Iowa's "prairie chicken" population dwindles

Tens of thousands of Greater Prairie Chickens once roamed Iowa's abundant grasslands, but these days only 60 remain and the state is nervously watching that number drop.

Why it matters: Habitat loss has resulted in a roller coaster journey for the unique chickens, whose survival can indicate healthy grasslands ecosystems.

Threat level: If they're unable to recoup, they may not have a future in the state where they once thrived, says Stephanie Shepherd, an Iowa Department of Natural Resources biologist.

Driving the news: To draw attention to them, the DNR hosts its annual " prairie chicken festival " at the Kellerton Grasslands Bird Conservation Area on April 6 — a little over an hour south of Des Moines.

• Starting at dawn, curious spectators are invited to watch the birds' courtship " dance ," where males stamp, puff out their chests and call out to females.

Zoom in: Greater Prairie Chickens are similar in size to today's common chicken, but what makes them unique are the males' bright orange air sacs and their " famously acrobatic " courtship dances.

Catch up fast: In the 1800s, prairie chickens were prominent across Iowa, but they died out in the 1950s due to loss of grasslands and unregulated hunting.

• They were reintroduced in the late 1980s and 1990s near the Loess Hills, but struggled to thrive because of too many trees and a lack of genetic diversity.
• Through a partnership with the state of Missouri, the species was reintroduced again around Kellerton from 2012-2017. They saw some initial success as 25 to 50 birds became 100 to 150, Shepherd says.

Yes, but: In the last few years, their population has shrunk back down to just 50-60 birds. A self-sustaining flock is 800 birds.

• "We don't have the right and enough habitat for them," Shepherd says.

How it works: Prairie chickens not only need "enormous" stretches of grass for survival, but they also want a diverse mix of grasslands to thrive, she says.

• They want short grass for breeding, thicker grass for nesting and open areas once they're brooding.

Zoom in: While Kellerton offers the best public grassland in Iowa, it's still not enough to support a full population of prairie chickens.

• The area provides about 6,000-7,000 acres of grassland, but some researchers believe the chickens need 50,000 acres for a viable population.

Zoom out: Other Midwestern states have been able to host stable populations, including Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.

• But even those have been decreasing, Shepherd says.

What's next: The DNR will continue to monitor the prairie chickens for the next 10 years and assess whether Iowa can support a population.

• If the state simply can't anymore, the agency won't continue trying to make it happen, Shepherd says.

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