A new Science to Solutions report from the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative summarizes a study by New Mexico State University scientists that documents the impacts of honey mesquite encroachment on lesser prairie-chicken populations. The study found that the birds strongly prefer sites with less than 1 percent mesquite canopy cover and rarely use habitat where cover exceeds 15 percent; the birds are completely absent when mesquite coverage is greater than 50 percent. The researchers also found that the aversion to mesquite is relatively consistent year round, not just when the mesquite loses its leaves seasonally. This aversion is likely due to the mesquite providing perching and hiding cover for predators. The research was published in the most recent special issue of the journal Rangeland Ecology & Management that features studies about how woody invasion of western rangelands impacts native western birds, in particular prairie-chickens and sage-grouse.

The results of the research have significant implications for land managers working to improve habitat for lesser prairie-chickens. Due to the birds? avoidance of defoliated mesquite, simply applying herbicides that kill the plant will not increase the use of an area by the birds, active removal is required. Prioritizing mesquite removal efforts to areas that currently have low canopy cover (1 to 15 percent cover) will increase the available habitat for lesser prairie-chickens and reduce the threat of habitat loss. Restoration of areas with canopy cover of 16 percent of greater can be considerably more costly, but these areas can be targeted to increase connectivity with high-quality habitat areas. With this new data, land managers can prioritize areas for mesquite removal to where they will have the greatest impact for the birds.