Vegetative Characteristics of Successful and Unsuccessful Nests of Lesser Prairie Chickens

Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Lesser Prairie-Chicken

“…Petroleum exploration may create areas that are suitable for lek sites, but lek sites generally are not limiting and the disturbance associated with production of petroleum may result in destruction of nesting habitat lek abandonment. Continued to display at a lek in burned pasture; males relocated from an unburned lek to a historical site in a burned weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) pasture and initiated display at a new site in burned shinnery oak/bluestem (Andropogon) pasture Knopf 1981, Cannon et al 1982 Oklahoma Sand sagebrush pasture, shinnery oak pasture Densities of birds in shinnery oak pasture were positively correlated with grass cover and grass frequency along transects, and with percent of grassland cover types identified from satellite imagery; in sand sagebrush pasture, numbers of birds were positively correlated with percent cover of shrubs and grass frequency along transects, but were not associated with percentages of cover types identified from satellite imagery Riley et al 1992Riley et al , 1994 New Mexico Shinnery oak pasture, shortgrass pasture Nested in shinnery oak habitats dominated by sand bluestem; vegetation was taller at 10 successful than 26 unsuccessful nests (67 vs. 35 cm); percent composition of shrubs was similar at successful and unsuccessful nests (basal composition 31-66%); 22 autumn foraging sites were 63% grasses and 37% shrubs, 50 winter sites were 59% grasses and 41% shrubs (forbs were rare); broods foraged in 25-cm tall shinnery oak and three-awn (Aristida sp. ), bare ground at 12 sites averaged 63%, basal composition of vegetation was 43% grass, 42% shrubs, and 15% forbs; daily movements of 40 prenesting females were 390 m/day within 231-ha ranges; 12 nesting hens moved 250 m/day, and ranges averaged 92 ha; three hens with broods moved an average of 280 m/day within 119-ha ranges; movements of 19 females without broods was 220 m/day within 73-ha ranges Sell 1979 New Mexico Shinnery oak/sand sagebrush pasture…”

“…Mean height of vegetation above nest sites was significantly greater at successful nests (67 cm) than at unsuccessful nests (35 cm). In all shinnery oak habitats, shrub coverage was similar at successful and unsuccessful nests and ranged from 31.3 to 66.2% (Riley et al 1992).…”

“…In shinnery oak habitats, sand bluestem >50 cm in height provides suitable nesting cover (Davis et al 1979, Riley et al 1992. Consider fencing some areas to prevent grazing (Jones 1963a), and evaluate the feasibility of predator removal efforts to enhance nesting success of imperiled populations in small areas of habitat (Schroeder and Baydack 2001).…”

“…Nesting Habitat.-Lesser Prairie-Chicken hens nest in tall, residual grasses or under shrubs in native pasture, and avoid shortgrass habitats and cultivated fields (Bent 1963, Copelin 1963, Jones 1963a, Davis et al 1979, Sell 1979, Merchant 1982, Wilson 1982, Riley et al 1992, Giesen 1994. Preferred vegetation for nesting is dense vegetation, such as that provided by shrubs and residual bunchgrasses >40 cm tall, that provides >75% vertical screening in the first 33 cm above ground and 50% overhead cover (Sell 1979, Haukos and Smith 1989, Giesen 1994.…”

“…Percent litter was greater and percent bare ground was lower within 3 m of nests in shinnery oak/tallgrass habitats than was found along transects. Ten of 36 nests for which fate could be determined were successful (i.e., >1 egg hatched) (Riley et al 1992). Nests in sand bluestem had a higher success rate (4 of 6 were successful) than nests found in little bluestem (2 of 9), three-awn (1 of 7), sand sagebrush (1 of 5), shinnery oak (0 of 4), or broomlike ragwort (Senecio spartioides) (0 of 2).…”