Prairie Chickens Make Dunn Ranch Landing

HARRISON COUNTY, MO — Eighteen greater prairie chickens have been released at the Nature Conservancy’s Dunn Ranch. Sixteen additional prairie chickens will be released within the next few weeks. This is the first of three releases scheduled over the next two years to enhance the existing prairie chicken population. Over 100 prairie chickens were trapped on privately owned land in Imperial, NE, where the birds are more plentiful. In addition to the 34 birds released on the Dunn Ranch, 66 birds will be released at the Kellerton Grassland Birds Conservation Area in Iowa. The two sites, both part of the Grand River Grasslands, were chosen based on evaluations of potential prairie chicken habitat. The project is underway in cooperation with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Iowa Department of Conservancy, the Blank Park Zoo, and the Missouri Department of Conservation. All hens brought to the Dunn Ranch and 10 of the Iowa birds were fitted with radio collars to track movements. The data will be studied to assess survival rates, nesting behavior and other evaluations. Persons in the area who see a prairie chicken with a red leg band are asked to contact the Dunn Ranch Prairie office at 660-867-3866; this will aid with the tracking of un-collared birds.