Our field staff at Lac qui Parle WMA have had a number of sightings of = sharptailed grouse this winter. The latest is a flock of 20 that has been = observed the last few days on the Big Stone NWR. There have also been = 10-12 on the Lac qui Parle WMA just east of Highway 75, birds present at = Chippewa Prairie and a flock of 10 birds at the Mounds Spring SNA in = western Yellow Medicine County. It is likely that the early ice storm in = NE South Dakota has pushed sharptails from that area to the east. =20
This is likely not good news from the standpoint of the prairie chicken = reintroduction efforts into this area. As you may know, prairie chickens = and sharptails will often share booming grounds and hybridize. When this = occurs, it reduces the production from either species seperately. If = anyone sees sharptails in this area please let the staff at Lac qui Parle = WMA or myself know. John=20
