on sage-grouse ecology and some uncer-tainty remains. Identification. This fact sheet, published by the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC), provides an overview of knowledge on greater sage-grouse ecology, status, conservation challenges, and current conservation efforts, and presents a summary of recent research findings on the interactions between sage-grouse and wind energy development. Greater Sage-Grouse are notable for their elaborate courtship rituals in the spring where they display, fight and mate on leks. The Gunnison sage-grouse is an endemic grouse of the United States. Tail feathers are long and pointed. Greater sage-grouse are threatened by oil extraction, fracking, mining, and cattle grazing throughout their range in North America. The birds are extremely sensitive to noise and air-pollution. Grayish in color with a black belly and long tail, with spiky tail feathers. Sagebrush, grasses, “forbs” (non-woody flowering plants), and insects comprise the annual diet of sage grouse. The Sage Grouse is best known for the spectacular courtship displays of the males: Large numbers (up to 70 or more) will gather in spring on traditional dancing grounds and strut with ("Encyclopedia of Life", 2012) Contributors Greater Sage-Grouse breeding system is known as lekking—where males gather in a confined area to perform courtship displays for females. org/sage-grouse-fact-sheet/. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)Description: The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a large, rounded-winged, ground-dwelling bird. Some grouse Males have a dark grey head, black throat and yellow lores. Here are some interesting facts about the greater sage-grouse. This fact sheet presents cur-rent knowledge based on recent research and the references cited provide further information on specific findings. Fact Sheet: BLM, USFS Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Effort 3 Surface Disturbance Caps – Research clearly shows that sage-grouse decline as the amount of nearby surface disturbance (from roads, oil and gas wells, buildings, etc.) Though they prefer to walk, greater sage-grouse have been recorded flying up to 48 miles an hour. Exchanges have been established in Colorado, Wyoming and Nevada, and Montana has followed a similar approach. The Greater sage grouse help maintain local sagebrush communities healthy, thus aiding other species of their habitat, such as songbirds or pronghorn. Unfortunately, because of oil and gas development, conversion of land for agricultural use, climate change and human development, sage-grouse only inhabit half their historic range. Remind them to pay attention to the other life cycles, because they have a questionnaire after presentations. POWERED BY MERLIN. It is famous for its complex courtship rituals, and has feathers all the way to its toes. Fun Facts for Kids During the winter, the birds prepare for the approaching breeding season, gaining weight and strength by eating sagebrush leaves and getting required moisture from the snow. Greater Sage-Grouse Overview and Effects of Wind Energy Development Eggs and nests can be lost due to disturbances such as bad weather and predators such as ravens, red fox, raccoon and coyote. It nests on the ground among the sage, and the leaves of this plant are its staple diet in winter. About the plans: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is amending land use plans in Oregon to address threats to the greater sage-grouse and its habitat such that protections under the The Greater Sage-Grouse Facts, figures and discussion Land Ownership Occupied Range (%) Range-wide (acres) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Federal Private State ACRES (millions) 66.2 8.9 100 92.2 5.0 Tribal 53% Federal 38% Private 5% State WYOMING (has most birds) 37% … Greater sage grouse do not pair-bond, they are not monogamous. The male Greater Sage-Grouse, with his fluffy, white ruff and big, fanning tail, has one of the most remarkable displays in the northwestern United States. They are actually different because of the bodies, genes, and the way they mate. Please view the references at www.nationalwind. Both sexes gray overall with very fine patterning, black belly, and long pointed tail. Wyoming. Well-named, this very large grouse is found nowhere except in sagebrush country of the west. Gunnison sage grouse were not considered their own species until the 1990s, because they behave in a very similar way to greater sage grouse. Fun Fact. SAGE-GROUSE ARE SAGEBRUSH OBLIGATES Sagebrush steppe habitat is critical to Greater Sage-Grouse for year-round food and cover. increases. Listen +3 more audio recordings. PDF | On May 19, 2011, Christian A. Hagen published Predation on Greater Sage-Grouse: Facts, Process, and Effects | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate Greater sage-grouse were once found across 13 western U.S. states and 3 Canadian provinces. During the winter, greater sage grouse feed almost exclusively … Names: Two species include the greater sage-grouse (including the geographically distinct BI-State population on the California/Nevada border) and Gunnison sage-grouse. Males bigger than females and more colorful when mating. Healthy habitat is characterized by scattered sagebrush, native bunch grasses, and leafy forbs. Greater Sage Grouse: Largest North American grouse, has scaled gray-brown upperparts, white breast, black throat, bib, and belly, and yellow combs above eyes. Oregon . The Gunnison sage-grouse is smaller, and the male has a stronger banded pattern on its tail feathers. The Greater Sage-Grouse is a large ground-dwelling bird that has finely marked brown, black, beige and white upper parts, a black belly, and a long pointed tail. We have a solution here. For example since 2002, the Greater Sage-grouse population has declined by half in Montana. Greater Sage-Grouse numbers are in dramatic decline due to invasive species (primarily cheatgrass), wildfires (primarily fueled by cheatgrass), mining and oil and gas drilling. Sagebrush typically covers 10 to 50% of the area and small clearings are used as lek sites. Description and Life History of the Greater Sage-Grouse. The sage-grouse are the two species in the bird genus Centrocercus, C. minimus and Centrocercus urophasianus.They are distributed throughout large portions of the north-central and Western United States, as well as the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Centrocercus urophasianus. It was not recognized until 2000 as a different species to the greater sage-grouse. Greater sage grouse will also use edges of wheat and alfalfa fields near shrubsteppe habitat. As mentioned, the greater sage-grouse is a large grouse species that weighs in at about 7 pounds (NatureServe 2018). C. minimus is classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Sage-Grouse Facts 2 www.idrange.org Attachments: Sage-Grouse Fact Sheet Sage-Grouse Life Cycle Habitat Questionnaire 1. Housing and agricultural activities permanently removed habitat, while other factors also took a toll, including unregulated hunting, invasive plants and predation. It has a long, pointed tail with legs feathered to the base of the toes and fleshy yellow combs over the eyes. Greater Sage-Grouse. For his spectacular mating display, he struts around, puffing out a pair of yellow air sacs on his breast and using them to make a series of throaty, popping sounds to attract females and intimidate other males. The upper parts of the chest is brown and it has a large white ruff that it can inflate during courtship using inflatable sacs. Facts Summary: The Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "birds" and found in the following area(s): Canada, United States. Fine patterning, black belly, and has feathers all the way to its toes it difficult to … sage-grouse... Names: two species include the greater sage-grouse population has declined by half Montana., black throat and yellow lores large, rounded-winged, ground-dwelling bird are some facts... 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