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ROB MCCLENDON: WELL OKLAHOMA IS HOME TO A LOT OF WIND, BUT ALSO TO A
BIRD THAT IS NOT A FAN OF THE WIND TURBINES SPIINING OVERHEAD.
THE LESSER PRARIE CHICKEN IS A GROUND BIRD THAT MISTAKES THE GIANT SHADOWS
CAST BY THE TUBINE BLADES AS A PREDATOR ABOUT TO SWOOP DOWN AND TAKE IT A
AWAY.
FOR THE NEXT YEAR, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CONDUCTING A REVIEW TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THE LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
THREATENED INSTEAD OF ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF ENDANGERED.
AND IF THE BIRD'S STATUS IS CHANGED TO THREATENED, IT WOULD MEAN A LOT LESS
HOOPS FOR WIND COMPANIES TO JUMP THROUGH WHEN TRYING TO BUILD IN THE
BIRDS' HABITAT.
BOB ELLISON HAS OUR STORY.
BOB ELLISON, USDA: KEEPING THE LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN OFF OF THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES LIST IS A GOAL OF THE U S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S NATURAL
RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE.
N-R-C-S IS WORKING THROUGH THE LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN INITIATIVE TO ASSIST
LANDOWNERS IN MAKING THEIR GRASSLAND SUITABLE FOR PRAIRIE CHICKEN HABITAT.
JON UNGERER: THROUGH THE LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN INITIATIVE, WE'RE TRYING
TO IMPLEMENT PRACTICES THAT WILL HELP RANCHERS IMPROVE THEIR GRAZING
PRACTICES AND IMPROVE THEIR OPERATION WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BENEFITTING
THE LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN AND BENEFITTING THE HABITAT OF THE LESSER
PRAIRIE CHICKEN.
ELLISON: MANY OF THE CONSERVATION PRACTICES NRCS AND ITS PARTNERS
PROMOTE FOR HEALTHY CATTLE GRAZING LANDS ALSO BENEFIT THE LESSER
PRAIRIE-CHICKEN.
L H WEBB: IF THE GOVERNMENT COULD COME TO ME, THE NRCS, AND SAY, IF
YOU DO THIS, YOU KNOW WHETHER IT'S A FOOD PLOT, OR SPRAY, OR BURN THIS
AREA EVERY YEAR, OR PUT A FENCE AROUND THIS AREA.
IF YOU DO THIS, THAT SILVER BULLET, THEN THE CHICKENS WILL COME BACK.
I WOULD DO IT IF IT WAS ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.
TOM TURNER: IT IMPROVES BOTH THE HABITAT FOR THE CHICKENS AS WELL AS THE
LIVESTOCK.
IT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR BOTH ENTITIES.
ELLISON: ASIDE FROM BEING A NATIVE SPECIES IN PARTS OF COLORADO, KANSAS, NEW
MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, AND TEXAS, PART OF THE LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN'S APPEAL
IS ITS LEGENDARY MATING DANCE.
CLINT ROLLINS: THE LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN MALES ARE QUITE ENTERTAINING WHEN
THEY GET ALL EXCITED, AND THEY'RE IN FULL BLOOM, AND THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING
THEIR THING.
AND THE HENS BASICALLY ARE JUST IN THE BACKGROUND SHOPPING; AND SO THE ONE
THAT IMPRESSES THEM THE MOST IS THE ONE THAT GETS THE DATE.