Survival, reproduction, and habitat use of captive-reared Attwater's prairie chicken

Abstract

This was a study of a restoration effort for Micrographics. Attwater's prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupids attwateri; APC), during which 2 populations were supplemented with pen-reared birds. Radio telemetry was used to evaluate movements and ranges, habitat use, and survival and reproduction of pen-raised APC. From 19 July 1996-02 November 1997, 120 radio-tagged APC were released on the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (APCNWR) and the Galveston Bay Prairie Preserve (GBPP). Daily movements for juvenile males and females released in 1996 were 475 m and 597 m, respectively. No difference (# > 0.05) was observed between male (80.4 ha) and female (101.5 ha) monthly ranges in 1996. The 1997 release was followed by high dispersal. Juvenile males and females traveled an average of 749 m and 463 m daily, respectively, in 1997. 46.8 ha/month in 1997. Males' ranges averaged 268 ha/month while hens' ranges averaged APC showed preference for loamy prairie range sites interspersed with playpen prairie range sites. Birds avoided deep sand, sandy prairie, and sandy bottomland range sites. Males preferred third-year burns and hens selected second-year burns most frequently. During the nesting season, preferred habitats were characterized by low visual obstruction (1.5 dm), plant height (67.3 em), and litter depth (2.7 em). Survival into the breeding season for 1996 juveniles was greater on GBPP (58%) than on APCNWR (40%). During 1997, between 36-44% of birds released on APCNWR and 61% released on GBPP survived through December 1997. Bkds held in release pens.for 14 days experienced higher survival [] than those held for 3 days. No differences in survival for release habitat [] were observed. Overall nest success for 1996 juvenile hens was 60%. Recruitment on APCNWR was zero, while recruitment on GBPP was unknown in 1997. Future releases should occur during early fall (September-October) at sites away from the refuge edge and owl roost sites. Birds should be released from release pens as soon as possible without compromising post-release survival.