Mobility—it’s part of modern American life. So perhaps it’s no surprise that 500 prairie chickens will relocate from Kansas to Missouri in the next few years.
Prairie chickens are the ‘poster bird’ of prairie restoration. In 1890, hundreds of thousands of these colorful grouse inhibited the native grasslands that covered about a third of Missouri. Nature lovers know of the prairie chicken for its entertaining courtship display, in which males dance, make a “booming” song with inflated orange air sacs, and joust for female partners.
Today, as few as 100 of these birds remain in the state. They are classified as one of the state’s endangered species.
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This article was originally published in the St. Louis Beacon.