MPCS Makes Huge Impact in Securing Permanent Habitat

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1 1 M I N N E S O TA P R A I R I E C H I C K E N S O C I E T Y N E W S L E T T E R Volume 43. No. 1, Winter, 2017 MPCS Makes Huge Impact in Securing Permanent Habitat By John Voz Some truly amazing things have been happening through the MPCS/PF Acquisition Grants using the Lessard Sam s Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) funding. So far four landowners have signed purchase agreements to sell property within the core area in the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Range. One large site is located in Norman County, two sites are in Clay and the other is in Red Lake County. These sites are all FEATHER FEATURES The Twins and the Prairie Chicken p. 2 Brush Cut Information p. 3 Tympie Nuchus p.4 within 1 half mile from established booming grounds and directly adjacent to large blocks of prairie nesting habitat. The Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society and Pheasant s Forever have requested and received two separate grants from the council. Phase 1 has been completely spent and most of Phase II. Overall we have protected 1,300 acres of permanent habitat and spent over 3.5 million dollars. For each acquisition the Chicken Society contributes $3,500, so $14,000 of treasury funds will be used for this effort. All of this could not have been accomplished without the cooperation and coordination of Eran Sandquist, State Coordinator with Pheasant Forever and the MPCS Grants Committee. The next step is to restore and plant these sites to high quality native grass and wildflowers and restore the associated wetlands. As part of the grant, there are non-acquisition funds available to offset these restoration costs. Another source of funding was a large match from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) for acquisition and restoration. They contributed $424,600 for the large Phase I acquisition in Norman County. Once the sites are restored they will be donated to the state or federal government as WMA s or WPA s and open for public hunting. Last year MPCS and PF requested a third phase of funding through LSOHC. We originally requested $8,138,000 and LSOHC recommended $1,908,000. Hopefully, this will be approved by the state legislature currently in session and funding could be available on July 1 st, With the adjustments of the LSOHC recommendations there would be $1,583,200 for Phase III acquisition with the remaining funds used for restoration, professional services, title work etc. 44th Annual MPCS Meeting April 22, 2017 Rothsay Community Center Rothsay, MN

2 TC Bear and the Minnesota Twins couldn t pass up stopping in Rothsay, the Prairie Chicken Capital of the World. Pictured above with the world s largest Prairie Chicken are TC Bear, John Ryan Murphy, Jose O. Berrios, Dan Gladden, and Bert Blyleven. The Twins were on their Minnesota Winter Tour. 2

3 MSGS Brush Cuts Get Them Saws Ready! Jodie Provost The MN Sharp-tailed Grouse Society (MSGS), MN Prairie Chicken Society (MPCS), DNR and USFWS cordially invite you to join us at the 2017 Brush Cuts spearheaded by MSGS. Please join the flocks for camaraderie, fresh air, good food, and prairie and brush land habitat enhancement for prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse. NW MN Brush Cut, March 4 - We will meet at Ness Café in Erskine at 8 am for a breakfast buffet provided by MSGS and MPCS. After foraging, we will head out to Glacial Ridge NWR where refuge folks will guide us in hand cutting scattered trees from an old nursery on a relatively new acquisition. If going directly to the site, we will likely be working near Highway 32, but contact me beforehand to be sure. NE MN Brush Cut, March 25 - We will meet at Wilbert s Cafe in Cotton at 8 am for a similar breakfast buffet provided by MSGS. After foraging, we will proceed to the Sax/Zim WMA complex. DNR Tower Wildlife Area folks will lead the effort. If going directly to the site, we may park and work off County Road 7 as in the past, but contact me beforehand to be sure. Weather and ground conditions can sometimes cause a change in plans. Grilled burgers will be provided at both events for lunch. Please come dressed properly and bring a water bottle. Layers are good for shedding as we warm up. Warm, dry footwear is also important. If we get deep snow, snow shoes can be very helpful. Hand saws will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own hand saws and nippers if you have them, to ensure enough tools for all. For safety, no chain saws are allowed, other than by trained DNR or USFWS personnel. All attendees will be signed up as volunteers for the day, and all students will receive a one-year, free, MSGS membership. Also, this year for the first time, the MSGS Golden Saw, Traveling Trophy Award will go to the college bringing the most students. Will it be Brainerd, Bemidji, Vermillion, Crookston, or? The more people that attend and put in sweat equity, the more volunteer power MSGS can show as match to its Expedited Conservation Partners Legacy grant. It would help greatly and be much appreciated! Give Jodie a holler (office , cell , jodie.provost@state.mn.us) by one week prior to each event if you can join us, so we can get a head count and ensure adequate eats, or if you have questions. We ve been having a great time and improving habitat at these events for many years. Look forward to catching up with old friends and making new ones!

4 4 THE ADVENTURES OF TYMPIE NUCHUS By ROSS HIER Some Announcements.... Upcoming Board Member Elections During the annual meeting in Rothsay this year, members will need to vote on 4 expiring board member positions. Current expiring board members are Gerald (Jerry) Forgit, Terry Lydell, Emily Hutchins and Stacy Salvevold. All four have expressed interest in running for another 3 year term. However, open nominations will be taken from members at the meeting. Check out the Online Store The Rambow on-line store is now open. Check out the new and fashionable Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society merchandise, including shirts, vests, hats, bags, and more. All you need to do is visit and enter the store code MNPCS. The online store will be open until March 10th. All items will be shipped when the store is closed. It s fast, safe and secure. If you have been to the MPCS website you may have noticed a change: Check out the MPCS website at

5 MPCS Board Members (updated 02/08/2017) 5 Officers: Terms Expiring 2017 Terms Expiring 2018 Terms Expiring 2019 President, Brian M Winter th Ave South Glyndon, MN (w) (h) (fax) bwinter@tnc.org Gerald (Jerry) A. Forgit State Hwy102 SW Fertile, MN jetforgit@gmail.com Rob Baden Whiskey Creek Dr Rob_baden@hotmail.com William E. "Bill" Faber, Dept. of Natural Resources Central Lakes College 501 West College Drive Brainerd, MN (218) (800) , Ext wfaber@clcmn.edu Vice President/Secretary/ Archivist Ross H. Hier 513 Holly Ave Crookston, MN (w&fax) (h) (cell) magpiehornbill@yahoo.com Terry Lydell th Ave NW Andover, MN home cell Terrylydell@qualityci.us John Voz 608 Broadway Ave (w) voz4043@arvig.net Steve Bommersbach 212 Lincoln Ave NW Twin Valley, MN (h) bommer@tvutel.com Treasurer, Earl N. Johnson Almquist Rd (h) (cell) MoccWood.Setter@gmail. com Emily Hutchins th Ave SE Mentor, MN (w) ejhutchins9@gmail.com Doug Wells th St. Fergus Falls, MN (h) prgrouse@gmail.com Sara Vacek th St. Appleton, MN (w) (h) (fax) curtsara@hotmail.com Stacy Salvevold Dahl Rd. Detroit Lakes, MN stuccie_wlf@yahoo.com Travis Issendorf County Road 113 tissendorf@tnc.org Doug Hedtke Riverview Road Fergus Falls, MN (h) dohedtke@gmail.com Director At Large: Terry Wolfe 716 Pine St. Crookston, MN (h) tesuwolfe@gmail.com Newsletter Editors John & Heidi Voz 608 Broadway Ave (w) John.Voz@state.mn.us voz4043@arvig.net Website Coordinator Teresa Marrin Mpcs.web@gmail.com Director At Large: Dan Svedarsky th Ave SW Crookston, MN (w) (h) dsvedars@crk.umn.edu

6 Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society Membership Your gift membership will help! Any tax deductible contribution or donation will bring you the MPCS Newsletter and supports the Society s efforts to save Minnesota s prairie chickens and their habitats. The number in the upper right hand corner of your mailing label shows the year of your most recent membership. Renew your membership today! The Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization exempt from Federal Income tax as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions made to the Society are deductible by donors as provided in Section 170 of the Code. The Society s Federal Identification number is # I would like to make a membership contribution. I would like to contribute to Prairie Chicken Habitat Improvement. MPCS T-Shirt Natural ONLY MED-XXL Shirts Henley Black ONLY L-XL Button Down Natural ONLY L-XL $10 Size $20 Size $25 Size Hats (New) Tan or Orange One size $15 Add $5.00 Shipping & Handling Total Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society Almquist Rd Winter, 2017, Vol.43, No. 1