Attwater Prairie Chicken
This week I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to spend the day working with the zoo’s most exciting captive breeding and re-introduction project.
We wheeled out of the zoo gates early in the morning with a carefully selected group of Attwater Prairie Chickens that were hatched here at the zoo and headed to the release site. The chickens stayed very quiet in the back of the van for the hour and 45 minute ride. We arrived at the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge’s visitor center and brought all the birds in to get fitted with radio collars and to receive their final physical before they were released into the wild.
Attwater Prairie Chicken radio collar
Attwater Prairie Chicken getting fitted with a radio collar
The Houston Zoo, and all of Texas for that matter, has every right to be immensely proud of this captive breeding and re-introduction project. I worked with a few re-introduction recovery projects back home in Canada, and they have been the most rewarding and exhausting experiences of my life! These programs frequently commence when a species population has dropped to a ridiculously low number, and are dangerously close to extinction. There are harsh ups and downs in the recovery of a critically endangered species, but knowing you are bringing a species back from the brink of extinction is a powerful and unparalleled experience. Our bird department (Hannah Bailey, Mollie Coym and the rest of the dedicated staff) work tirelessly to ensure the success of this project. They really seem to live and breathe chickens!
Attwater Prairie Chickens being carried out to the pre-release site in Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
After the processing we took the birds out to the pre-release sites in the Refuge with a man named Dr. Mike Morrow. It is an honor to meet the heroes that have been with the projects from the start. He has been with this project from the beginning and has done everything in his power to give this project life. This year Mike, our bird department staff and everyone who have been involved in this project over the last 20 years are experiencing a major “up”. For the first time, Mike has had the privilege of observing captive bred re-introduced birds successfully raising chicks in the wild. Before this year they could only speculate that this was indeed happening. This is a pivotal point for any re-introduction project, when captive animals prove they can raise young in the wild!
Dr. Mike Marrow and the bird department staff preparing for release
Everyone that has been involved in this project should take a bow! The Attwater Prairie Chicken recovery effort is far from being over, but this observation is evidence that it is well on its way. It takes a team of passionate individuals and solid partnerships to keep these projects growing and thriving. How about a round of applause for the team of zoo staff, Mike and everyone else involved who are tirelessly working to save this Texas species!
Dr. Mike Marrow ready to release an Attwater Prairie Chicken
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A HEARTY round of applause Renee, to your excellent article as well as what you describe. It’s so nice to hear a success story in a world where there are so many of the opposite. Thank God for people like this, who dedicate themselves to undoing the concequences of man’s oft pugnatious drive, which can exact great expense on nature.