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Why did the chicken walk 1,180 miles in CIRCLES across the prairie? Scientists mystified by bird that walked in ever smaller spiral

Chicken walked up to 24 miles per day
Researchers puzzled as to the birds' meandering route
Nine other chickens given GPS locators were eaten by predators!

By James Daniel

PUBLISHED: 22:54 EST, 6 September 2013 | UPDATED: 02:05 EST, 7 September 2013

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Why did the chicken cross 507 roads?

It's a good question, but not one that's terribly easy to answer.

A wandering hen has covered 1,180 miles in the last five months.

Since April 4th, the bird has traveled across Western Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri.

Bird in the hand: The bird was fitted with a solar powered GPS tracking unit in order for biologists to track its every movement

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The wanderer: A GPS-tracked Prairie chicken has wandered 1,180 miles since April

Quicker to fly? The chicken's rather circuitous route around Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri

Monitored: Bird No. 112, as she's known was reintroduced to the area from Nebraska by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Biologists were able to track the little brown greater prairie chicken by using a GPS unit and her travels have surprised biologists.

Jen Vogel has kept track of her by satellite during postdoctoral work at Iowa State University in Ames.

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'After arriving from western Nebraska, she might have been disorientated,' Ms. Vogel told the Kansas City Star. 'It seems like she was searching for something.'

The bird, who is simply known by her number, 112, was released just north of the Missouri state line in spring.

Repeat visitor: The chicken even visited some places twice, including the Bridges of Madison County near Des Moines, Iowa

Bird brained: The biologists are at a loss to explain why a chicken would walk 1,180 miles!

It's not clear whether the bird was looking for a place that looked more like home or if she was seeking companionship.

On several occasions, the chicken would walk 24 miles a day.

The chicken visited several places more than once, including the bridges of Madison County, southeast of Des Moines.

Now the vagabond has returned to Iowa for the third time but slowed down during July and August.

No.112 is the only bird not killed by a predator among the ten other chickens that were given the solar-powered GPS collars by Iowa biologists.

Ms Vogel who has been monitoring the location of her bird, last checked on Tuesday.

'She seems to be ending her travels; her locations recently have all been in southwestern Iowa.'

Whatever No.112 was seeking, she said, 'I hope she’s found it.'

The chicken was reintroduced to the area from Nebraska by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The species has mostly disappeared from the region after being driven out by over-hunting and the destruction of their habitat by farming.

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She was obviously busy looking for a road to cross. Or she has a squint in her left eye.

- despairing eve , exeter devon, United Kingdom, 08/9/2013 08:41

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Don't all humans walk in ever decreasing circles if they have no reference to keep them in a straight line? and yes poultry in motion is a classic cant see that one coming round again.......

- lgm101 , Lakedistrict, United Kingdom, 08/9/2013 08:33

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Take that stupid tracking collar of the poor bird and then.....see what she does next! You never know, you might learn something!

- Gill , Lincoln, 08/9/2013 07:58

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Perhaps on leg was longer than the other!

- Auger Borer , East Midlands, United Kingdom, 08/9/2013 07:48

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Maybe trying to find her lost egg?

- Bemused American , Northwest, United States, 08/9/2013 07:40

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Now we know why American racing is a left turn affair. - Freedom Rings, Texas, United States, 7/9/2013 8:42 All humans & animals when placed in a desert without landmarks will eventually walk in a circle, It is natural. Just as it is more natural to drive on the left. Over a Billion drivers still do so.

- John Vivatrex , Fort Erie, Canada, 08/9/2013 06:14

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Are they being egged on by publicity seeking scientist's ?.

- Michael , Haverfordwest, United Kingdom, 08/9/2013 06:14

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Maybe she was trying to get rid of the idiot humans tracking her every move?

- wastintime , Someplace somewhere USA, 08/9/2013 06:10

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that's really cool stuff.

- Bagpiper13 , Calgary, Canada, 08/9/2013 06:07

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next it will have it's own reality show hosted and produced by Ryan Seacreast ....