Document open-ground lek sightline structure, zone 2, the refuge's public 4 mile auto tour route, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public national wildlife refuge), 1206 APC NWR Rd, Eagle Lake, TX 77434, Colorado County (2026-08-04)

The Attwater's prairie chicken, one of the most endangered birds in North America, needs short, open, sparsely-vegetated ground with clear sightlines for its lek (booming ground) display, and this zone's woody-brush encroachment has no recent record to guide refuge habitat management before the next booming season. Standard: US Fish and Wildlife Service Attwater's prairie chicken recovery habitat guidance plus USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 645 upland wildlife habitat management, applied here to lek (booming ground) sightline habitat structure, short and open ground immediately adjacent to taller nesting cover, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado County, TX, observation and management of general habitat structure only, never a lek search. SDG 15.5. Proof: document only observation log plus open-ground percentage note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note Method (US Fish and Wildlife Service Attwater's prairie chicken recovery habitat guidance plus USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 645 upland wildlife habitat management, applied here to lek (booming ground) sightline habitat structure, short and open ground immediately adjacent to taller nesting cover, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado County, TX, observation and management of general habitat structure only, never a lek search. SDG 15.5.): 1. 1. From the refuge's public auto tour route or a designated pull off, photograph a visible zone of open prairie ground, noting vegetation height, the approximate percentage of open/bare-ground patches, and any woody brush closing the sightlines, without leaving the route. This is observation of general habitat structure only across the visible zone, never a search for, approach to, or attempt to locate an active lek (booming ground) at any point; do not use playback or calls, and do not leave the auto tour route or a designated pull off. 2. 2. Note whether woody brush (Chinese tallow or encroaching native brush) is closing off short, open, sparsely-vegetated ground. 3. 3. Photograph the zone from a fixed reference point for future comparison, and check the sky for building storm clouds before continuing. 4. 4. Record a ranked follow on note describing the sightline structure for the refuge habitat-management crew, flagging the breeding-season restriction. Done when: Photo of the open prairie zone taken from the auto tour route or a designated pull off; Note of the approximate open/bare-ground percentage and any woody brush closing sightlines; Confirmation this was general habitat-structure observation only, never a lek search, no playback or calls used; Ranked follow on note describing sightline structure for the refuge habitat-management crew; GPS waypoint of the surveyed zone

Where

the refuge's public 4 mile auto tour route, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public national wildlife refuge), 1206 APC NWR Rd, Eagle Lake, TX 77434, Colorado County

Pay

$95 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

document only observation log plus open-ground percentage note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

entry

Open until

2026-11-03

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 45–120 minutes. Method of record: Point-count / transect species survey (Breeding Bird Survey + Xerces pollinator-count protocols)

Bring

• binoculars
• field ID guide or app
• GPS phone
• data sheet / recorder
• timer
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to the first survey point; record GPS; note start time, weather, and wind (surveys pause in rain/high wind).
2. 2. Wait a settling minute, then run a fixed-duration count (e.g., 5 min) within a fixed radius; record every species seen/heard and the count of each.
3. 3. Photograph the habitat and any species you can; note any threatened/target or invasive species.
4. 4. Move to the next point along the transect (keep points >=200 m apart) and repeat the count.
5. 5. Record total effort (points, duration) and observer.
6. 6. Enter the per-point species lists + counts, GPS, weather, effort, and photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Threatened/at-risk or target species observed -> flag for the land steward (with location) for protection planning.
• Invasive species dominant / native diversity very low -> flag for a management plan.
• Rain or high wind -> pause/reschedule; counts under poor conditions are not valid.

What counts as done

• Photo of the open prairie zone taken from the auto tour route or a designated pull off
• Note of the approximate open/bare-ground percentage and any woody brush closing sightlines
• Confirmation this was general habitat-structure observation only, never a lek search, no playback or calls used
• Ranked follow on note describing sightline structure for the refuge habitat-management crew
• GPS waypoint of the surveyed zone

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.