The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has released the results of its annual population survey of lesser prairie-chickens and estimates that there are 25,261 birds. The population has decreased from the 2015 estimate of 29,162 birds, but the researchers state that the population is stable and is within the predicted variability based on survey methodology. It is also still significantly higher than the population of 17,616 birds surveyed in 2013 after two years of severe drought.

"Just as with last year's population increase, we shouldn't read too much into short-term fluctuations over one or two years," said Bill Van Pelt, WAFWA grassland coordinator. "The monitoring technique used for this survey is designed to track trends, and both the three and five-year trends still indicate a stable population. Lesser prairie-chickens inhabit a large geographic landscape with highly variable weather patterns, so we expect to see annual and regional population fluctuations. What these numbers show is the importance of maintaining good prairie habitat for long-term population stability. Populations have responded positively in recent years to increased and timely rainfall in portions of the bird's range most affected by the 2011-2012 drought. Specifically, the population has significantly increased over the last three years in the sand sagebrush ecoregion. Voluntary conservation efforts like the range-wide plan help to ensure that suitable habitat is available so these population increases can occur when weather conditions are suitable."