![]() Wildlife agencies in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma have a conservation agreement to restore the bird’s habitat.Īerial surveys by state wildlife agencies in 2018 saw populations increase by 30% in one year. The bird’s status under the Endangered Species Act is up in the air as populations have declined and then spiked in recent years. Loud noise from highways, oil drilling rigs and wind turbines may drive the birds away from their mating grounds, known as leks, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Male lesser prairie chickens make a bubbling “booming” noise to attract a mate. Populations have declined, then spiked in recent years, putting its status under the Endangered Species act up in the air. Male lesser prairie chickens make a “booming” noise to attract a mate. Industry investment and interest from the endowment fund will pay for work to strike a balance between conservation and ranching on Lost Draw. The Land Conservancy manages the easement and a long-term endowment fund for the property. Scott Wilber, executive director of the New Mexico Land Conservancy, said the initial conservation easement will protect 2,000 acres, but the goal is to have the entire 10,500-acre ranch under an easement. The utility company, along with Common Ground Capital and Tomahawk CB, bought credits in the conservation bank to pay for prairie chicken monitoring and habitat improvements on the ranch. Xcel Energy began construction in December on the 100,000-acre, 240 turbine Sagamore Wind Project. Prairie chickens won’t nest near wind turbines, trees, power lines or other tall structures because predatory raptors perch on them. State wildlife and conservation agencies worked with Lost Draw owner Mack Kizer to create a “conservation bank” on his large ranch for the sensitive bird. The property is meant to offset the wildlife impact of a massive wind farm that just broke ground in Roosevelt County. Now, Lost Draw Ranch, a cattle operation south of Portales, will adopt practices to protect the prairie chicken. But the bird’s habitat is dwindling, thanks to overgrazing, drought and energy development. The lesser prairie chicken is an icon of the flat grasslands of eastern New Mexico. ![]() Male lesser prairie chickens gather on a breeding ground in eastern New Mexico.
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