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PRAIRIE CHICKEN REFUGE IS NAMED 
FOR AUDUBON'S JOE GALBREATH 
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HE SPEARHEADED THE PRIVATE EFFORT 
TO SAVE A NATIVE ILLINOIS SPECIES 
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THE DRAMATIC 15-YEAR FIGHT to save Illinois’ native prairie chicken 
from extinction is meeting with some success—and research scientists are 
sounding a note of cautious optimism about the future of the plucky little 
“boomer” in this state. 
From a low of fewer than 300 birds five years ago, the dwindling 
flocks have been increased to more than 500 individuals presently. The 
increase is directly attributable to the acquisition of grassland habitat 
tracts in expansion of the Jasper County sanctuary system. 
The drama in the prairie chicken’s struggle to remain an existing 
species is comparable, from an Illinois viewpoint, to the international effort 
to save the whooping crane. 
The difference is that individual volunteer work and donations formed 
the impetus to save the Illinois species through habitat preservation, and 
that state agencies (though privately interested) moved officially only in 
advisory, research and management capacities during the original efforts 
to save this endangered species. Acquisition of sanctuary lands was not in 
state budgets. 
AT A DINNER MEETING in April in Newton, a few miles northeast of the 
sanctuary system, the final three parcels owned by the Prairie Chicken 
Foundation of Illinois were officially turned over to the Illinois Department 
of Conservation for dedication into the Nature Preserve System, and re- 
cognition was given those Illinois conservationists who in the late 1950s 
recognized the plight of the dwindling species and organized the Foundation. 
The 110-acre Specht farm, about 3% miles south of Newton, was named 
the “Joseph W. Galbreath Prairie Chicken Sanctuary,” in honor of Gal- 
breath, who not only helped organize the Foundation but has followed 
through on each succeeding step toward preserving the species. 
Galbreath, of Centralia, who was teaching environmental education 
classes in southwestern Illinois more than a score of years ago, is a long- 
time officer and director of IAS. 
GALBREATH DESCRIBED THE INCEPTION of the Foundation idea, in 
a casual 1958 conversation with Elton Fawks, East Moline, and Ray Mostek, 
Lombard, two other prominent Illinois conservationists and Audubon of- 
ficials. ““We decided to do something about the prairie chicken.” The fol- 
lowing year the Prairie Chicken Foundation was born. 
Gaylord Donnelley of Chicago, a member of the Illinois Nature Pre- 
serves Commission and The Nature Conservancy, and a sanctuary bene- 
factor, made the Galbreath sanctuary designation on behalf of Charles C. 
