Friday, April 21, 2006

Prairie Chicken

There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story. ~~Linda Hogan













The greater prairie chicken is an endangered bird. This bird’s habitat was the tall grass prairies of Midwestern North American. In the 1880’s, with the disappearance of the buffalo they flourished.







When agriculture took over the tall grass areas the prairie chicken began to disappear. In 1930 the bird was almost gone. Land has been acquired and managed to try and save this bird from extinction in Canada and in the Midwestern United Sates.

One of these management programs is very close to where I am living. Birds like the sandhill crane, sharp tailed grouse, upland sandpiper, northern harrier, marbled godwit, Wilson's phalarope, greater prairie chicken, sora rail, marsh wren, and clay colored sparrow may soon find their habitat expanded at Glacial Ridge. In recent years, bald eagles, a peregrine falcon and a whooping crane have also been spotted.

On one of my riding adventures many years ago, I was on the back of my beloved mare, Lady, when I came upon a dead whooping crane tangled in some barbed wire. It was a sad ,heart rendering sight to behold. I am glad people are working hard to preserve the beautiful nature still available for us to witness.


Take a moment to view this one minute video to listen and see this rare bird.

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