22 TH Eo "AU*D UsB:O, NBA. ait be alee 
A LETTER TO THE EDITOR 
Dear Mr. Lobik: 
Because I know you are vitally interested in all phases of conservation, 
I want to bring the extremely critical status of the Prairie Chicken in 
Illinois to your attention. Much has been said about the Prairie Chicken 
in the past, many notices carried in THE AUDUBON BULLETIN and 
other publications, and The Illinois Audubon Society is ably represented in 
the Prairie Chicken Foundation of Illinois by Mr. Galbreath, Mr. Mostek, 
and Mrs. Vera Shaw. In spite of this, I feel that members of the Society 
do not realize that extinction of the Prairie Chicken in Illinois is just around 
the corner unless more is done in the next two years than has been done in 
the past five years. The PCFI now has total assets of slightly less than 
$26,000, and this tells the story — to little and almost too late. From 
$250,000 to $500,000 is needed, and needed now, if the Prairie Chicken 
is to be saved from extinction. 
Counts of Prairie Chickens on booming grounds on areas in south- 
central Illinois indicated that 19 percent fewer chickens were present in 
1964 than in 19638. Counts of chickens on booming grounds on the Bogota 
Study Area indicated no significant change from 1963 to 1964. Cover on 
the ten census areas mapped in the spring and late summer indicated an 
increase from 74.2 percent for row crops and small grains in 1963 to 79.9 
percent in 1964. At the same time, the acreage in grass meadow, idle grass, 
and grass pasture decreased from 15.7 percent in 1963 to 11.2 percent in 
1964. Thus, we attribute the losses in chickens to a reduction in the 
available acreage of grassy nesting cover brought about by an ever-changing 
and more intensive agriculture. These losses were probably hastened by 
the abnormal weather of the last 2 years. All data indicate that less than 
500 Prairie Chickens now persist in scattered flocks in southern Illinois. 
Unless immediate action is taken, chickens will probably be extinct in Illinois 
before 1970. 
Data obtained from local Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation 
Service (ASCS) offices show that Federal Conservation Reserve (CR) con- 
tracts are expiring rapidly. In the six counties (Clark, Clay, Effingham, 
Jasper, Marion, and Wayne) which support the largest number of Prairie 
Chickens in Illinois, the number of CR contracts decreased from 595 in 19638 
to 166 in 1964, and will fall to 46 in 1965. It is believed that lands under 
these contracts provide the only sizable acreages of good nesting cover for 
Prairie Chickens in most areas where chickens now persist. Unless there is 
a dramatic and unforeseen change in land use, the decline of the Prairie 
Chicken can only continue. 
Our research indicates there is a good chance that an aroused public 
can save this magnificent game bird. Ten of 17 (58.8 percent) nests 
found on the sanctuaries in 1964 were successful. The estimated production 
of chicks on the sanctuaries (97 acres) was 74 in 1963 and 88 in 1964. 
The average size of 18 completed clutches was 9.6 eggs, and the average 
percentage of hatched eggs per successful nest was 96%. 
We feel that minimum efforts to perpetuate the chicken should involve 
at least three of the largest flocks now remaining, and that the flocks near 
Mt. Erie, Xenia, and Bogota offer the best possibilities. On the basis of 
information now available, it appears that flocks can be saved if tracts of 
20 - 80 acres in size, totaling 400 - 500 acres, are managed to provide per- 
