Hunters needed to collect feathers for DNA sampling
Why are sharp-tailed grouse expanding into the northern part of Minnesota’s prairie-chicken range? Is it changes in habitat, behavior or both?
Upland bird hunters can help Minnesota and North Dakota wildlife researchers in a newly launched study to help answer that question by submitting wing or tail feathers from birds they harvest this fall.
In northwestern Minnesota, prairie chicken booming grounds are disappearing, sharp-tailed grouse dancing grounds are increasing and interbreeding between the species seems to be increasing.
Interbreeding results in hybridization, which occurs when two different species mate and produce offspring that is a hybrid of both species. These prairie-chicken/sharptail hybrids are fertile and can breed with prairie chickens or sharptails, which can mix the gene pool of both species.
It is unclear whether sharptail expansion and hybridization is contributing to prairie chicken declines through production of hybrid offspring; if the observed changes are driven by increasing woody encroachment of grasslands; or whether both factors could be at play.
Researchers are asking each hunter to pluck – not cut – five to 10 large wing or tail feathers from each harvested prairie chicken, hybrid or sharp-tailed grouse. Please do not mix feathers from different birds together.
Feathers from each individual bird must be in a separate paper envelope. Each envelope containing an individual bird's feathers must be labeled with the county of harvest. The separate envelopes can be grouped together and mailed to:
DNR Regional Headquarters
1201 E Highway 2
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Researchers will extract DNA from the bottom of the feather where it received blood from the bird. These genetic samples will help biologists better understand the extent to which hybridization is currently occurring across the landscape.
Our goal is to inform prairie chicken and sharp-tailed grouse management so that both species can persist.
- About the species
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- Prairie Chicken Encore (Minnesota Conservation Volunteer article)
- Prairie chicken species guide
- Reports and surveys
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- 2023 Harvest Report
- 2023 Spring Survey Report
- 2022 Harvest Report
- 2022 Spring Survey Report
- 2021 Harvest Report
- 2021 Spring Survey Report
- 2020 Harvest Report
- 2020 Spring Survey Report
- 2019 Harvest Report
- 2019 Spring Survey Report
- 2018 Harvest Report
- 2018 Spring Survey Report
- 2017 Harvest Report
- 2017 Spring Survey Report
- 2016 Harvest Report
- 2016 Spring Survey Report
- 2015 Harvest Report
- 2015 Spring Survey Report
- 2014 Harvest Report
- 2014 Spring Survey Report
- 2013 Harvest Report
- 2013 Spring Survey Report
- Prairie-chicken harvest in Minnesota during 2012
- Prairie-chicken harvest in Minnesota during 2011
- 2010 Spring Survey Report
- 2010 Fall Hunting Report
- 2009 & 2008 Spring Survey Report
- 2009 Fall Hunting Report
- 2007 Grouse Survey Report
- 2007 Hunter Survey Report
- 2006 Hunter Survey Report
- 2005 Hunter Survey Report
- 2005 Spring Prairie-chicken Survey
- 2004 Hunter Survey
- The Greater Prairie Chicken In Minnesota