Monday, Feb. 2
7 p.m.
Center for Natural Sciences (CNS) C101

The Greater Prairie Chicken is an iconic bird of the tallgrass prairies that once covered much of Illinois. Their population in Illinois once numbered in the millions but they are now found only in the Prairie Ridge State Natural Area. Over the past several years their population had declined to about 60 birds. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Audubon Society have embarked on a multi-year project to revitalize the Illinois Prairie Chicken population by translocating 300 birds from Kansas. Bob Gillespie, who is coordinating the current recovery project for the IDNR, will talk about the restoration efforts for this fascinating grassland bird. Sponsored by the John Wesley Powell Audubon, IWU Environmental Studies Program, and IWU Biology Department.