Local Grouse Strust Their Stuff

Springtime in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem provides unique opportunities for bird watching enthusiasts to observe some of nature’s most spectacular displays of breeding behavior in the wildlife world. The Teton Regional Land Trust hosted an educational event to present different mating behaviors of Idaho’s five native Galliformes(grouse species): ruffed grouse, dusky grouse (formerly blue grouse), spruce grouse, greater sage grouse and Columbian sharptailed grouse. The event included a Friday evening presentation and an early Saturday morning field trip to Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area to watch the age-old ritual of male sage grouse and male sharp-tailed grouse strut their stuff on leks to attract mates. A lek is an area where males congregate to display and compete for females.

We approached the sage-grouse lek just before dawn and observed 22 male sage grouse begin their routine of fanning their tail feathers and making a “plopping” noise to attract mates. This sound is created by filling esophageal pouches (air sacks) on their chest and releasing the air quickly to produce a sound that can be heard over one mile away. The males performed on a traditional lek that is void of any vegetation greater than 2 inches and surrounded by sagebrush for escape cover.

Less than a mile away from the sage-grouse lek, we observed another lekking species: the sharp-tailed grouse. Sharp-tailed grouse select notably different habitat for their leks, with a vegetative composition that includes taller residual grasses and more shrubs such as bitterbrush. The taller vegetation made observing the nine males more difficult. Another key difference we observed was their display behaviors. Male sharp-tailed grouse make a peculiar “buzzing” sound and dance in a pattern to attract mates. This buzzing sound is produced by vibrating their tail. They spread their wings, stamp their feet, buzz their tail and produce a low pitched “coo” by filling their esophageal pouches on their neck. This behavior inspired a traditional Native American dance. We also observed male sharp tails jump-flying to land on bitterbrush plants and chirp for a few minutes before returning to the ground for an immediate dancing display.

Both sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse show an extreme degree of breeding site fidelity. They use traditional leks year after year. Males begin showing up on the leks in early March to establish their position on the lek arena and continue displaying into May. Most of the breeding is performed by a few males that occupy the prime locations of the lek.

Both sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse are ground-nesting species. After her eggs are laid, females begin the incubation period. Females and their nests are extremely vulnerable to predation during the egg laying and incubation period, especially in areas of low-quality habitat. Populations of both species have declined throughout their historic range due to habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation.

TRLT, in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, led this educational opportunity to learn biological and ecological information about greater sage grouse and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse by viewing these species in their native habitats performing their annual mating rituals. Both species have recently been petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Although neither species was warranted for listing at this time, low populations continue to raise concern among conservation biologists. The challenge for wildlife agencies throughout the west is to maintain populations at levels that will keep them from being listed. TRLT supports these efforts and has taken an active role in wildlife education to promote what can be done for the protection of these species through habitat conservation and enhancement. ■