Conservation efforts in Colorado protect the rare and beautiful Gunnison sage grouse, a bird known for its remarkable mating ritual. With fewer than 5,000 'burlap' remaining, the species is a federal Endangered Species Act listing candidate, and daily efforts to understand this unique bird are key. Photo: Dave Showalter Gunnison The sage grouse was not recognized as a species until 2000. Before then, it was believed that the sage grouse was a type of western grouse. However, through careful observation, the researchers determined that some of the birds were about a third smaller, had more white on their tails, and made different mating calls. DNA studies then confirmed that the Gunnison sage grouse is a distinct species, separate from the sage grouse. Burlap was once found in the sagebrush prairies of the Four Corners states – Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Today, they are found only in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. In part, the decline of the birds is related to the strong loyalty of their courtship field, which is called leek. U30-GSM (RX3000) (RX3001-00-01, RX3002-00-01, RX3003-00-01)
The grouse return to the same bit every spring; if at the same time the bit is developed, such as a new reservoir, there is a good chance that the subpopulation will fail. Lek is a bird's amazing courtship period. Grouse congregate in open meadows before dawn. As the light rises, the male inflates the white case, giving the two yellow air sacs an audible pop of water. They also show off their long neck feathers, called quills, to impress female grouse. In addition, males fight for prime locations with their rivals and their wings. Photo: Helen Richardson Efforts to protect leek and improve chicken habitat, the Gunnison Sage Grouse Working Group in the San Miguel Basin is tasked with "cooperating and coordinating efforts to ensure a thriving population of Gunnison sage grouse in Healthy Artemisia Ecosystems, Conserved..." Working biologists from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, in the course of the San Miguel Basin Group, have begun a new project to determine how weather and climate affect birds and its habitat. At a location in Nacherita, southern Colorado, the team will install an ONSET® U30-GSM (RX3000) (RX3001-00-01, RX3002-00-01, RX3002-00-01, RX3003-00-01) wireless weather station from the ONSET of Massachusetts. ONSET's research-grade data loggers and weather stations are known to provide the most reliable, accurate data in some of the world's toughest environmental conditions. With ONSETU30-GSM (RX3000) (RX3001-00-01, RX3002-00-01, RX3003-00-01) wireless weather station models, the gunnie research team will have web-based access to data via cellular communications. The weather station will likely be located within the Dry River Basin National Wildlife Refuge, in a colony occupied by grouse. The device will measure parameters including temperature, precipitation, wind, and air pressure. Meteorological data will be used to look at correlations and possible impacts of climate change on grouse populations, habitat improvements to help identify good times for seeding with native grasses and wildflowers, project success, and changes to riparian and wetlands meadow habitat. Preparing for the deployment of the U30-GSM (RX3000) (RX3001-00-01, RX3002-00-01, RX3003-00-01) wireless weather stations next month, the Gunnison Sage Grouse working group looks forward to enhancing its A bird's understanding of the effects of weather and climate on conservation and improvement as its habitat disappears has any goals.
