The lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) in southeastern New Mexico: A population survey

To provide an assessment of the current status of populations of the lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) in southeastern New Mexico, this study monitored 4,368 sites along 3,428 km of transects, which surveyed a total of 548,608 hectares, in search of active leks during April 2000 and 2001. Of 249 monitoring sites along 195 km of transects north of US380, vocalizations originating at active leks were heard at 46 sites on 31,232 hectares surveyed. Of 4,119 monitoring sites along 3,233 km of transects south of US380, one prairie chicken was observed at one site and vocalizations from one active lek were heard at two sites on 517,376 hectares surveyed. As has been documented in other parts of its range, the lesser prairie chicken in extreme southeastern New Mexico (area south of US380) appears to have experienced a significant decline in size of population.