Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek Surveys By: Cameron Broatch Senior Wildlife Technician Alberta Conservation Association Northwest Region 2002
Executive Summary Spring lek surveys in the Northwest region of Alberta were completed for the Sharptailed Grouse Habitat Program in 1999 and 2000. Habitat assessments were performed on active historical lek sites and 12 of the 17 new lek sites identified in 2000. As an extension for 2000, landowner questionnaires and workshops were established to determine if habitat management projects could be developed in the study area. A total of 52 questionnaires were completed resulting in compilation of much needed landowner perspectives and attitudes towards habitat management.
Acknowledgements Thank you to the following Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) staff for their early bird mornings: Tammy Kaleta, Andrea Markiewicz, Ed Kolodychuk, 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 for creating the survey area maps and Mike Rosendal (ACA) for compiling and graphing the landowner inquiry results. 2
Table of Contents: Executive Summary... 1 Acknowledgements... 2 Table of Figures:... 4 List of Tables:... 4 1.0 Introduction... 5 2.0 Study Area... 5 3.0 Methods... 6 3.1 Lek Surveys... 6 3.2 Habitat Assessment... 6 3.3 Landowner Workshops and Questionnaires... 6 4.0 Results... 7 4.1 Ground Surveys... 7 4.2 Habitat Assessments... 7 4.3 Questionnaire Results... 8 5.0 Discussion... 10 6.0 References... 11 7.0 Appendices... 12 3
Table of Figures: Figure 1. Map of study area in northwest Alberta...5 Figure 2. Frequency of active leks by % cultivation within 5.8km 2...7 Figure 3. Have you seen an increase or decrease in sharp-tailed grouse numbers?..8 Figure 4. Cause of sharp-tailed grouse decrease..9 List of Tables: Table 1. Total active lek sites in 2000...7 Table 2. Results from New Questionnaire. 9 4
1.0 Introduction The 2000 sharp-tailed grouse lek surveys were an extension of a five-year provincial sharp-tailed grouse program completed in 1999. The objective of the program was to evaluate the declining abundance of sharp-tailed grouse caused from the loss of habitat. The 2000 sharp-tailed grouse surveys were completed in conjunction with landowner workshops and interviews to investigate the potential for developing habitat management projects. 2.0 Study Area The study area was located within the settled agricultural zone (white zone) of northwest Alberta (Figure 1). The white zone was divided into 13 areas for the purpose of the sharp-tailed grouse surveys (Appendix 1). Landowner workshops were delivered in the Beaverlodge and Peace River survey areas. Figure 1. Map of study area in northwest Alberta. 5
3.0 Methods 3.1 Lek Surveys Ground survey methods were used to inventory sharp-tailed grouse breeding/dancing grounds, commonly known as leks. Surveys were conducted between March 20 and May 20, 2000. Methods consisted of visiting known or potential lek sites within the survey area. Surveys were conducted from ½ hr before sunrise to 2-½ hrs after sunrise (Holton 1985). A site was classified as active if the vegetation was trampled and/or feces or feathers were present. The number of birds at each site was recorded. Lek sites with no birds were re-visited if time constraints allowed during the season. 3.2 Habitat Assessment Habitat assessments included recording the predominant vegetation, land-use, and description of the lek quarter and each surrounding quarter section. Each quarter section was divided into 18 cells and mapped as cultivated (any crop land), hay land, pasture, forested, or native grasses. The habitat could not be evaluated in mid March when snow still covered the ground and surveys began. The habitat assessment for historical leks was completed only on active sites. 3.3 Landowner Workshops and Questionnaires Landowner questionnaires were developed to evaluate the overall interest of participation in a habitat management program. Previous questionnaires developed by Broatch (1999) were used as a benchmark for a new format (Appendix 2 & 3). A new format was used in an attempt to simplify questions and to make filing out the questionnaires easier for landowners. Both the old and the new questionnaires were used when compiling data. Local contacts with landowners were made during the lek survey season. A powerpoint presentation was developed to inform local landowners of the sharp-tailed grouse habitat requirements (Appendix 4). This was shown at two local workshops and the questionnaires were completed by those attending. Landowners not attending a workshop were interviewed, either in person or by phone to complete the questionnaires. The workshops took on two different forms. The first form consisted of a landowner, whose land contained a lek site, inviting all his neighbours in the area to a local home. The next form revolved around a local community where neighbors within 1.6 km of any known lek site were called to inform them of a presentation on sharp-tailed grouse that would happen at noon on the following Saturday. Sandwiches and drinks were supplied at the local community hall, a powerpoint presentation was shown, and the questionnaires were filled out. The answers to pertinent questions were then tallied and compiled into graphs and tables. 6
4.0 Results 4.1 Ground Surveys Surveys identified 17 new active lek sites in 2000 (Table 1). There were 69 active lek sites confirmed out of 91 leks identified since 1995. During the survey period, 22 leks from previous years could not be located. Table 1. Total active lek sites in 2000 Survey Years 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Totals Total # of new leks identified 1 12 20 22 19 17 91 Total # of historical lek sites active in 2000 1 8 12 15 16 17 69 Only 2 historic lek sites were active out of the total 56 (pre 1995) historic sites 8 active leks in 2000 are within 1.6 km of a historic lek site 4.2 Habitat Assessments Habitat assessments were completed on only 12 of the 17 new leks identified in 2000. Figure 1 shows that 10 of the 12 lek sites had less than 50% cultivation within 5.8km 2. 6 5 # of Active Leks 4 3 2 1 0 <=25 26-50 51-75 >75 % Cultivation Figure 2. Frequency of active leks by % cultivation within 5.8km 2. 7
4.3 Questionnaire Results From the workshops in 2000, there were 30 of the old or previous questionnaires completed and 22 of the newly formatted ones. Questions that gauged landowner attitude towards monitoring sharp-tailed grouse numbers and habitat characteristics were tabulated. From the results it was clear that the majority of landowners were interested in learning more about habitat improvements and were interested in maintaining sharp-tailed grouse on their land. When asked whether or not landowners had seen an increase or decrease in sharp-tailed grouse numbers the results were as follows: % of Total 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Increase in Sharptail #'s Decrease in Sharptail #'s Fairly Consistent Unknown Figure 3. Have you seen an increase or decrease in sharp-tailed grouse numbers? 8
When asked to explain why there has been a decrease in sharp-tailed grouse numbers the results were as follows: 40 35 30 25 % of Total 20 15 10 5 0 Predation Road Kill Increase in Hunters Loss of Habitat Unknown Reason Figure 4. Cause of sharp-tailed grouse decrease When asked whether or not people were interested in learning more about habitat management, 15 replied yes and 3 stated that they had no interest. When asked if they were interested in participating in a habitat management program, 61% said yes, 22% said no and 17% stated that they would need more information before giving a direct answer. Table 2. Results from New Questionnaire. Question Wildlife is important on my land? Are you Interest in keeping Sharptails on land? Are you interested in learning about habitat improvement? Strongly Agree 1 2 3 4 22 0 0 0 0 20 1 2 0 0 YES 18 NO 2 Strongly Disagree 5 9
5.0 Discussion Ongoing surveys of sharp-tailed grouse lek sites allow researchers to assess current, and predict future, grouse populations. Habitat assessments on these sites give valuable information into the habitat requirements of this species and allow managers to carefully monitor habitat degradation. Knowing land use patterns is important to determine what kind of areas sharp-tailed grouse prefer, and to attempt to better manage for these types of areas. As an extension to these surveys, ongoing workshops and questionnaires should be given to local landowners. Having these types of questionnaires and workshops allows wildlife managers to get a better understanding of the attitudes and perspectives of local landowners which leads to better management decisions that not only benefit the species but the landowners as well. 10
6.0 References Broatch, C. 1999. Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek surveys, Northwest Region 1999. Pg. 1-18. Alberta Conservation Association, Peace River, AB. Holton, G.R. 1985. Survey of upland game birds in the Peace River Region-1985. Alta. Energy Nat. Res., Fish and Wild. Div., Peace River. 11
S ilv e r V a le y N o t ik e w in Sm ok y s a b i er a a c a b a W s Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek Surveys 7.0 Appendices Appendix 1 W hitesand Chinchaga Hay Peace ca Wa R r ive NW Region Sharp-tailed Grouse Survey Areas High Level Peace River Eaglesham Grimshaw Manning Fairview Cleardale Valleyview Spirit River Grande Prairie Silver Valley Beaverlodge High Prairie Peace W b sca a a Rv W ba sca Silver Valley Peace L ittle Sm oky R. Valleyview High Prairie Lesser S la v e Athabasca W a p iti Smoky Simonette River Smoky 12
Appendix 2 New Questionnaire: 13
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Appendix 3 Old Questionnaire: SHARP-TAILED GROUSE LANDOWNER SURVEY Date of Meeting: Landowner: Project Area: Phone Number: Legal Land Locations (lease and private) under landowner control: (attach xerox copy of air photo(s) if available): 1. Are you aware of Sharp-tailed Grouse dancing grounds on your land?? Location of active grounds: 2.Do you know of any other dancing grounds on your land? Or any other location? (where do you see them in the spring?): 3. Have you noticed an increase or decrease in Sharp-tailed Grouse numbers from the past? 4.Why do you think Sharp-tailed Grouse numbers have increased or decreased in the area? (predation, loss of habitat, conversion of grassland to cropland, etc) 5. How do you feel about present Sharp-tailed Grouse numbers? 17
6. Where do you observe Sharp-tailed Grouse most on your land? Why do you think they are there? Location of above area(s) 7. In the late fall and throughout winter, where do you most commonly see Sharp-tailed Grouse? (croplands, coulees, pasture, etc) 8.Do you have cropland within close proximity to an active dancing ground? If so what type of crop is it? 9. What is the present land use pattern on your grasslands? Do you have a grazing system, which you apply on an annual basis? (explain-how many acres and livestock numbers) 10. Do you have any suggestions that may help maintain or increase Sharp-tailed Grouse numbers on your land or surrounding area? 11(a). Would you be interested in learning more about a habitat management program for Sharp-tailed Grouse? 11(b). Would you be interested in participating in a habitat management program on your land? 18
12. Hunting Questions: a) Do you allow hunting on your land? b) If yes, estimate the number of hunters and number of days c) Do you manage access? If so, how? d) Have any Sharp-tailed Grouse been harvested on your land this season? e) If hunting is not permitted, what are your concerns? (not enough birds, too many problems, etc) Additional Comments: Landowner Address: (for follow-up information, etc) 19
Appendix 4 Power Point Presentation Used at Landowner Meetings: 20
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