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Grassland Grouse and Their Conservation
Paul Johnsgard, one of the world's leading ornithologists, has written this book as a call to action. Conservationists have seen a marked decline in the populations of North American grouse, particularly the grassland-adapted species. Unless action is taken swiftly, at least one species -- Attwater's prairie-chicken -- is certain to follow the heath hen into extinction.
Johnsgard begins with the tragic history of the heath hen, which became extinct in 1932. He devotes a chapter each to the greater and lesser prairie-chickens, greater and Gunnison sage-grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse. Johnsgard argues that habitat loss and excessive hunting are major factors contributing to the decline of each species, particularly the lesser prairie-chicken and the Gunnison sage-grouse, which have been proposed for threatened federal status.
This narrative history is troubling but not without hope. Johnsgard discusses places where populations exist that have yet to be preserved, and outlines the steps necessary to conserve these species. A possible future does exist for grassland grouse, and Johnsgard's book points the way toward securing it.
Johnsgard begins with the tragic history of the heath hen, which became extinct in 1932. He devotes a chapter each to the greater and lesser prairie-chickens, greater and Gunnison sage-grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse. Johnsgard argues that habitat loss and excessive hunting are major factors contributing to the decline of each species, particularly the lesser prairie-chicken and the Gunnison sage-grouse, which have been proposed for threatened federal status.
This narrative history is troubling but not without hope. Johnsgard discusses places where populations exist that have yet to be preserved, and outlines the steps necessary to conserve these species. A possible future does exist for grassland grouse, and Johnsgard's book points the way toward securing it.
157 pages, Hardcover
First published July 17, 2002
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March 11, 2021
Other than devout birders or avid conservationists, I am unsure who might want to actually read this book. Paul Johnsgard is an emeritus professor at the University of Nebraska who has dozens of great studies of different bird species and different biomes, particularly those of the middle of the United States. And this is his study of the grassland grouse in the US and it was great - 5 stars.
First mind-stretching concept covered in the book was that the tall-grass prairie biome presently associated with western Minnesota and some few scattered points stretching to Texas was a biome that stretched from the Midwest to the eastern sea coast along the southern ridge of the glaciers during the last ice age. Thus, Johnsgard covered the heath hen of the eastern sea board - a now extinct grassland grouse of a long past biome. Johnsgard spends time on the story of the last male heath hen, dancing alone on his Marth Vineyard lek in 1932.
Johnsgard has a special place for the interior greater prairie chicken and his chapter on the greater prairie chicken is delightful.
Basically, Johnsgard covers 6 grassland grouse - the heath hen, Attwater's prairie chickens, the lesser prairie chicken, the greater prairie chicken, the three subspecies of the sharp-tailed grouse, and the sage-grouse. He discusses their history of distribution followed by their mating rituals.
First mind-stretching concept covered in the book was that the tall-grass prairie biome presently associated with western Minnesota and some few scattered points stretching to Texas was a biome that stretched from the Midwest to the eastern sea coast along the southern ridge of the glaciers during the last ice age. Thus, Johnsgard covered the heath hen of the eastern sea board - a now extinct grassland grouse of a long past biome. Johnsgard spends time on the story of the last male heath hen, dancing alone on his Marth Vineyard lek in 1932.
Johnsgard has a special place for the interior greater prairie chicken and his chapter on the greater prairie chicken is delightful.
Basically, Johnsgard covers 6 grassland grouse - the heath hen, Attwater's prairie chickens, the lesser prairie chicken, the greater prairie chicken, the three subspecies of the sharp-tailed grouse, and the sage-grouse. He discusses their history of distribution followed by their mating rituals.
Displaying 1 of 1 review