Movements and Behavior of Transplanted Radio-tagged Prairie Chickens in Wisconsin

Abstract

Movements of seven transplanted greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) were compared with nine residents during 1973 and 1974. Movements of three cocks, transplanted in April 1973 were characterized by a period of orientation during which mean day-to-day movements (0.78 miles) were 2.5 times greater than those of three resident cocks (0.31 miles). Transplant cocks "settled down" 26, 22, and 29 days after their respective releases. Movements of transplant and resident cocks were comparable over the remainder of the study. Movements of a single cock, transplanted on 1 August 1974 were comparable to those of resident cocks. Mean day-to-day pre-nesting movements of spring transplant hens (0.37miles) were comparable to those of resident hens (0.38 miles). All of the transplant hens nested and hatched broods. Three of four resident hens nested, but only one hatched out a brood. Results indicate that transplanted hen prairie chickens can establish and successfully nest when released into a population of resident cocks.