The golden, grouse-like little bird once numbered in the millions on the coastal plains of Texas and Louisiana. Historic accounts by early Texas settlers tell of the male mating call, similar to the sound of blowing over the top of a soda bottle, so loud that it hurt their ears, says Terry Rossignol, a ranger at the Attwater's Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge outside of Eagle Lake. Despite the intervention of science, the number of birds in the wild has been slow to rise. The city of Eagle Lake celebrates the hope of life for the birds with the annual Prairie Chicken Festival, April 7-9. The residents invite the carnival to town, and the town square fills with food, crafts, and educational booths.
Kids enjoy the petting zoo, a chance to build their own bird feeder, and games.
Under the nature tent the state, federal, and private wildlife agencies show their efforts to preserve and protect native Texas habitat and wildlife. The highlight of the weekend is free guided tours of the refuge every hour between 7am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. As sure as I say that the birds won't show up at the booming grounds. There are no guarantees. Besides the booming call, the males have bright red glands on their necks that they puff up like cheeks as they strut around.