Field Methods for Translocating Female Greater Sage‐Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ) with their Broods

Abstract More effective methods for counting greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are needed to better assess population trends through enumeration or location of new leks. We describe an aerial infrared technique for conducting sage-grouse lek counts and compare this method with conventional ground-based lek count methods. During the breeding period in 2010 and 2011, we surveyed leks from fixed-winged aircraft using cryogenically cooled mid-wave infrared cameras and surveyed the same leks on the same day from the ground following a standard lek count protocol. We did not detect significant differences in lek counts between surveying techniques. These findings suggest that using a cryogenically cooled mid-wave infrared camera from an aerial platform to conduct lek surveys is an effective alternative technique to conventional ground-based methods, but further research is needed. We discuss multiple advantages to aerial infrared surveys, including counting in remote areas, representing greater spatial variation, and increasing the number of counted leks per season. Aerial infrared lek counts may be a valuable wildlife management tool that releases time and resources for other conservation efforts. Opportunities exist for wildlife professionals to refine and apply aerial infrared techniques to wildlife monitoring programs because of the increasing reliability and affordability of this technology.

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Spatial Distribution of Greater Sage-Grouse Nests in Relatively Contiguous Sagebrush Habitats

The Condor ◽

10.1093/condor/107.4.742 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 107 (4) ◽

pp. 742-752 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Matthew J. Holloran ◽

Stanley H. Anderson

Keyword(s):

Radio Telemetry ◽

Centrocercus Urophasianus ◽

Spatial Arrangement ◽

Population Viability ◽

Prey Detection ◽

Population Declines ◽

Sage Grouse ◽

Nesting Habitat ◽

Nesting Site ◽

Low Probability

Abstract Degradation of nesting habitat has been proposed as a factor contributing to Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) population declines throughout North America. Delineating suitable nesting habitat across landscapes with relatively contiguous sagebrush cover is difficult but important to identify areas for protection. We used radio-telemetry to locate Greater Sage-Grouse nests in relatively contiguous sagebrush habitats in Wyoming to investigate the spatial arrangement of nests relative to lek and other nest locations. Nest distributions were spatially related to lek location within 3 and 5 km of a lek, and a 5-km buffer included 64% of the nests. There was no relationship between lek size and lek-to-nest distance, suggesting that accurate population trend evaluation might require lek surveys in addition to lek counts. Closest known lek-to-nest distance was greater for successfully hatched compared to destroyed nests, and closely spaced nests tended to experience lower success and have higher probabilities of both nests experiencing the same fate compared to isolated nests, suggesting that a mechanism of enhanced prey detection occurred at higher nest densities. A low probability that a given individual's consecutive-year nest spacing occurred randomly suggested nesting site-area fidelity. Although a grouped pattern of nests occurred within 5 km of a lek, the proportion of nesting females located farther than 5 km could be important for population viability. Managers should limit strategies that negatively influence nesting habitat regardless of lek locations, and preserve adequate amounts of unaltered nesting habitat within treatment boundaries to maintain nest dispersion and provide sites for philopatric individuals.

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Genetic mark‐recapture analysis of winter faecal pellets allows estimation of population size in Sage Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus

Ibis ◽

10.1111/ibi.12768 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 162 (3) ◽

pp. 749-765 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jessica E. Shyvers ◽

Brett L. Walker ◽

Sara J. Oyler‐McCance ◽

Jennifer A. Fike ◽

Barry R. Noon

Keyword(s):

Population Size ◽

Centrocercus Urophasianus ◽

Sage Grouse ◽

Mark Recapture ◽

Faecal Pellets

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Sexual and subspecific variation in the numbers of rectrices of blue grouse

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z91-020 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 69 (1) ◽

pp. 134-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fred C. Zwickel ◽

Mark A. Degner ◽

Donald T. McKinnon ◽

David A. Boag

Keyword(s):

Distinct Group ◽

Centrocercus Urophasianus ◽

Small Sample ◽

Hybrid Population ◽

Sage Grouse ◽

Modal Number ◽

The North ◽

Dendragapus Obscurus ◽

Coastal Birds ◽

Males And Females

We examined numbers of rectrices of all subspecies of blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus), determined from our own studies and reported in the literature. Approximately 8% of all birds had an uneven number of rectrices, with no difference between males and females. More birds from a presumed subspecific "hybrid" population had uneven numbers of rectrices than those from "nonhybrid" samples. Of North American tetraonines, sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and blue grouse appear most variable in this character. Within subspecies, males and females had the same modal numbers of rectrices. The sexes differed, however, in the overall distribution of numbers of rectrices; most birds with submodal numbers were females and most birds with supermodal numbers, males. Males and females in one hybrid population differed in modal numbers of rectrices: males 20, and females 18. Eighty per cent of all coastal blue grouse had 18 rectrices, with no differences among subspecies. In contrast, all interior subspecies differed from each other. The two northern interior subspecies, D. o. pallidus and D. o. richardsonii, had modes of 20 rectrices, with that for pallidus weaker than that for richardsonii (70 and 81% modal, respectively). Dendragapus obscurus obscurus had a mode of 18 rectrices, not different from that for coastal birds. A small sample of D. o. oreinus was equally divided between birds with 18 and 20 rectrices, suggesting relationships with D. o. pallidus to the north and D. o. obscurus to the east. Northern interior blue grouse emerge as a distinct group with respect to modal number of rectrices, which parallels the pattern for the presence or absence of tail bands. Based on these two characteristics, coastal blue grouse appear more closely related to southern interior than to northern interior subspecies. The blue grouse is the only tetraonine with clear evidence of subspecific variation in numbers of rectrices.

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Occurrence of Greater Sage-Grouse × Sharp-Tailed Grouse Hybrids in Alberta

The Condor ◽

10.1093/condor/103.3.657 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 103 (3) ◽

pp. 657-660 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cameron L. Aldridge ◽

Sara J. Oyler-McCance ◽

R. Mark Brigham

Keyword(s):

Centrocercus Urophasianus ◽

Sage Grouse ◽

Tympanuchus Phasianellus ◽

Dna Analyses

Abstract Two distinct grouse were regularly observed at two Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) leks in both 1999 and 2000 in southeastern Alberta. Physically and behaviorally, the birds exhibited characteristics of both Greater Sage-Grouse and Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), suggesting they were hybrids. DNA analyses of blood and feather samples indicated that both birds were males with Greater Sage-Grouse mothers and thus, fathers that were likely Sharp-tailed Grouse. Ocurrencia de Híbridos entre Centrocercus urophasianus y Tympanuchus phasianellus en Alberta Resumen. Dos aves distintivas fueron observadas con regularidad en dos asambleas de cortejo de Centrocercus urophasianus en el sureste de Alberta tanto en 1999 como en 2000. Las aves presentaban características físicas y de comportamiento tanto de C. urophasianus como de Tympanuchus phasianellus, lo que sugiere que se trataba de individuos híbridos. Análisis de ADN extraído de muestras de sangre y plumas indicaron que ambos individuos eran machos hijos de hembras de C. urophasianus. Por tanto, sus padres probablemente eran T. phasianellus.

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