Vol. \£, } No. 5 
Page 4 
A total of only 19 codes were found in five areas where no nest sanctuaries 
are established. Declines between the springs of 1972 and 1J73 were noted at 
Loogootee (6 cocks to 2 cocks), Hoyleton (5 cocks to 3 cocks), and Bible Grove 
(5 cocks to 4 cocks). Six cocks were censused during both springs at Mt. Erie. 
Four cocks were found near Fairman this spring compared with 3 cocks in 1972. 
The data for the small colonies of prairie chickens outlying the Bogota 
Area demonstrate the tenacity of Illinois prairie chickens. Also, the data 
for the Kinmundy-Forbes flock demonstrate the low level to which prairie 
chickens can decline (6 cocks in 1971, but as low as 4 cocks in 1969) and still 
recover if the habitat is improved in time. So long as native prairie chickens 
are present on native range, it is probably never too late to save them from 
extinction if the proper management measures can be taken quickly enough. 
