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A rosy hue colored the clouds on the dark horizon when Michael Smith heard the first lesser prairie chicken of the morning making a bubbling, chuckle-like noise out on a planted field at a ranch in the small village of Causey, southeast of Portales. It was still too dark to see the birds. But, as […]
Mack Kizer remembers seeing lesser prairie chickens on his family ranch in eastern New Mexico growing up. He said his children and grandchildren also have seen the birds on the ranch since childhood and he hopes they can continue to enjoy the unique animal’s presence long into the future. As the bird’s population dwindles, Kizer’s […]
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... A lesser prairie chicken perches on a branch in eastern New Mexico on rancher Mack Kizer’s property just southeast of Portales. The bird’s habitat is threatened by drought, overgrazing and energy development. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Copyright © 2021 Albuquerque Journal PORTALES – Lesser prairie chickens have a tough life. Energy development and severe drought have left the c...
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... A lesser prairie chicken seen earlier this month on the Portales-area property of rancher Mack Kizer. (Roberto Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service under Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is at a crossroads. The lesser prairie chicken is coming perilously close to extinction in her home state of New Mexico. With only approximately 5,000 birds remaining on the shinnery oak prai...