1 n e w s l e t t e r · 2017. 2. 9. · 1 minnesota prairie chicken societ y n e w s l e t t e r...

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1 1 M INNESOTA P RAIRIE C HICKEN S OCIETY NEWSLETTER Volume 43. No. 1, Winter, 2017 FEATHER FEATURES The Twins and the Prairie Chicken p. 2 Brush Cut Information p. 3 Tympie Nuchus p.4 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 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 , 2017. 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

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Page 1: 1 N E W S L E T T E R · 2017. 2. 9. · 1 MINNESOTA PRAIRIE CHICKEN SOCIET Y N E W S L E T T E R Volume 43. No. 1, Winter, 2017 FEATHER FEATURES The Twins and the Prairie Chicken

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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

FEATHER FEATURES

The Twins and the Prairie Chicken p. 2

Brush Cut Information p. 3

Tympie Nuchus p.4

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

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 1st, 2017. 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

Page 2: 1 N E W S L E T T E R · 2017. 2. 9. · 1 MINNESOTA PRAIRIE CHICKEN SOCIET Y N E W S L E T T E R Volume 43. No. 1, Winter, 2017 FEATHER FEATURES The Twins and the Prairie Chicken

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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.

Page 3: 1 N E W S L E T T E R · 2017. 2. 9. · 1 MINNESOTA PRAIRIE CHICKEN SOCIET Y N E W S L E T T E R Volume 43. No. 1, Winter, 2017 FEATHER FEATURES The Twins and the Prairie Chicken

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2017 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 Wilber t’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 218-429-3052, cell 218-838-3553, [email protected]) 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!

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THE ADVENTURES OF TYMPIE NUCHUS By ROSS HIER

If you have been to the MPCS website you may have noticed a change:

Check out the MPCS website at www.prairiechickens.org.

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 www.rambow.com 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.

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.

Some Announcements . . . .

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MPCS Board

Members (updated 02/08/2017)

Officers:

President, Br ian M Winter

15337 28th Ave South

Glyndon, MN 56547

(w) 218-498-2679

(h) 218-498-2688

(fax) 218-498-2325

[email protected]

Gerald (Jerry) A. Forgit

36790 State Hwy102

SW

Fertile, MN 56540

218-945-6331

[email protected]

Rob Baden

24398 Whiskey Creek Dr.

Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

218-841-7153

[email protected]

William E. "Bill" Faber,

Dept. of Natural Resources

Central Lakes College

501 West College Drive

Brainerd, MN 56401

(218) 855-8082

(800) 933-0346, Ext. 8082

[email protected]

Vice President/Secretary/

Archivist

Ross H. Hier

513 Holly Ave

Crookston, MN 56716

(w&fax) 218-281-6063

(h) 218-281-7325

(cell) 218-368-1438

[email protected]

Terry Lydell

1552 148th Ave NW

Andover, MN 55304

763-434-0303 home

612-237-6214 cell [email protected]

John Voz

608 Broadway Ave

Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

(w) 218-846-8426

[email protected]

Steve Bommersbach

212 Lincoln Ave NW

Twin Valley, MN 56584

(h) 218-584-5512

[email protected]

Treasurer, Ear l N. Johnson

25170 Almquist Rd

Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-

7674

(h) 218-847-3529

(cell) 218-849-9776

MoccWood.Setter@gmail.

com

Emily Hutchins

32663 150th Ave SE

Mentor, MN 56736

(w)218-281-6063

[email protected]

Doug Wells

20274 250th St.

Fergus Falls, MN 56537

(h) 218-736-4469

[email protected]

Sara Vacek

57368 490th St.

Appleton, MN 56208

(w) 320-589-4973

(h) 320-297-0386

(fax) 320-589-2624

[email protected]

Stacy Salvevold

25564 Dahl Rd.

Detroit Lakes, MN

56501

218-770-2062

[email protected]

Travis Issendorf

23983 County Road 113

Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

[email protected]

Doug Hedtke

29232 Riverview Road

Fergus Falls, MN 56537

(h) 218-736-5795

[email protected]

Director At Large: Terry Wolfe

716 Pine St.

Crookston, MN 56716

(h) 218-281-5952

[email protected]

Newsletter Editors

John & Heidi Voz

608 Broadway Ave

Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

(w) 218-846-8426

[email protected]

[email protected]

Website Coordinator

Teresa Marrin

[email protected]

Director At Large: Dan Svedarsky

18205 300th Ave SW

Crookston, MN 56716

(w) 218-281-8129

(h) 218-281-1220

[email protected]

Terms Expiring 2017 Terms Expiring 2018 Terms Expiring 2019

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Winter, 2017, Vol.43, No. 1

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 #41-1327954.

_____ 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 $10 Size________

Shirts Henley Black ONLY L-XL $20 Size________

Button Down Natural ONLY L-XL $25 Size________

Hats (New) Tan or Orange One size $15 ________

Add $5.00 Shipping & Handling ________

Total ________

Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society

25170 Almquist Rd

Detroit Lakes, MN 56501