Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) lek counts are conducted annually within Utah with a goal of counting the peak number of males on all known leks in the state. Wyoming State Parks, CAREERS Greater Sage-Grouse can live up to 9 years in the wild, but more often 3–6 years. While sage-grouse require sagebrush landscapes to survive, leks are often located in open areas where the males can be better seen and heard by females. Weighing the Fate of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse; Today the U.S. The males are known for their elaborate and spectacular mating dances performed in leks, their seasonal mating grounds. Figure 2: Central Oregon sage-grouse population by BLM district. B - Annual rate of change in male lek complex attendance reported as percentage of 2016 male attendance. Use of binoculars or a spotting scope is a. populations of greater sage-grouse. References: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 2011. The greater sage-grouse are probably best known, by most, for their extravagant courtship rituals. The greater sage-grouse is the largest species of grouse in North America. Keep pets under control and away from all wildlife. The LADWP’s Greater Sage-Grouse Lek Access Policy consists of the following components: Seasonal closure prohibiting access to sage-grouse habitat areas and leks south of Benton Crossing Road during the peak breeding period: March 1 – last Saturday in April. Each spring, male sage-grouse perform an elaborate sunrise display on communal breeding grounds known as “leks”. Like many other grouse species, the Greater Sage-Grouse male plays no role in the raising of the young. Sage-Grouse Lek Viewing Guide. Wyoming.gov Off-road use in the spring can disturb or destroy nests. Greater Sage-Grouse displaying on a lek in its sagebrush home. Your impact, impacts sage- These rules incorporate and supplement portions of the "Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon" (2011) (“the Strategy”) which sets … View our current jobs, PRIVACY POLICY Males display on dancing grounds known as leks. Government Our results indicate that further standardization of techniques and replicate counts are necessary. More than 75 percent of these acres lie in Priority Areas of Conservation designated by … Male greater sage grouse gather in a lek to perform strutting displays in order to attract a mate near Henefer, Summit County on Sunday, May 6, 2018. WYOMING WILDLIFE MAGAZINE - SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Drive safely around semi-trucks on the haul road. About Wyoming Game & Fish, STOP POACHING Click the link below to get started. Do not construct wildlife or photography viewing blinds on or near lek. GREATER SAGE-GROUSE CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR OREGON . When you follow the American Birding Association’s Principles of Birding Ethics, you prevent harm to sage-grouse and their habitats. Although several males will display on a lek, all of the females will choose the same one or two males to mate with (yup, it’s ladies’ choice!). Better yet, leave them home. 2004). MISSOULA, MT - In the past five years, the Sage Grouse Initiative has worked with more than 1,120 ranches to conserve more than 6,000 square miles of sage-grouse habitat in 11 western states. Others are well prepared for public viewing and may feature viewing blinds or guided tours. sage-grouse, lek abandonment, shrubs, wildfire. While sage-grouse require sagebrush landscapes to survive, leks are often located in open areas where the males can be better seen and heard by females. Greater Sage-Grouse return to the same leks year after year, like salmon returning to their spawning grounds. All of the males will display the entire lekking season at … Report a violation, ONLINE STORE Females tend to be longer-lived, due to high predation of males on leks. Keep pets in your vehicle. Traditional lekking grounds may be used for years. Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies(Order: Galliformes, Family:Phasianidae). the annual mating ritual. Park away from the edge of the lek. Feathers fly each spring when male greater sage-grouse square off on the lek. Your cooperation is needed to ensure protection and perpetuation of Wyoming’s sage-grouse populations. Others are well prepared for public viewing and may feature viewing blinds or guided tours. Greater Sage-Grouse are the largest of the indigenous North American grouse in the Tetraonidae family and include two species; Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus (Greater Sage-Grouse hereafter Sage-Grouse) and C. minimus (Gunnison’s Sage-Grouse) (see Canadian Sage-Grouse Recovery Team, 2001). Related Stories. Greater Sage-Grouse have experienced declines and local extirpations in Oregon. It gets its name, food, and shelter from sagebrush plants (within the genus Artemisia). That’s why you may see displaying males standing to the side of a female instead of in front of her. The public is invited to view this ritual on two separate weekends in April. Most of the females mate with the same one or a few males—putting intense pressure on males to be the best. greater sage-grouse in California. Females visit the leks to obtain matings, and then go off to raise their brood by themselves. When do sage grouse gather on a lek? Habitat loss and fragmentation, juniper expansion into sagebrush, and impacts of increased fire frequency and intensity on sagebrush due to invasive annual plants have contributed to declines. The birds gather in communal “leks” in the spring, where the males dance and strut to impress females and challenge rival males, inflating their puffed-up white throats and showing off the striking yellow combs above the eyes, all the while emitting whistling … Like the sharp-tailed grouse, male greater sage-grouse participate in an extraordinary courtship display each spring. densities of greater sage-grouse for use in conservation planning. The greater sage-grouse is the largest species of grouse in North America. Sage-Grouse Core Area Maps and Shapefiles Sage-Grouse Map with Names Sage-Grouse Management, Connectivity, and Winter Concentration Areas - Version 4 Core Management Areas - Version 4 - Shapefiles Core Management Areas - Version 4 - UTM Zone 12 NAD … Respect the birds providing your recreation. Although many male Greater Sage-Grouse may display at a lek, only one or two males get picked by a majority of the females for mating. Use binoculars and spotting scopes to observe birds. Large numbers of males gather at a lek site to display for females – up to 400 males may congregate in a large and high quality lek (NatureServe 2018). Business The ritual is called lekking. wgfd.wyo.gov/Habitat/Sage-Grouse-Management. Don’t camp on desert springs or wet meadows in late summer. Called the “Cock of the Plains” by early explorers, Lewis and Clark, the. Sunday, April 3, 2016. The lost plumage matters little to the males, but the genetic material in their feathers will give researchers new insights into the secret lives of these iconic sagebrush dwellers. Sage-Grouse Data Compilation of 2019 Research in Wyoming Document from Dr. Jeff Beck summarizing 2019 research projects in Wyoming. Each spring, at dawn, the sagebrush country of western North America fills with a strange burbling sound and an even stranger sight. A lek is an aggregation of male animals gathered to engage in competitive displays and courtship rituals, known as lekking, to entice visiting females which are surveying prospective partners to mate with. Meanwhile, the females peck around seemingly uninterested in all of this show of force. Each spring, male sage-grouse perform an elaborate sunrise display on communal breeding grounds known as “leks”. Do not make loud noises or sudden movements. Commission Information, ABOUT US The greater sage-grouse is the largest grouse in North America. Lek count data are currently the most commonly used data to assess population trends throughout the distribution of several grouse species within North America, including greater prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido), lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus), sharp‐tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), Gunnison sage‐grouse (Centrocercus minimus) and greater sage‐grouse. The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) is an important species both politically and ecologically throughout the sagebrush-steppe habitats of North America. Leks can be very sensitive to disturbance, and some leks are closed to the public. Shop WGFD Merchandise, STATE OF WYOMING More of my photos are available at www.hisandhersphoto.com . This spring, researchers began collecting feathers from more than 7,000 leks spread across 11 Western states and two Canadian provinces. Much like an avian disco, the males and females hit the dance floor, with throngs of males puffing out their chests and displaying by filling air sacs and swishing their wings. Restrict your ORV use in sage-grouse habitats. By squeezing it out with force, they begin their display. Over the harsh winter, sage-grouse actually manage to gain weight and strength in preparation for the breeding season by feeding on the leaves of sagebrush. Greater sage-grouse at a lek, with multiple males displaying for the less conspicuous females. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are the larg-est grouse species in North America and once occupied 1,200,483 km2 of sagebrush habitats in 13 of the western United States and 3 Canadian provinces (Schroeder et al. Greater Sage Grouse on their lek, or communal display grounds for. Be especially cautious with viewing activities during late March and early April when breeding activity usually peaks. Tourism The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Five Things You Need to Know about Greater Sage-Grouse and the Endangered Species Act; Last Grouse Standing: Can Birds and Industry Coexist in the Western Sage Lands? Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) are a sagebrush-obligate species that require specific habitat types within sagebrush communities during various life-history stages, such as nesting, brood-rearing, and wintering (Patterson, 1952). Dog training on sage-grouse outside the hunting season is not legal. View our Privacy Policy. GAME & FISH COMMISSION Stay up to date on all Wyoming Game and Fish news either by email or text message. It is an imposing, turkey-sized bird with mottled brown/grey upper parts and a black belly. North Mono (solid line) has declined from a recent peak of 624 males per lek in 2014 to 207 males per lek in 2020. Arrive at lek sites at least one hour before sunrise. The data will greatly improve our knowledge of sage-grouse … Around the beginning of March, the male grouse return to their communal mating grounds called a lek where they compete with other males to attract and breed with the females. The species was recently a candidate for listing under the federal Endangered The sound from the males’ booming display is actually loudest off to each side, not straight ahead. Understanding factors that influence detection probabilities will allow managers to more accurately estimate the number of males present on leks. The weather is usually better too. The rest of the year these birds melt away into the great sagebrush plains that are their only home. Stay on established roads and trails. The dramatic display … greater sage-grouse lek complex size (males per active lek). Greater Sage-grouse Lek near Buffalo, WY.