[obol] Sharp tailed grouse (Wallowas)

[Pat Waldron]

Hi Tran,

	Good observations. It might be a very good idea to inform Mike  
Hansen and other biologists, who work with SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, to  
PLEASE establish THE HABITAT before introducing the birds. The  
gracious owner may be very open to growing low shrubs, aspens,  
Artemisia, and birch, for food and cover. Ask.  And, this should have  
been done prior to introduction. This "effort" has been going on for  
15 years!

	I am very tired of "biologists" who put the cart before the horse  
just to see if it will "work this time". It is a waste of time,  
resources. and money. And, if the birds do become extinct, we will  
know that bad management was the problem. How much money does it take  
to plant habitat? Volunteers and schools do it all the time.

	Pat Waldron
	East of Scio

	



On Apr 2, 2008, at 3:37 PM, khanh tran wrote:

>
> Hi Tom and Obolers,
>
> According to Mike Hansen, a local biologist, who is solely  
> responsible for monitoring the Sharp tailed grouse population in  
> the Wallowas, the birds are doing very poorly. The extremely small  
> population now consists of about 4 birds.  It has been a hard  
> winter and several birds were lost due to in inadequate supply and  
> selection of proper food.  It has been a frustrating effort for the  
> last 15 years to get the birds fully established.
>
> I am not surprise as this area near Leap Lane in Enterprise is so  
> open  with little protection and thus allowing ground and sky  
> predators to feast on the grouse.  Even with alot of ground  
> squirrels to somewhat deter the raptors from heavily preying on the  
> grouse, the area is devoid of many low shrubs, aspen, and other  
> ornamental birch trees for the birds to optimally feed on.
>
> The birds are on private property and are protected from any  
> chances of being shot by hunters.  The owner has gracious  
> cooperated with the biologists to help the birds become stable but  
> their hard efforts are unsuccessful.
>
> It is a shame as I was lucky this weekend to observe a lek of 20  
> birds in the Okanogan area display.  They are very interesting to  
> watch and hear. The birds in Northcentral Washington are much more  
> confiding as the area offers better protection, optimal habitat for  
> establishing a viable population. There are copious amount of  
> adequate ground cover, birch trees, and elevated hills with flat  
> grasslands for the birds to display.
>
> The Wallowas are so devoid of the dry grassland where sagebrush,  
> Artemisia spp. (especially A. tridenta) occurs on plains and low  
> hills.  I really think this is why we are seeing their demise.
>
> The FWD is in the process of translocating about 30 birds from Utah  
> and Idaho to the Wallowas.  We can only hope for the best but I am  
> not optimistic.
>
> I have only seen one or two birds at most in the winter from time  
> to time, being most recently in last December (two birds). I recall  
> Steve Shunk seeing about 10 or so birds a couple of winters ago.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)
>
>
>
> Subject: Sharp-tailed Grouse
> From: "Tom Crabtree"
> Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 14:15:14 -0800
>
> I don't have my reference sources available to me at the moment,  
> but could
> someone tell me approximately when the last Sharp-tailed Grouse  
> were seen in
> the state?  I know that there have been some attempts to  
> reintroduce them in
> Eastern Oregon.  What is the status of those reintroductions?  Since I
> haven't seen anyone reporting them on obol as long as I can  
> remember, I'm
> guessing they are no longer doing that, but I'd appreciation some
> confirmation.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Tom Crabtree
>
> "Grousing" in Bend
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