Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi) Lek Surveys: 5 Year Summary ( ) Northwest Region

Transcription

1 Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi) Lek Surveys: 5 Year Summary ( ) Northwest Region Cameron Broatch Senior Wildlife Technician Alberta Conservation Association Northwest Region 2002

2 Executive Summary Declines in populations of sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi) in the Northwest region of Alberta from the 1960 s through the 1980 s have been attributed to habitat loss from intensified agricultural practices and land clearing. The Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek Survey Program in the Northwest region began in 1995 and concluded in The main objectives were to conduct spring lek surveys and gather site-specific habitat information to facilitate the development of habitat securement and enhancement in the future. The program had four phases: (1) historical review of all previous lek surveys in the NW, (2) implementation of an advertising campaign to raise awareness of the sharp-tailed grouse program to land owners (3) spring lek surveys, and (4) habitat mapping. Between 1995 and 1999, 74 active lek sites were identified and their surrounding habitat mapped. Results indicated a strong negative correlation between areas exceeding 25 % cultivation and the presence of active lek sites. The majority of leks (67%) had less than 11 sharp-tailed grouse. i

3 Acknowledgements Ed Kolodychuk and Leanne Osokin from the Alberta Conservation Association (A.C.A.) provided valuable assistance and direction with the sharp-tailed grouse surveys. The A.C.A. survey crew over the years included Darren Unreiner, Chris Wilke, Andrew Friesen, Tammy Kaleta, Andrea Markiewicz, Dave Jackson, and Ken Wright. I wish to thank the Natural Resources Service and Public Lands staff for their continued support with the surveys and recording all sightings throughout the year (Lyle Fullerton, Mark Heckbert, Dave Moyles, Kim Morton, and Joel Politeski). Reg Arbuckle and the Grande Prairie Ducks Unlimited staff surveyed the Grande Prairie area. Thanks to Paul Hvenegaard and John Tchir (A.C.A.) for creating the survey area maps and data analysis. A special thank you to Al Taylor and Linde Foster for their genuine concern and helping hands for the sharp-tailed grouse. I would also like to add special thanks and acknowledgements to all the local landowners who provided in-kind survey support, and who are contributing to efforts in preserving sharp-tailed grouse habitat. ii

4 Table of Contents Executive Summary......i Acknowledgements.....ii List of Tables and Figures... iv 1.0 Introduction Program Phases Objectives and Methods Historical Review Public Awareness Campaign Spring Lek Surveys Habitat Mapping Results Historical Review and Spring Lek Surveys Public Awareness Campaign Habitat Mapping Recommendations References Appendices Media 2. Survey form example 3. Habitat analyses 4. Historical lek sites 5. Survey results iii

5 List of Tables and Figures Figure 1. Map of Study Area Table 1. Total leks identified Figure 2. Frequency of active lek sites by percent cultivation within 5.8 km iv

6 1.0 Introduction Declines in populations of sharp-tailed grouse in the Northwest Region of Alberta were documented from the 1960 s and the 1980 s. Goddard (1995) reported a decline of 50 to 70 % in sharp-tailed grouse numbers in parts of Alberta over the last 30 years. These declines were attributed to habitat loss from intensified agricultural practices and land clearing (Evans 1961, Kerik and Trepanier 1963, Moller 1982, Holton ). The sharp-tailed grouse was listed as a sensitive species that may require special management (ABFW, 1991; AEP, 1996). As a result, a Sharp-tailed Grouse Habitat Program was initiated in 1995 to address the loss of habitat and develop range management plans in cooperation with landowners. Since 1997, the ACA has been responsible for the continuation of the five-year provincial program that was focused primarily in the Southern region of Alberta. The main objectives in the Northwest region were to determine trends in sharp-tailed grouse populations and lek usage, identify types of habitat supporting lek sites, and determine the relationship between agricultural practices and lek presence. 2.0 Program Phases Objectives and Methods The Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek Survey Program was completed in four phases in the Northwest over a five-year period. It started in 1995 with a historical review of all previous lek surveys in the region. Staff then attempted to locate leks through surveys and through local knowledge solicited by advertisements that publicized the program. Habitat mapping was conducted on the quarter sections containing leks and their surrounding 8 quarter sections. 2.1 Historical Review Previous research and surveys in the early 1960 s and 1980 s (Evans 1961, Kerik and Trepanier 1963, Moller 1982, Holton 1985) provided some data on sharp-tailed grouse densities and distribution in the Northwest region (Figure 1). A total of 56 historical lek sites was used as the foundation for the sharp-tailed grouse surveys. Evans (1961) reported that the Wanham area in this region had a higher density of lek sites per square mile (2.17 leks) than his other study area at Bodo, Alberta. Moller (1982) used aerial surveys to identify lek sites in the Highland Park area of NW Alberta with some success. Holton (1985) set up two road transects which passed by historic lek sites near Whitelaw and Lac Cardinal Lake. 2.2 Public Awareness Campaign Newspaper articles were placed in local papers in 1995 asking for the public to provide information regarding sharp-tailed grouse numbers and their locations. Two articles per paper were sent, approximately one month apart (Appendix 1). Articles were sent to papers 1

7 Grande Prairie Edmonton Red Deer Green Zone White Zone Calgary Northwest Boreal Region Figure 1. Map of Study Area Lethbridge Medicine Hat Kilometers 2

8 in the search areas, including the Beaverlodge Advertiser, the Fairview Post, the Smoky River Express (Falher), the Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune, the Mile Zero News (Grimshaw), the Banner Post (Manning), the Peace River Record - Gazette, the Signal (Rycroft), and the Valley Views ( Valleyview). District Fish and Wildlife offices, Stockmen s Range Management Course, and the North and South Peace Forage Associations were contacted and supplied with sharp-tailed grouse information. A Buck For Wildlife newsletter article on the grouse surveys in 1997 piqued the interest of journalist Dave Finlayson, which led to the Edmonton Journal article Lord of the Dance in 1998 on the front page of the Life Section (Appendix). An informative article in 1999 appeared in the Peace River Gazette titled Dancing up a Storm. All the articles outlined the role ACA was playing in the sharp-tailed grouse surveys and how the public could become involved. 2.3 Spring Lek Surveys Inventory techniques evolved over the duration of the five-year surveys. The main method used to inventory sharp-tailed grouse numbers in the spring involved ground counts of birds on leks. Ground surveys consisted of visiting known or potential leks within the survey areas, by foot or ATV (Jones and Millar 1998). Surveys were conducted from ½ hr before sunrise to 2-½ hrs after sunrise (Holton 1985). The close proximity of leks usually allowed an observer to follow a pre-determined route surveying 3 leks per morning. To ensure assigned leks were counted that day, observers usually remained at a lek for less than 5 minutes (Jones and Millar 1998). During earlier surveys in 1996, more time was allotted to identify each lek site. Sites were recorded as abandoned when no birds were observed at a known lek location. Leks located within an adjoining quarter section of the abandoned sites were recorded as a shift of the known lek site. If a new lek was located, a GPS waypoint was recorded at the site for future reference. An active lek was defined as any site with trampled vegetation, feces, and feathers. The number of birds at each active lek was recorded. Leks with no birds were re-visited if time constraints allowed during the season. Aerial surveys were attempted in 1997 on four known lek sites to determine the effectiveness of this method. Surveys were first conducted in fixed-wing aircraft and then repeated using a helicopter the next day over the same lek sites. Birds observed were categorized into males or females and the total numbers recorded. If the sex could not be identified they were recorded as unclassified. In 1998 and 1999 flush counts were attempted at the leks to determine the reproductive population (identifying territorial males and the females). Flush counts are a survey technique where the observer first counts the birds while they are on the lek, and then does a second count by flushing them into the air. The reproductive population results are summarized in Broatch,

9 2.4 Habitat Mapping The assessment of the habitat involved recording predominant vegetation, land-use, and description of the lek quarter and each surrounding quarter. Quarter sections were divided into 18 cells (approximately 3.6 ha each) and mapped as cultivated (any crop land), hay land, pasture, forested, or native grass (Figure 1). The percentage of cultivated land on all quarters could then be calculated. The presence of suitable nesting and brooding cover within 1.6 km of the lek site strongly influences the breeding population (Pepper 1972). The assessed area surrounding leks totaled 5.8 km 2, less than the 8.04km 2 recommended by Pepper (1972) but this still provided a general overview of the habitat and present land use patterns in the area. In 1995, aerial photos of the historical lek sites were compared from the 1980 s to the 1990 s to determine any changes in land use from forest cover to agricultural use (Friesen 1995). There were only small changes affecting only a limited number of sites. Much of the agricultural land had been broken in the 1960 s as land-clearing opportunities became available, and the sharp-tailed grouse numbers plunged (Evans 1961). The main factor today is the increased amount of intensely cultivated cropland and a lack of idle land. A successful habitat program will focus on maintaining or increasing idle land and providing information to locals about the habitat requirements of the birds. Larger areas such as grazing reserves may require more funds to develop management plans that would benefit both cattle and sharp-tailed grouse. Sharp-tails utilize different habitats depending on the season. Generally, in winter and spring they are found on grassland-low shrub areas and in treed areas; in summer and autumn they are found most often on grassland or grassland-low shrub areas (Moyles, 1981). In South Dakota good habitats consisted of native grass pasture less than 50% utilized, unmowed haylands, trees and shrubs, and weeds and lows shrubs (Janson, 1952). Grasslands can become encroached by aspen and other trees, reducing the vegetation mosaic that sharptails require. Caldwell (1976) determined that leks in aspen parkland in central Manitoba ceased to be used by grouse when the percentage area dominated by grasses within 0.8km radius of the area fell to less than 58%). Protection and management of areas containing these community mixes will be vital for maintaining sharp-tail populations. 3.0 Results 3.1 Historical Review and Spring Lek Surveys Of the 56 historical lek sites only 3 were still in use in 1999 (Appendix 3) A summary of the total number of leks identified is shown in Table 1. In 1999 there were 54 active lek sites confirmed out of the 74 new leks identified throughout the survey years ( ). (Appendix 4). There were 20 leks that had shifted or become abandoned during the survey period. 4

10 Table 1. Total leks identified Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek Surveys: Five Year Summary Survey Years * Total Total # of New active leks Identified Total # of Leks still active in * Includes the only 3 active leks out of the 56 historic lek sites (re-surveyed in 1999) 20 leks became abandoned or shifted from More birds were recorded at one lek site using the helicopter than the fixed wing, but no other differences were observed. In general aerial surveys were not an effective way to survey sharp-tailed grouse. The exposed slopes of the Peace River made it difficult to observe any grouse and it was expensive. However on large grazing reserves this would be an effective tool to define the search area. The total numbers of birds were not compared each year because the lek sites were visited at different times each year and outside of the peak mating period. Leks were classified as active, even with only 2 birds, providing the site fit the active lek definition (feces, feathers, trampled). The majority (67%) of lek sites in 1999 had 10 or fewer birds (includes total birds at lek site, some of which may have been nonterritorial birds). Leks with greater than 10 birds made up only 33% of the active lek total in the NW region. 3.2 Public Awareness Campaign Newspaper articles in 1995 resulted in 12 new lek sites identified in Sharp-tailed grouse sightings were reported and incorporated into the survey plans. 3.3 Habitat Mapping There is a strong negative correlation between presence of leks and amount of cultivation. As cultivation became greater than 25 % of the surrounding 5.8 km 2, a decline in the number of active leks in the area occured (Figure 2). Monitoring the surrounding habitat at lek sites was time consuming because of the constant change from intensified farming practices. See Appendix 2 for the complete data set detailing the percent cover of each land use type on surrounding each lek site. 5

11 25 # of Active Leks >=25% 26-50% 51-75% % % Cultivation Figure 2. Frequency of active lek sites by percent cultivation within 5.8 km Discussion and Recommendations In southern Alberta, Jones and Millar (1998) identified the following biases with the current sharp-tailed grouse survey methods. Aerial surveys likely do not identify all leks. In ground surveys there are problems with traveling a designated route assessing known leks. New or temporary leks are likely missed and not visited. Another bias with the systematic ground counts is that there are movements between dancing grounds by birds. Jones and Millar recommended trend blocks as an alternative to designated route ground counts. This involves identifying survey blocks (stratified based on habitat type and quality) wherein transects are established. In southern Alberta they suggest ½ to 1 mile spacing (depending on wind conditions) with surveyors stopping every ½ mile on the transect to listen for birds (2 minute stops). The Northwest Region has not set up a trend block yet, but more survey time was added to address the abandoned lek sites and new or temporary leks that may be missed during designated route ground surveys. Whether trend blocks are feasible for the Peace country is debatable due to denser brush and smaller landholdings making access more difficult. Jones and Millar also recommend using the number of leks as an indication of estimating population trends. This would avoid relying on counts of territorial males to determine population trends. The high number of abandoned leks reported in 1999 may have been a result of a combination of factors. Low numbers of resident males or habitat instability within 1.6 km of a lek site contribute to abandonment (Evans 1961; Pepper 1972). Factors like predation and hunting could increase abandonment when existing sharp-tailed grouse numbers are low (Ritcey 1995; Moyles and Boag 1981). 6

12 The sharp-tailed grouse has a high profile with many farmers in the Peace Country (Broatch, 2000). The results the ACA has gathered over the five year period with the current funding is commendable. The surveys would not have happened without inkind support from the other agencies and landowners with a genuine concern for the sharptailed grouse. Partnerships with other conservation organizations will be easier to attain if other species of animals or plants are incorporated into the project. Leks near upland native grassland areas or near Ducks Unlimited landscapes could provide more interest in a habitat program. Landowner workshops are planned for the upcoming 2000 season to gauge the interest of local communities as well as individuals. Questionnaires have been designed and will be filled out by local landowners at these workshops. Large grazing reserves will require other partners to implement a beneficial grazing regime that will benefit all. Establishing trend blocks to evaluate the future habitat projects and local leks should be a priority. 5.0 References Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife The status of Alberta Wildlife. Fish and Wildlife Division, Edmonton. No. I/413 Alberta Environmental Protection The status of Alberta Wildlife. Natural Resources Service, Wildlife Management Division, Edmonton. Pub. No. I/620. Broatch, C Sharptailed Grouse lek surveys landowner inquiry results. Alberta Conservation Association. Northwest Region. Peace River, AB. Broatch, C Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi) lek surveys - Northwest region Alberta Conservation Association. Peace River, AB. Caldwell, P.J Energetic and population considerations of Sharp-tailed Grouse in the aspen parkland of Canada. Ph.D. Dissertation, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Evans, R.M Courtship and mating behavior of sharp-tailed grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus jamesi, Lincoln). M.S. Thesis. University of Alberta, Department of Zoology, Edmonton. 123pp. 7

13 Friesen, A Summary of sharp-tailed grouse lek surveys in the Northwest Boreal Region. Alta. Envir. Prot., Nat. Res. Serv., Northwest Boreal Region, Peace River. Goddard, R.K Buck for wildlife proposal outlining two program areas as recommended by the Wildlife Management Advisory Committee. Alta. Envir. Prot., Nat. Res. Serv.- Buck For Wildlife., Lethbridge. 40 pp. Holton, G.R Survey of upland game birds in the Peace River Region Alta. Energy Nat. Res., Fish and Wild. Div., Peace River. Janson, R. G Prairie grouse population trend. S. Dak. Conserv. Dig.19(6):2-5 Jones, P. and B. Millar Sharp-tailed grouse dancing ground surveys in Southern and Central Alberta, Alberta Conservation Association Kerik,D. and A. Trepanier Field notes of upland game bird surveys Dept. of Lands and Forests, Fish and Wildlife Div., Grande Prairie and Valleyview. Unpubl. Rep. 16 p. Kirsch, L.M., A.T. Klett, and H.W. Miller Land use and prairie grouse relationships in North Dakota. J. Wild. Mgmt. 37 (4): Moller, K Aerial survey for sharp-tailed grouse Highland Park, Worsley, and Sulphur Lake area. Alta. Energy Nat. Res., Fish and Wildlife Div., Peace River. Moyles,D.L.J., and D.A. Boag Where, when, and how male sharp-tailed grouse establish territories on areas. Can. J. Zool. 59: Moyles, D.L.J Seasonal and daily use of plant communities by Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pediocetes phasianellus) in the parklands of Alberta. Pepper, G. W The ecology of sharp-tailed grouse during spring and summer in the aspen parklands of Saskatchewan. Sask. Dept. Nat. Res., Wildlife Report number one. 56 pp. Ritcey,R.W Status of the sharp-tailed grouse (columbianus subspecies) in British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks Wildlife Branch. Wildlife Working Report No. WR-70. Victoria, B.C. 8

14 6.0 Appendices Appendix 1 Newspaper articles released in the following local papers. Beaverlodge Advertiser, the Fairview Post, the Smoky River Express (Falher), the Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune, the Mile Zero News (Grimshaw), the Banner Post (Manning), the Peace River Record - Gazette, the Signal (Rycroft), and the Valley Views ( Valleyview). Text from Article 1, March 1995 As part of our sharp-tailed grouse survey, Alberta Fish and Wildlife is asking for your help. Under the Buck for Wildlife program, we are compiling information on sharp-tailed grouse and their habitats. If you see sharp-tail grouse on your land or on crown land, or know of a dancing ground or nesting site, we would appreciate you calling either your district office or the regional office in Peace River ( ), and ask for Andrew Friesen. This information will not be published or be made available to the public, so any private hunting grounds will be kept confidential. Sharp-tailed grouse occupy a variety of habitats in their life cycle. The habitat of interest is their dancing grounds, called leks. In their mating cycle, sharp-tailed grouse males will perform a dance to attract females. The females come to the dancing grounds, and mate with the males of their choosing. Dancing grounds are usually open places, with short vegetation, and usually on a slight hill which provides a good view of potential predators. They take cover in wooded areas, and usually range within a mile of the dancing ground. They can be best identified by their tail feathers, which come to a point, hence their name, versus a fanned ending that most grouse exhibit. Sharp-tails tend to be easily spooked, unlike most other types of grouse. Article 2 Sharp-tailed Grouse Follow-up May 1995 About a month ago Fish and Wildlife ran an article in this paper about a program regarding information about sharp-tailed grouse. Just as an update, response has been positive. Individuals have called both district offices and the regional office providing land locations and some idea of how many grouse there were. Areas ranging from just south of Manning to southwest of Grande Prairie have all had sharp-tail reports. At this point the information is being filed and mapped so that any future dealings with this information will be easily dealt with. To date, 25 locations have been given. Fish and Wildlife are appreciative to those who have called in grouse sites, and ask that if you do know of any areas that sharp-tailed grouse are located to give either your district office or the regional office in Peace River a call. This information is being collected as part of a larger province-wide project, run under the Buck for Wildlife program. Why should grouse population levels be considered? Over the last 30 years, there has been at least a 50% drop in population levels, with some areas showing up to 70% reduction. The major reason for the decline is loss of habitat due to modern agriculture, overgrazing of grasslands, and urbanization. The program is aimed at developing management programs that will benefit agriculture as well as wildlife. This project is designed to work with the landowner to improve 9

15 management of the land to enhance both sharp-tail habitat and agriculture. Economically, sharp-tailed grouse bring in tourist money, as they are an upland game bird. Again, we are grateful for all reports of sharp-tailed grouse, and ask the public to call Fish and Wildlife if they see or know of any sharp-tails on their land. Article from a 1997 Buck For Wildlife Newsletter. 10

16 Peace River Gazette

17 Edmonton Journal May,

18 Appendix 2: Example of sharp-tailed grouse lek and habitat survey form STG Lek Survey / Sighting Form Survey (Lek): X Sighting: Date: 22-Apr-99 Survey Area: Peace River Site # 10 Observer(s): Ed Kolodychuk Qtr NW Sec 24 Twp 085 Rge 20 Mer W5 G.P.S. - Zone m E / m N UTM Lek Site: Active - X Not Active - SE 26 SW 25 SE 25 F Private Private Private x F Cultivated x Hayland x x x x x x x x x x x x F x x x NE 23 x x x x x x NW 24 NE 24 Land Status of Qtr With Lek Site Status: Private - Mixed Landowner: Telephone # Private Private Private X Cultivated C HL HL SE 23 SW 24 SE 24 Bird Data Displaying Males: Females: 10 5 Private xx Private Private Unknowns: xx x Cultivated Cultivated Hayland xx x xx Forested N Total Birds: xx x xx Returned Flushed Birds: Climate Temp: 1 C Wind: 5 kph / dir. SE Cloud: 5 % Precip: 0 mm Habitat and Vegetation Description of Quarter Section With Lek 1 Cultivated - X Hayland - X Grazing - Forested - 2 Flat - X Gently Rolling - Hilly - River Breaks - 3 Grass - 70 % Shrubland - 40 % Willow - % Poplar - 20 % Cultivated - 30 % Pasture - % Hayland - % Other - % 4 Grazing Impact: Low - Moderate - High - 5 Fence Line(s): North - East - South - X West - X Other Comments: Birds were actively displaying on the cultivated portion of the field 13

19 Appendix 3. Habitat analysis (5.8 km 2 ) of 1999 lek sites AREA Lek Site Lek Status Cult.% Hay % Graz.% Forest% Nat.% Beaverlodge BL01 Active Beaverlodge BL02 Active Cleardale CD01 Active Cleardale CD02 Not Active Cleardale CD03 Active Cleardale CD04 Active Cleardale CD05 Active Cleardale CD06 Active Cleardale CD07 Active Eaglesham EG01 Active Eaglesham EG02 Active Eaglesham EG03 Not Active Fairview FV01 Active Fairview FV02 Not Active Fairview FV03 Not Active Fairview FV04 Active Fairview FV05 Active Fairview FV06 Not Active Fairview FV07 Not Active Fairview FV08 Active Grande Prairie GP01 Not Active Grande Prairie GP02 Active Grande Prairie GP03 Active Grande Prairie GP04 Not Active Grande Prairie GP05 Active Grimshaw GS01 Not Active Grimshaw GS02 Active Grimshaw GS03 Not Active Grimshaw GS04 Active Grimshaw GS05 Active Grimshaw GS06 Active Grimshaw GS07 Active Grimshaw GS08 Active Grimshaw GS09 Active High Level HL01 Active High Level HL02 Active High Level HL03 Active High Level HL04 Active High Prairie HP01 Active High Prairie HP02 Active High Prairie HP03 Not Active High Prairie HP04 Active High Prairie HP05 Active High Prairie HP06 Active

20 Appendix 4. Historical sharp-tailed grouse lek sites HISTORICAL SHARP-TAILED GROUSE LEK SITES ( ) LOCATION DATE TYPE LEK STATUS LEK SITE LEKS NEAR 1/4 SEC TWP RGE MER M F TOTAL 01-Apr-84 LEK NW W6 UNKN 01-Apr-84 LEK SE W Apr-84 LEK NE W5 UNKN 01-Apr-83 LEK NE W Apr-83 LEK SE W Apr-83 LEK NE W Apr-83 LEK ACTIVE GS08 NW W5 UNKN 01-Apr-83 LEK SW W Apr-83 LEK SE W Apr-83 LEK NW W Apr-83 LEK NW W5 UNKN 01-Apr-83 LEK NW W Apr-82 LEK SW W6 UNKN 01-Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK NW W Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK SE W Apr-82 LEK SW W Apr-82 LEK SW W Apr-82 LEK SW W Apr-82 LEK NW W Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK SW W Apr-82 LEK NW W Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK SE W Apr-82 LEK SE W Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK ACTIVE CD06 SE W Apr-82 LEK SW W Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK NW W Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK NW W6 UNKN 01-Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK NE W5 UNKN 01-Apr-82 LEK NE W5 UNKN 01-Apr-82 LEK NE W5 UNKN 01-Apr-82 LEK SE W Apr-82 LEK SE W Apr-82 LEK SW W Apr-82 LEK SW W Apr-82 LEK NE W Apr-82 LEK NW W Apr-82 LEK NW W Apr-82 LEK NW W Apr-82 LEK ACTIVE EG01 NE W Apr-82 LEK SE W Apr-82 LEK NW W Apr-82 LEK SW W Apr-82 LEK SW W Apr-82 LEK SE W Apr-82 LEK NW W Counts from 1980's 15

21 Appendix 5. Sharp-tailed grouse survey results AREA Lek Site Lek Status Comments M F U T M F T M F T T T Beaverlodge BL01 Active Beaverlodge BL02 Active 5 5 Cleardale CD01 Active Cleardale CD02 Not Active Cleardale CD03 Active Cleardale CD04 Active Cleardale CD05 Active Cleardale CD06 Active Historical Cleardale CD07 Active 8 8 Eaglesham EG01 Active Historical Eaglesham EG02 Active Eaglesham EG03 Not Active Fairview FV01 Active Fairview FV02 Not Active Fairview FV03 Not Active shift to FV08 Fairview FV04 Active Fairview FV05 Active Fairview FV06 Not Active Fairview FV07 Not Active Fairview FV08 Active from FV03 Grande Prairie GP01 Not Active Grande Prairie GP02 Active Grande Prairie GP03 Active Grande Prairie GP04 Not Active Grande Prairie GP05 Active Grimshaw GS01 Not Active shift back to GS08 Grimshaw GS02 Active Grimshaw GS03 Not Active Grimshaw GS04 Active Grimshaw GS05 Active Grimshaw GS06 Active 5 5 Grimshaw GS07 Active Grimshaw GS08 Active Historcial Grimshaw GS09 Active 5 5 High Level HL01 Active 4 4 High Level HL02 Active High Level HL03 Active High Level HL04 Active 6 6 High Prairie HP01 Active High Prairie HP02 Active High Prairie HP03 Not Active

22 Appendix 5. cont AREA Lek Site Lek Status Comments M F U T M F T M F T T T High Prairie HP04 Active High Prairie HP05 Active High Prairie HP06 Active Manning MN01 Active Manning MN02 Active Manning MN03 Active Manning MN04 Active Manning MN05 Active Manning MN06 Active Manning MN07 Active Manning MN08 Active Manning MN09 Active Peace River PR01 Not Active shift to PR09 Peace River PR02 Active Peace River PR03 Not Active Peace River PR04 Active Peace River PR05 Active Peace River PR06 Active Peace River PR07 Not Active Peace River PR08 Active Peace River PR09 Active from PR01 Peace River PR10 Active Silver Valley SV01 Active Silver Valley SV02 Active Silver Valley SV03 Not Active Silver Valley SV04 Not Active Silver Valley SV05 Not Active Silver Valley SV06 Active Spirit River SR01 Active Spirit River SR02 Not Active Spirit River SR03 Active Valleyview VV01 Not Active Valleyview VV02 Not Active

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