Newsletter

August 2025

What You'll Find in this Newsletter

Advocacy: Delisting is a Huge Blow for Lesser Prairie-Chickens and Voluntary Conservation

Conservation: Volunteers are Making a Difference on AOK Protected Areas

Education: Connecting and Strengthening Kansas Audubon Chapters

Upcoming Events

Featured Event: Sunday, Sept. 21: AOK Protected Area Celebration & Picnic

Philanthropy Corner: Make-A-Will Month

Chapter Spotlight: Lawrence Bird Alliance

Lesser Prairie-Chicken Photo by Bob Gress

Delisting is a Huge Blow for Lesser Prairie-Chicken Conservation and Voluntary Conservation

Story by Dr. Jackie Augustine, AOK Executive Director

Every spring, I venture to Gove County in western Kansas to witness our last connection to our wild shortgrass prairie heritage: the mating dances of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken. I venture out hours before sunrise to sit in a blind in the dark waiting for the birds to appear. In the murky, first light of dawn, shapes appear with a flurry of wings, cackling calls, and gobbling songs. Prairie-chicken males vigorously defend their territory, on this same patch of ground, year after year. As I watch, I am surrounded by relict bison wallows, reminding me that these birds were always linked with grazing – formerly bison, and now cattle. Because over 90% of the birds’ habitat is on private land, many of those who raise grass-fed cattle are improbable allies for prairie-chickens. 

This month, a court ruling removed Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken. This decision will send the birds flying towards extinction. The last time that ESA protections for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken were removed in 2016, extensive habitat loss occurred with the great majority of these changes being related to energy extraction – either oil/natural gas infrastructure or wind turbines. 

This is the second time that Lesser Prairie-Chickens have had their ESA protections vacated. Besides being bad for the prairie-chicken, this on-again, off-again approach is bad for landowners willing to participate in voluntary conservation measures. Imagine being a landowner counting on funding for removing woody vegetation to increase forage available for cattle grazing, only to have it disappear overnight. Imagine working towards enrolling your property in a conservation easement to ensure that your family’s ranching operation will be profitable long term, only to have your business plan toppled. Prairie-chickens and ranching can coexist, but this regulatory uncertainty is bad for business.

• 1995 – Lesser Prairie-Chicken petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act
• 1998 – Determination that listing was warranted but precluded because there were other species in more dire need of protection
• 2014 – Lesser Prairie-Chicken listed as ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act
• 2015 – Listing vacated by a federal court
• 2016 – New petition to list the Lesser Prairie-Chicken as endangered 
• 2022 – Lesser Prairie-Chicken listed in two distinct populations segments with one listed as endangered, and the other as threatened
• 2025 – Change in federal administration results in the listing being vacated again in a federal court

When Lesser Prairie-Chickens were most recently listed, two distinct population segments were defined and given different protections: the northern population in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and northern Texas was classified as ‘threatened’; whereas, the southern population in New Mexico and western Texas was classified as ‘endangered.’ A lawsuit was advanced in 2023 by the state of Texas and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association against the US Department of Interior in the Federal Court for the Western District of Texas Midland/Odessa Division. The plaintiffs argued that the US Fish and Wildlife Service improperly applied its policy for determining distinct population segments. Distinct population segments must be 1) discrete (physically separated) and 2) significant (different in genetics, habitat, or other factors). When Lesser Prairie-Chickens were listed in 2022, the ruling document explicitly explained that two distinct population segments were justified because they were separated by 95 miles (discrete), and the two populations showed significant differences in habitat (oak-shinnery vs sage and bluestem) and genetic structure, and that the loss of one of the population segments would result in at least a 25% decline in habitat occupied (significant threat to area occupied). However, the US Fish and Wildlife Service willfully neglected its own previous scientific finding in the federal court. From the court ruling documents: “Following the change in federal administration in January 2025, the US Fish and Wildlife Service re-evaluated Plaintiff’s claims and now believe it erred in applying the distinct population segment policy and did not provide a sufficient justification that the two population segments of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken are significant for the purpose of identifying a distinct population segment.” In other words, the US Fish and Wildlife Service argues that there is enough evidence that the two populations are discrete, but not enough evidence that they were ‘significant’ despite ample evidence to the contrary. 

For 30 years, various conservation measures have been enacted to bring back Lesser Prairie-Chickens. Yet, the birds have continued to decline. The US Fish and Wildlife Service anticipates that it will make a new finding on the 2016 listing petition by November 30, 2026, so this loss of protection will hopefully be short-lived—and this time the protection should stick. Endangered Species Act protections are a last-ditch effort to prevent extinction, and they have been successfully applied to save the vast majority of the species listed. Lesser Prairie-Chickens need the protections of the ESA, and landowners need support to enact conservation measures that are good for the herd, and good for the bird. 

When I sit in the blind this coming spring, I will mourn the fact that those alive today might be the last generations able to witness this timeless tradition if ESA protections are not reinstated.

Volunteers are Making a Difference on AOK Protected Areas

Work Fun Week (August 11-15) at AOK's Protected Area: Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

This year’s Hutton Work Week combined hands-on conservation with community spirit. Volunteers joined forces on a range of projects, from clearing brush to installing three new handrails (thanks to the craftsmanship of Dwight Shoup) that improve accessibility at the ranch house.

A special highlight was the American Burying Beetle survey, led by Jen Corman, Coordinating Wildlife Biologist with the Northern Prairies Land Trust – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Under strict survey guidelines and with all necessary permits, volunteers helped document a record eight beetles in a single day on Hutton Niobrara Ranch Sanctuary.

These striking insects, nearly two inches long, are a threatened species whose populations have declined due to habitat loss and light pollution. Both parents work together to bury small carcasses, raise their larvae, and in doing so, reduce fly populations—a service appreciated by ranchers.

The week also offered time to enjoy the setting, with volunteers birdwatching along the Niobrara River and soaking in a riparian sunset.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who pitched in, making this year’s Work Week both productive and memorable.

Fall Work Day (August 16) at AOK's Protected Area: Achterberg Wildlife-Friendly Demonstration Farm

Despite temperatures topping out at ninety-nine degrees, a small group of committed volunteers from the local Lincoln County Women on the Wing chapter of Pheasants Forever showed up at the Connie Achterberg Wildlife-Friendly Demonstration Farm to help combat woody encroachment in restored grasslands across the property. While new woody encroachment is most efficiently kept in check with prescribed fire, sometimes Mother Nature needs a helping hand in removing established trees and shrubs. With the help of these volunteers we will be able to conduct more efficient burns, promote the growth of native grasses and forbs, and create healthy prairies to be enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike! To keep cool while working, volunteers spent some time exploring the woodlands surrounding Bullfoot Creek and enjoying the shade of towering burr oaks, green ash, and hackberry trees.

Connecting and Strengthening Kansas Audubon Chapters

On August 16, Audubon of Kansas hosted a Kansas Chapter Meetup at Emporia State University, bringing together representatives from seven of our nine local chapters as well as the K-State Student Chapter.

The gathering provided a chance to connect, share ideas, and strengthen collaboration across the state. Discussions ranged from the recent National Audubon Leadership Conference to local research activities, board development, and strategies for engaging youth in conservation.

We’re grateful to this dedicated group of chapter leaders and members for their commitment to birds, wildlife, and community—and to Emporia State University for generously hosting the event.

SAVE THE DATE

Oct. 4: AOK at the Big Kansas Road Trip Pop-Up

Sing-Along in Sheridan County, KS

Hoxie, Selden, and everything in between

Oct. 5: Hutton Open House

Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

Bassett, NE

1:00-4:30pm

Nov. 7-8: Celebration of Cranes

Sterling, KS

Registration opens mid-September!

Consult with your financial advisor, attorney, or tax professional when making a will or planned gift.

Roger Boyd leading a field trip at the Baker Wetlands

Lawrence Public Library Librarian Jake Vail (left) with LBA Secretary Kelly Barth (right)