Andy Lawrence releasing a Lesser prairie-chicken. Courtesy photoPEEC News:
What can an often-overlooked bird reveal about grassland health? At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, ecologist Andy Lawrence will discuss the life history, ecological relationships, and conservation efforts of Lesser prairie-chickens, important indicators of grassland habitat.
This special presentation at the Los Alamos Nature Center is free thanks to support from Wild Birds Unlimited.
New Mexico State University PhD candidate, Andy Lawrence, will discuss the life history, ecological relationships, and conservation efforts of Lesser prairie-chickens in New Mexico.
The Lesser prairie-chicken is a charismatic grouse of the southern Great Plains whose range includes the grasslands of eastern New Mexico. Estimated to have once numbered in the millions, the species has experienced dramatic declines in the last half-century, prompting a call for increased conservation and research. As our prairie counterpart to the “canary in the coal mine,” the Lesser prairie-chicken can be an indicator of habitat quality for our grasslands.
Andy Lawrence is a PhD candidate in the Department of Biology at New Mexico State University. Growing up, nearly all of his career aspirations ended with “-ologist,” which eventually led him down the path of wildlife ecology after learning of its blend of science and conservation. Andy grew up in rural northern Illinois and received his B.S. in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from North Carolina State University. During his undergraduate career and after graduation Andy was part of several research projects (most of the avian variety) that prepared him for his PhD studies in New Mexico. His dissertation research focuses on the relationship between anthropogenic disturbances and various aspects of Lesser prairie-chicken ecology.
This special presentation will take place at the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road. It is free to attend, and no registration is required.
For more information about this and other Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) programs, visit www.peecnature.org, email programs@peecnature.org or call 505.662.0460.