The lesser prairie chicken is a species of prairie grouse found in the grasslands of the central and southwestern United States. In Colorado, lesser prairie chickens occur primarily in the southeastern corner of the state.
Quick Answer
The vast majority of lesser prairie chickens in Colorado occur in Baca, Bent, and Prowers counties in the southeastern corner of the state.
Where in Colorado do Lesser Prairie Chickens Live?
Lesser prairie chickens inhabit shortgrass and midgrass prairies and prefer areas of dense vegetation with a mix of grasses and shrubs. In Colorado, the southeastern corner of the state provides the most suitable habitat.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department estimates that over 95% of the remaining lesser prairie chicken population in Colorado occurs within Baca, Bent, and Prowers counties. These three counties contain large expanses of sand sagebrush prairie interspersed with sandsage, bluestem, grama grass, and buffalo grass.
Within this three-county region, lesser prairie chickens congregate on large tracts of land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP provides financial incentives to landowners to take environmentally sensitive cropland out of production and instead plant species that will improve environmental quality. Native grasses and shrubs planted on CRP lands have enhanced habitat for prairie chickens in this part of Colorado.
Baca County
Baca County is located in the far southeastern corner of Colorado. It contains extensive prairie grasslands and sand sagebrush flats. Several large CRP parcels in the southern half of Baca County harbor sizable lesser prairie chicken populations.
Bent County
Bent County lies directly north of Baca County. The southeastern portion of Bent County contains CRP lands and scattered pockets of sand sagebrush prairie where lesser prairie chickens are found.
Prowers County
Prowers County, situated along Colorado’s border with Kansas, supports lesser prairie chickens in its eastern and southern reaches where CRP lands predominate.
Lesser Prairie Chicken Population in Colorado
Lesser prairie chicken populations have declined dramatically in Colorado and throughout their range. Habitat loss from agriculture and development is the primary threat. In the 1920s, Colorado’s lesser prairie chicken population was estimated at over 44,000 birds. By the 1960s, the population had fallen to an estimated 15,000 birds. In the mid-1990s, the Colorado lesser prairie chicken population reached a modern low of about 2,000 birds.
Thanks to conservation efforts focused on habitat protection and restoration, lesser prairie chicken numbers in Colorado have rebounded somewhat. Surveys from 2016 to 2018 put the total statewide population between approximately 6,000 and 7,000 birds. Nearly all of these lesser prairie chickens inhabit CRP lands in Baca, Bent and Prowers counties.
These population estimates underscore the critical importance of southeast Colorado for the survival of lesser prairie chickens in the state. While lesser prairie chickens once occupied portions of northeast and east-central Colorado, those areas have not supported lesser prairie chickens since the 1960s. The three counties in the far southeast of Colorado represent the final stronghold for lesser prairie chickens in the state.
Habitat Preferences
Lesser prairie chickens thrive in large expanses of prairie grasslands and shrublands characterized by vegetative diversity, such as areas with a mix of shrubs, grasses, and forbs. The major habitat components preferred by lesser prairie chickens include:
- Native grasses, especially sandsage grass, little bluestem, prairie sandreed, switchgrass, and needle and thread
- Low growing shrubs like sand sagebrush, sand plum, sumac, and chokecherry
- Herbaceous plants, including sunflowers, ragweed, croton, and buffalo gourd
These plant species provide food and cover for the prairie chickens year-round. Large expansive prairies are preferred over small fragmented prairie patches. Proximity to cropland or areas with high densities of vertical structures like power lines and wind turbines degrades lesser prairie chicken habitat.
Seasonal Habitat Use
Lesser prairie chickens exhibit seasonal shifts in habitat use throughout the year:
Breeding Season
During spring and early summer breeding season, male lesser prairie chickens gather at communal breeding areas called leks. Here males compete for mates through elaborate displays. Females visit the lek briefly to copulate with a select male before departing to nest and raise a clutch alone. Ideal lek sites offer short vegetation with good visibility in areas central to overall lesser prairie chicken habitat.
Nesting Season
Female lesser prairie chickens construct nests from available grasses and shrubs, often under sagebrush plants. Nests are typically located within 2 miles of the lek site. Nesting habitat has taller vegetation that provides concealment. Successful nests usually have plant cover 12-20 inches in height with bare ground components interspersed.
Brood-rearing Season
Habitat needs shift once eggs hatch in early summer. Females move their chicks to areas with an abundance of insects, forbs, and seeds for foraging. Brood-rearing habitat has vegetation heights less than 8 inches tall.
Fall and Winter
As the breeding season ends in late summer, lesser prairie chickens form larger flocks. In fall and winter, they occupy habitats with adequate cover from harsh weather and predators. Areas with shrubs and taller grasses that hold seeds for food are important.
Conservation Status
Due to significant population declines over the past century, the lesser prairie chicken is currently listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. In Colorado, lesser prairie chickens are listed as a state threatened species as well.
Ongoing conservation efforts focused on habitat protection and restoration provide hope for lesser prairie chicken recovery. Maintaining native prairie habitats through programs like CRP and limiting further habitat fragmentation will be key to the long-term survival of these unique prairie grouse.
Threats and Challenges
Lesser prairie chickens face a number of threats and challenges:
- Habitat loss and fragmentation – Conversion of native prairie to cropland and human development has severely reduced available habitat. Remaining habitat areas have become smaller and more fragmented.
- Grazing practices – Heavy grazing pressure can negatively impact lesser prairie chickens by reducing available cover and food resources.
- Tree encroachment – Natural invasion of trees into open prairies degrades habitat suitability.
- Predators – Mammalian and avian predators take eggs and juveniles. Predation pressure is higher in fragmented habitats.
- Oil and gas development – Energy infrastructure, roads, and associated disturbance impact habitat quality.
- Climate change – Projected increases in temperature, drought, and severe weather events may further stress populations.
Efforts to Save the Lesser Prairie Chicken
Many government agencies, conservation groups, energy companies, and landowners are working to conserve and restore lesser prairie chicken habitat. Some key efforts include:
- CRP incentives helping landowners improve habitat on private lands
- Protected areas on public lands being designated in core habitat regions
- Voluntary avoidance of important lesser prairie chicken areas by wind and oil/gas developers
- Tree removal initiatives to open up invaded prairies
- Captive breeding and release programs in some states to bolster populations
- Research projects studying impacts of grazing, fire, and other land management practices
These initiatives aim to stop declines and support recovery of lesser prairie chicken populations. More habitat conservation and restoration work still needs to be done to secure the long-term survival of the species.
Conclusion
In Colorado, the last remaining stronghold for lesser prairie chickens is in the southeastern counties of Baca, Bent, and Prowers. This region still harbors intact native prairie habitat on private and public lands. Ongoing conservation work focused in southeast Colorado provides hope for the species, though many challenges remain. Protecting prairies from fragmentation and working lands sustainably will be key to ensuring lesser prairie chickens remain a part of Colorado’s natural heritage.