12 research outputs found
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Science to Solutions: Conifer Removal Boosts Sage Grouse Success
In recent years the Sage Grouse Initiative, led by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, has worked with many partners to accelerate the mechanical removal of invading conifer trees, primarily junipers, to restore sagebrush habitats in and around sage grouse strongholds across the West. Replicated studies from public and private land in southern Oregon and northwest Utah are the first to document sage grouse response to this type of landscape-level habitat restoration effort. Despite conventional wisdom that female sage grouse use the same nesting areas every year, space-starved hens in Oregon were quick to use restored habitats made available by conifer removal: within four years, 29% of the tracked sage grouse were nesting within and near restored habitats. In Utah, 86% of hens avoided conifer invaded habitats, and those using restored habitats were more likely to raise a brood. Taken together, studies show that landscape-level conifer removal can effectively increase habitat availability and boost success for nesting and brooding sage grouse
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Science to Solutions: Sage Grouse Need Intact Landscapes For Long- Distance Movement
Two new studies revealed unknown long-distance dispersal and migration movements in sage grouse that offer fresh insights for conservation. Using DNA from feathers dropped at leks, scientists discovered that some grouse (about 1% of populations) travel long distances to explore breeding areas up to 120 miles away—movements that can potentially boost populations and temper inbreeding. A separate satellite-telemetry study of sage grouse that migrate between Saskatchewan and Montana found that this population migrates annually up to 150 miles roundtrip between seasonal ranges. During migration, grouse use pathways through intact habitat and rest and refuel at stopover sites. Taken together, these findings underscore the need to conserve intact sagebrush habitats across large landscapes on both public and private lands to sustain sage grouse movement pathways, their populations, and genetic diversity
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Science to Solutions: Reducing Cultivation of Grazing Lands Conserves Sage Grouse
In the northeast part of sage grouse range, 70% of the best habitat is privately owned – and the single greatest threat in this region is cultivation of native sagebrush grazing lands. Scientists assessed lands in eastern Montana, the western Dakotas, and northeast Wyoming to evaluate potential impacts to sage grouse if more land is converted from sagebrush to crops. They found that 96% of active leks today are surrounded by less than 15% cropland, and that a 50% increase in cultivation would decrease the region’s populations by 5%. Scientists then found solutions by evaluating the roles of state and federal policies as well as conservation easements to mitigate risk to sage grouse. Together, the Sodsaver policy in the 2014 Farm Bill, proposed policies on state lands, and a $146 million easement investment can reduce by 87% the bird losses that would have occurred without these conservation measures in place. Maps resulting from this science are now helping partners maximize their return on investment by placing easements in landscapes where they help grouse the most
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Science to Solutions: Private Lands Vital to Conserving Wet Areas for Sage Grouse Summer Habitat
In the arid West, life follows water. Habitats near water – streamsides, wet meadows and wetlands — support the greatest variety of animal and plant life, and attract wildlife during their daily and seasonal movements. In a water-scarce landscape, these lush habitats are also where people have naturally settled. A recent groundbreaking study reveals a strong link between wet sites, which are essential summer habitat for sage grouse to raise their broods, and the distribution of sage grouse breeding areas or leks. The authors found 85% of leks were clustered within 6 miles of these wet summer habitats. Moreover, although wet habitats cover less than 2% of the western landscape, more than 80% are located on private lands. This study makes it clear that successful sage grouse conservation will greatly depend on cooperative ventures with private landowners, ranchers and farmers to help sustain vital summer habitats
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Featured Friend: Harney County Soil & Water Conservation District
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A Year in the Life of the Greater Sage-Grouse: General Habitat Use Periods
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Science to Solutions: Grazing Management In Perspective: A Compatible Tool For Sage Grouse Conservation
Research evaluating effects of livestock grazing on greater sage-grouse nest survival suggests that a variety of locally-appropriate range management strategies support grouse populations. A new Montana study comparing effects of specialized grazing systems on ranches enrolled in the NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) to ranches not enrolled in SGI grazing programs found no difference in nest survival: in both cases, long-term nest success (40-49%) was consistent with the rangewide survival rates of a stable sage grouse population. Researchers also reported heights of live and senesced grasses that were within a half-inch of each other on SGI-enrolled ranches versus non-enrolled ranches. The take-home message is that, done sustainably, grazing is a highly compatible land use for maintaining sage grouse populations, and is wholly preferred over habitat-destroying alternatives like cropland cultivation or subdivision development. Farm Bill-funded assistance through SGI to enhance grazing practices may contribute to protecting habitat by keeping ranching operations profitable and sustainable
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Sage Grouse Initiative
Brochure. What’s good for rangelands is good for grouse. That’s
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of partners are teaming up to achieve world-class
wildlife conservation through sustainable ranching