocks in the Bogota flock comprised 
75 percent of the known statewide total and showed an increase of 23 percent 
since the spring of 1971 (MWRL 15(4):2). Flocks in the Farina and Kinmundy- 
Forbes Park areas have regained last year's losses and now contain 28 cocks 
and 12 cocks, respectively. Of the six areas outlying the two sanctuary 
systems, only the Hoyleton flock showed an increase (2 cocks to 5 cocks). 
No prairie chickens were seen in the LaClede area, where 1 cock remained 
last spring. Other declines included Loogootee (8 cocks to 6 cocks), 
Fairman (4 cocks to 3 cocks), and Mt. Erie (13 cocks to 6 cocks). Five 
cocks were again censused near Bible Grove. Flocks on the sanctuary 
systems in Jasper and Marion counties accounted for 47 of the 50 additional 
cocks found since the spring of 1971* All declines occurred on unmanaged 
areas. 
The two flocks in northeastern Marion County are now firmly bound to 
nesting sanctuaries. Major shifts in distribution were noted as cocks 
abandoned traditional booming grounds and established new grounds on, and 
in proximity to, the 100-acre Lacey Sanctuary and adjacent Loy 40-acre tract 
near Farina and also near the 160-acre Butler Sanctuary between Kinmundy 
and Forbes State Park. These encouraging responses give hope for the 
preservation of prairie chicken flocks in Marion County as well as In Jasper 
County. 
