PAGE TEN
2017
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Kansas Prairie Chickens Observed By KU Student
By MARION KLIEWAR
A University student is closely observing the activities of prairie chickens in Kansas.
Maurice F. Baker, graduate student, has found that a high mortality rate is prevalent among Kansas prairie chicks. From the usual setting of 14 eggs, about four chicks are raised.
This is the most startling thing I have discovered thus far," Baker said. "Quails raise about eight young from the same setting of eggs."
Baker gets much of his information by talking with farmers and going out early in the morning to count flocks and determine where the birds feed.
The prairie chicken weighs about two pounds and has a longer neck and longer feet than the domesticated chicken. Most of its weight is concentrated in the breast
On Oct. 25 which was the open season for hunting prairie chickens for 1950, Baker interviewed 359 hunters and examined 290 birds. He found nearly two adult males for every female and more males than females in the new crop of prairie chickens.
"The meat from the breast makes a good meal for four people," Baker commented.
Although sorghum and corn are staple foods of the prairie chicken. Baker has found wild beans, weed seeds, and green leaves in the crops of prairie chickens.
In late May or early June the golden-brown chicks hatch and in July the broods tend to break up. By the first of November prairie chickens begin to flock, but unlike quail, they do not roost in a compact group.
Baker has found it rather difficult to trap birds to get a record of their movement. A snowfall would aid a great, deal, he thought, since they would be attracted by some bait.
In this research problem on the ecology of prairie chickens in Kansas, which he is doing for the doctor's thesis in zoology, Baker has found Kansas to be one of the few states having two species of prairie chickens. The two species are related to the heath hen. Both are similar in color, but differ in size.
A dark brown in color, the prairie chicken is barred with light brown stripes.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1951
The lesser chicken which is the smaller of the two species is found
in the southwest corner of Kansas and the neighboring corners of Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas.
The greater chicken is found in the southeastern part of the state and extends as far west as the Flint hills area.
Baker has found the prairie chicken most abundant in the southwest corner of Anderson county near Welda. The reason, he said, is the good grassland plus adequate food supply in the area.
At one time the prairie chicken extended over the entire Mississippi valley. There was a steady decline in population until 1912. From 1914 until 1920 hunting of prairie chickens in Kansas was prohibited. Today there are scattered populations in states of the Mississippi valley.
Grads Get Deferment
Selective Service has ordered an extra 30-day draft deferment for draft-elegible college men who are members of the mid-year graduating classes. It is estimated that 30-oo college men are in this group.
The postponement was ordered to enable some graduating seniors to get jobs in essential industries.
By a recent ruling, college graduates are deferred from induction until they complete their current term. The 30-day deferment is an extension to the term.
During the 30-day period, the seniors who graduate at midterm may take jobs, and then inform their draft boards of their new status.
Maj. Gen. Lewis Hershey, selective service director, announced the extension after conferences with educators and representatives of industry. At the present there is a definite need for graduating seniors in some essential fields of industry
Read the Daily Kansan Daily.
New Jet Bomber To Be Tested
Washington - (U.P.)-Air secretary Thomas K. Finliter discussed today that an experimental model of the B-52, the Air Force's new all-jet long-range bomber, is expected to be flown in tests this year.
Finletter told reporters at a Pentagon briefing that two experimental models of the "intercontinental" bomber are being built by the Boeing Airplane co.
The B-52 is designed to have much more speed and better all-around performance than the B-36. It may not have quite as much range.
If it works out as well as Air Force brass expects, the B-52 probably will replace the present version of the B-36.
Finletter emphasized the importance of the strategic air command, which operates the heavy bombers, but said the tactical and air defense commands are not being neglected in the expansion to 95 groups.
"I believe the strategic air command is the great deterrent—and must continue to be—against an attack on us and on the free world." Finletter said.
He added that the tactical and air defense commands would not go into operation until war comes and the country's primary aim is to prevent war.
Three Kansas law school graduates became members of the Kansas Bar association Wednesday following an "emergency" oral examination given by the state supreme court justices Tuesday.
Law Grads Take Kansas Bar Exams
One of the three new attorneys is Robert Miles Siefkin, Wichita, who received his Bachelor of Law from the University at the end of the 1950 fall semester. The other attorneys Norton C. Frickey, and Robert F. Stover, were graduated from Washburn Municipal university of Topeka.
The graduates were given the special examination because they are due to report for duty in the armed forces before Feb.12 which is the regular date for the bar examination.
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Chancellor In Colorado For Scholarship Meeting
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Chancellor Deane W. Malott will attend a meeting of the John and Mary Markle foundation scholarship committee in Colorado Springs this week.
The committee, of which he is a member, is developing a system for awarding medical fellowships. Most of the grants will be for research at the post-doctoral level.
Dr. Berger Gives Paper At College Art Meeting
Klaus Berger, assistant professor of art history, gave a paper, "Pouces and the Painting of the Nine Hundred Century," at the annual meeting of the College Art Association of America in Washington, D.C., Jan. 30.
Dr. Berger will teach a course on modern art at the University this spring for the first time.
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