Lesser Prairie Chicken Status Assessment

[Jackie Augustine]

Hello AOK Board,

Attached is my draft comment on behalf of AOK for the open comment period for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken species status assessment. This is the first step on the path to relisting for Endangered Species Act protections. 

More information can be found here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/26/2026-03882/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-status-review-for-the-lesser-prairie-chicken

Please let me know if it is OK to submit the letter and if you have any comments or suggestions by noon on Monday, March 30. I plan to make changes Monday afternoon and submit it. 

Thank you!

Jackie

--

Jacqueline K. Augustine, PhD 

Executive Director, Audubon of Kansas

PO Box 1106, Manhattan, KS 66505

785-537-4385 Office | Mobile

jac...@audubonofkansas.org  

https://www.audubonofkansas.org/

[Elizabeth Dodd]

Jackie, this is quite wonderful: thorough and detailed and then some!

A few suggestions:

"I focus on Kansas because that is where I have the contribute, and because Kansas has around 75% of

the current Lesser Prairie-Chicken population."

Something is askew in this sentence. 

"...there are places known by hunters where Lesser Prairie-Chicken populations cross that no hunting zone."

How about "...locations exist where Lesser Prairie-Chicken populations' home range extend beyond the boundary, leaving them vulnerable to hunting. Hunters are well aware of these locations."

"Since 2022, sightings of Lesser Prairie-Chickens north of I-70 in Kansas continue to grow."

Could this inadvertently imply that the population is growing? How about "Since 2022, there have been multiple sightings of Lesser Prairie-Chickens north of I-70 in Kansas that should be taken into account."

Thank you for your excellent work here.

Elizabeth

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[Diana Stanley]

I have no additional edits beyond Elizabeth’s questions, but you have my support for submitting. 

Diana Stanley

On Mar 29, 2026, at 8:48 AM, Elizabeth Dodd <elizabe...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Debbie Baker]

That is a great letter Jackie! With Elizabeth's suggestions, I fully support submitting it. I will share it with my board. And also make a comment on behalf of LBA.

Debbie

Lawrence Bird Alliance | Board President

Lawrence, Kansas Chapter

National Audubon Society

www.lawrencebirdalliance.org

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From: Diana Stanley <dianast...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2026 9:53 AM
To: audubon...@googlegroups.com <audubon...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Debbie Baker <nature...@hotmail.com>; audubon...@googlegroups.com <audubon...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Lesser Prairie Chicken Status Assessment

 

[Mary Piper]

Jackie,   this is very well written,  insightful and persuasive.  Nicely done, and I learned a lot!

 

I made a few edits to the version attached-- to reflect Elizabeth’s comments below and then added for your consideration,  a few comments or questions that I had (being a very new consumer of this information)..

 

 

Mary

From: audubon...@googlegroups.com <audubon...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Elizabeth Dodd
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2026 8:47 AM
To: audubon...@googlegroups.com
Cc: Debbie Baker <nature...@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Lesser Prairie Chicken Status Assessment

 

Jackie, this is quite wonderful: thorough and detailed and then some!

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/audubonofkansas/CAMHC4abEEr8ga3EbMShPuk%2BXZiVV4y8HbW7%3D1dibb%3D8D7m%2BAMQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Ann Tanner]

Jackie, this is extremely well written and extensively documented with scientific references and your personal observations.  If anything has a hope of making a difference, your correspondence should.  I agree with Elizabeth’s observations and suggestions for consideration.  Please submit the correspondence as planned.  

Thank you for your expert and heart-felt work on this status assessment.  You did an outstanding job.

Ann

On Mar 29, 2026, at 1:41 PM, Mary Piper <mapip...@outlook.com> wrote:



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<Species Status Assessment.docx>

[Alexis Powell]

I agree with previous editing suggestions and that this is an excellent letter. I support it being submitted.

--AP

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 9:12 PM Jackie Augustine <jac...@audubonofkansas.org> wrote:

[Cindy K Jeffrey]

As usual good work.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/audubonofkansas/CAK6ehgjFxct_B7bM2KLVO0%2Bj1zmS5G4Hr4DQjOeXMUwpMWPSgg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Vanessa Avara]

I also agree with previous edits and submitting the letter. Thank you for all your efforts. 

On Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 1:44 PM Alexis Powell <apowe...@gmail.com> wrote:

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/audubonofkansas/CAK6ehgjFxct_B7bM2KLVO0%2Bj1zmS5G4Hr4DQjOeXMUwpMWPSgg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Michael Machell]

Sorry to miss the deadline.  This is a well-reasoned, fact-based letter that clearly and credibly advocates AOK's position.  I support.