This yr, we launched the Audubon Nice Plains’ Chook of the Yr contest to have fun the various wonderful chicken species present in our area. We narrowed down to 10 species nominees and shared them on social media to construct engagement and have our followers vote on the winner.
From grassland species to yard birds, listed here are the nominees: the Western Meadowlark, Bobolink, Grasshopper Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, Burrowing Owl, Northern Harrier, Horned Lark, American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, and the Crimson-winged Blackbird. With 115 votes solid, our area has spoken, and with a decent race, the winner is the Western Meadowlark with 27 votes, and the Bobolink got here in an in depth second with 24 votes.
It got here as no shock to our group that the Western Meadowlark was chosen because the winner for 2026. It’s the state chicken for North Dakota and Nebraska and serves as a robust image of the Nice Plains. The tune of the Western Meadowlark represents the arrival of spring, pleasure, and an open prairie panorama. The Western Meadowlark breeds principally in pure grasslands, deserted weedy fields, and rangeland.
Migration
In early spring, typically March by April, Western Meadowlarks return to their nesting grounds within the Nice Plains to breed once more, filling prairies with their distinctive flute-like tune and marking the seasonal renewal of grassland ecosystems.
Throughout spring and summer season, these birds nest in native prairies, hayfields, and grazed grasslands, the place males can typically be discovered singing from a fence publish to defend their territory and appeal to a possible mate.
Western Meadowlarks are short-distance migrants and start to move south in mid-October by November. Western Meadowlarks from the Nice Plains (North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska) head to states reminiscent of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and elements of the Mississippi Valley. Audubon’s Chook Migration Explorer provides a visible illustration of migration patterns for over 450 species, together with the Western Meadowlark.
Conservation Challenges:
In North America, grassland species are experiencing the quickest decline of any chicken group. Grassland species have skilled greater than a 40% decline since 1970. Like many declining species, the Western Meadowlark faces quite a lot of conservation challenges, together with residential and industrial improvement limiting inexperienced areas and pure vegetation, and agricultural practices, to call a number of. Generations of farmers have been good stewards of land and wildlife whereas additionally offering meals for individuals and livestock. Nevertheless, some agricultural practices, like overuse of pesticides, can scale back the supply of meals, clear water, and protected locations for birds to feed, relaxation, and breed. And, the conversion of pure vegetation, reminiscent of native prairies, to agriculture has decreased the areas as soon as utilized by birds. Our working lands group works with landowners and producers to enroll in packages offering cost-share help, such because the Prairie Management Toolbox and the North Dakota Conservation Forage Program. Our Vary Ecologists present technical help and habitat administration plans to maintain the land and help wildlife.
Moreover, our group works with ranchers by packages reminiscent of Audubon’s Conservation Ranching, and we can assist be sure that livestock administration is a conservation answer for birds.
By our new Audubon Nice Plains’ Chook of the Yr program, we hope to construct consciousness and encourage motion. As we have fun the Western Meadowlark all year long, everybody can play a component. At residence, you may plant native species in your yard or backyard and supply habitat for birds utilizing our native plant database. You’ll be able to discover MOTUS information on numerous species and assist unfold the phrase! The Motus Wildlife Monitoring System is a world, collaborative community that makes use of automated radio telemetry to trace the actions of small animals—primarily birds, bats, and bugs—on a hemispheric scale. And lastly, you may spend time outdoor and develop your reference to birds and the locations they name residence.
