Jacques van Oene
April 21st 05, 09:24 AM
Linda Matthews-Schmidt
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281/483-5111
Brian Hill
Houston Zoo
713/801-8040
Report #J05-017
AT****ER'S PRAIRIE CHICKENS MOVE TO NASA JSC
Once there were about a million of them, but now fewer than 50 are left in
the wild. Before long, some of the endangered At****er's Prairie Chickens in
the Houston Zoo's breeding program will move to NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Establishment of a breeding facility on about two acres of JSC land is part
of a new agreement between the zoo and the space center. That agreement also
sets aside about 10 acres of JSC land to grow eucalyptus trees and other
plants as food for zoo animals.
"The JSC Team is excited about this partnership," said JSC
Director Jefferson D. Howell, Jr. "Part of NASA's mission is to
understand and protect our home planet, and we are happy to play a small
part in preserving the At****er's Prairie Chicken population. This project
also provides students an opportunity to see for themselves the important
role that environmental management plays here on Earth and as humans venture
further into space."
It will be part of JSC's educational outreach program, which seeks to foster
the next generation of explorers by encouraging young people to study
technical subjects. The facility will give area students an opportunity to
see first-hand the importance of habitat conservation and protection.
The ground-dwelling At****er's Prairie Chicken is a medium-sized grouse,
with brown, black and buff-colored feathers. The males have golden neck
sacks, and during mating season use them to produce a booming sound that can
be heard for half a mile. The birds once occupied about 7 million acres of
prairie along the Texas and Louisiana Coasts. Only about 1 percent of that
prairie remains.
Loss of habitat, predation and hunting so reduced the bird's numbers that
they were declared endangered in 1967.
"This is a win-win partnership for everyone involved," said Zoo Director
Rick Barongi. "The prairie chickens benefit as a species by having a quiet,
secure, and safe location for the breeding program and JSC employees and
area school students will benefit through the program's education
component."
It grew out of a chance meeting between the Zoo's then-president Philip
Cannon and Howell. "As they talked about the missions of their respective
organizations, it became clear there were areas of common interest and
concern," said Sandra Parker of JSC's Environmental Office.
The zoo's breeding program began in 1994 with two dozen eggs taken from the
nests of wild flocks in Texas. Today there are 26 birds involved in the
Zoo's At****er's prairie chicken captive breeding program. Zoo officials
believe a more remote and quiet location will provide a better environment
for the propagation of the species.
"We believe the JSC site will not only provide a quality environment but
will also give us the capacity to breed more birds," said Houston Zoo Bird
Curator Lee Schoen. "Our goal is to increase the number of birds so the
population can survive without human intervention."
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281/483-5111
Brian Hill
Houston Zoo
713/801-8040
Report #J05-017
AT****ER'S PRAIRIE CHICKENS MOVE TO NASA JSC
Once there were about a million of them, but now fewer than 50 are left in
the wild. Before long, some of the endangered At****er's Prairie Chickens in
the Houston Zoo's breeding program will move to NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Establishment of a breeding facility on about two acres of JSC land is part
of a new agreement between the zoo and the space center. That agreement also
sets aside about 10 acres of JSC land to grow eucalyptus trees and other
plants as food for zoo animals.
"The JSC Team is excited about this partnership," said JSC
Director Jefferson D. Howell, Jr. "Part of NASA's mission is to
understand and protect our home planet, and we are happy to play a small
part in preserving the At****er's Prairie Chicken population. This project
also provides students an opportunity to see for themselves the important
role that environmental management plays here on Earth and as humans venture
further into space."
It will be part of JSC's educational outreach program, which seeks to foster
the next generation of explorers by encouraging young people to study
technical subjects. The facility will give area students an opportunity to
see first-hand the importance of habitat conservation and protection.
The ground-dwelling At****er's Prairie Chicken is a medium-sized grouse,
with brown, black and buff-colored feathers. The males have golden neck
sacks, and during mating season use them to produce a booming sound that can
be heard for half a mile. The birds once occupied about 7 million acres of
prairie along the Texas and Louisiana Coasts. Only about 1 percent of that
prairie remains.
Loss of habitat, predation and hunting so reduced the bird's numbers that
they were declared endangered in 1967.
"This is a win-win partnership for everyone involved," said Zoo Director
Rick Barongi. "The prairie chickens benefit as a species by having a quiet,
secure, and safe location for the breeding program and JSC employees and
area school students will benefit through the program's education
component."
It grew out of a chance meeting between the Zoo's then-president Philip
Cannon and Howell. "As they talked about the missions of their respective
organizations, it became clear there were areas of common interest and
concern," said Sandra Parker of JSC's Environmental Office.
The zoo's breeding program began in 1994 with two dozen eggs taken from the
nests of wild flocks in Texas. Today there are 26 birds involved in the
Zoo's At****er's prairie chicken captive breeding program. Zoo officials
believe a more remote and quiet location will provide a better environment
for the propagation of the species.
"We believe the JSC site will not only provide a quality environment but
will also give us the capacity to breed more birds," said Houston Zoo Bird
Curator Lee Schoen. "Our goal is to increase the number of birds so the
population can survive without human intervention."
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info