Pictured is one area of the Jasper County Prairie Chicken Sanctuary in rural Newton, Illinois.
Pictured is one area of the Jasper County Prairie Chicken Sanctuary in rural Newton, Illinois.
The prairie chickens are brought from Nebraska and other states to increase the "genetic diversity." They are caught by watching the booming grounds to see where the prairie chickens move. They set up funnel traps. They use two feet high chicken wire. It's set up in a 'w' shape. The prairie chicken follows the leads of wire fence to the trap. The prairie chicken goes in the trap and can't find it's way out. There is netting on top of the trap. Two males will fight in the trap. The males and females won't fight, and two or more females won't fight, either. When the birds are taken out, bands are put on their legs. The prairie chickens are put in boxes and shipped.
Some land is being set aside for the sanctuaries--about 1600 acres in Jasper County now, and about 800 acres in Marion County. Now, they are developing a wetlands at the Jasper County sanctuary.
They are trying to duplicate and reestablish the prairie at the sanctuary. There are other birds also protected at the Jasper County sanctuary, including the northern harrier. Jasper County is the state's largest winter and breeding ground for the northern harriers. There have been 45 northern harriers nesting at the sanctuary since 1990. Northern harriers also nest on the ground, and feed on mice and prairie voles. The short-eared owl is also at the sanctuary. It's endangered in Illinois. It is active at dusk and feeds at night. There is a total of about 17 endangered species at the Jasper County Prairie Chicken Sanctuary. All are birds, except for one snake and one plant.
