Grassland Grouse and Their Conservation
Grassland Grouse and Their Conservation by Paul A. Johnsgard, published by Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press on July 17, 2002, is an illustrated work that addresses the urgent conservation needs of North American grouse, particularly those adapted to grassland environments. The book highlights the significant decline in their populations, emphasizing the risk of extinction for species such as Attwater’s prairie-chicken if immediate action is not taken. Johnsgard begins with the history of the heath hen, which became extinct in 1932, and provides detailed accounts of various grouse species, including the greater and lesser prairie-chickens, greater and Gunnison sage-grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse.
Readers will find a narrative that combines historical context with a call to action, focusing on the threats posed by habitat loss and hunting. Johnsgard outlines the current status of these birds and discusses potential conservation strategies, emphasizing areas where populations still exist and can be preserved. This edition, comprising 157 pages, serves as both a historical account and a guide for conservation efforts related to grouse and their habitats in North America.
Official synopsis Publisher
Paul Johnsgard, one of the world’s leading ornithologists, has written this book as a call to action. Conservationists have seen a marked decline in the populations of North American grouse, particularly the grassland-adapted species. Unless action is taken swiftly, at least one species — Attwater’s prairie-chicken — is certain to follow the heath hen into extinction.
Johnsgard begins with the tragic history of the heath hen, which became extinct in 1932. He devotes a chapter each to the greater and lesser prairie-chickens, greater and Gunnison sage-grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse. Johnsgard argues that habitat loss and excessive hunting are major factors contributing to the decline of each species, particularly the lesser prairie-chicken and the Gunnison sage-grouse, which have been proposed for threatened federal status.
This narrative history is troubling but not without hope. Johnsgard discusses places where populations exist that have yet to be preserved, and outlines the steps necessary to conserve these species. A possible future does exist for grassland grouse, and Johnsgard’s book points the way toward securing it.
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