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March 10 Program Topic:

On March 10th, Meredith Stroud on the staff at the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) will update us on the current status of the critically endangered Attwater's Prairie Chicken and the Wildlife Refuge itself.  The Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, located approximately 60 miles west of Houston near Eagle Lake, is home to one of the last populations of the endangered Attwater's Prairie Chicken, a ground-dwelling grouse of the coastal prairie ecosystem.  Hurricane Harvey had serious impacts on the population of prairie chickens on the Refuge, greatly reducing their numbers. But in the years since, the populations have bounced back providing new hope that a sustainable population can be maintained in the wild. 

 

Here is a good comprehensive article from April 2021 that describes recent developments:

Texas’ Attwater’s Prairie Chicken Wild Population Reaches 28 Year High:

 

Meredith Stroud studied Wildlife and Fisheries Science at Texas A&M University and developed an interest in the Attwater's Prairie Chickens. 

After serving a couple on internships at the Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, she was hired as staff with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Refuge.

Her experience at the Refuge is summarized at this link (scroll down to locate Meredith Stroud):

 

The official website for the Refuge: 

 

Some good videos about the breeding and reintroduction efforts: 

 

 

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