A Fine Spring Morning in the Owyhees

By Bas Hargrove, senior policy representative
 

“How many birds do you count?” asked Alan Sands, former Nature Conservancy biologist. I scanned the lek, trying not to double count the sage grouse.  “Forty-one males and two females,” I answer as Alan scribbled in a pocket notebook.  Even though we’re only on a casual field trip and Alan retired a couple of years ago, he was determined to collect and report the data back to Idaho Fish and Game.

More important to me was the opportunity to share this amazing natural spectacle with my wife, kids, and mentor. For my family, it was the first time to see sage grouse dancing; for Alan, no telling, but dozens of times at least. Regardless, he cheerfully agreed to lead us on our quest, leaving Boise at 4:30 a.m. With me driving, Alan riding shotgun, and everyone else sleeping in the back, we set off south to the Owyhee Desert in search of sage grouse.  

Seeing sage grouse for the first time © Bas Hargrove/TNC

In 2000, Alan hired me to work in the Conservancy’s office. Back then, sage grouse conservation was on the radar, but not in the headlines like today. The onslaught of weeds like cheatgrass and massive wildfires have decimated sage grouse habitat and sent land managers scrambling to avoid a listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Although Boise is surrounded by wide open spaces that were once home to sage grouse, now you have to drive a couple of hours into the Owyhees to find the birds and the habitat that supports them. Unfortunately our local situation is typical across the range where habitat has shrunk and sage grouse populations have declined significantly.

After taking a jog off the Mud Flat Road, we wound up just about dawn at a lek – or sage grouse strutting ground – just outside the Little Jacks Creek Wilderness Area. This reminded me again of my early days working with Alan, before the wilderness designation.  We were part of a small Conservancy team working on what became known as the Owyhee Initiative. We jokingly called ourselves the “Sage Heads”, and spent a lot of time poring over maps in the Nature Conservancy conference room. Alan was our go-to expert, versed in the science and well-traveled in the Owyhee country. 

Face-off © Ken Miracle

We had high hopes, but no idea that this collaborative effort- crafted by Owyhee County, ranchers, conservationists and others- would result in a half million acres of new wilderness, more than three hundred miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers, and improved management of millions of acres of public land in southwest Idaho.  After eight years, way too many meetings, and innumerable fits and starts, the Owyhee Initiative culminated in legislation that helped meet the needs of all the human stakeholders, and wildlife like sage grouse.

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In the dawn quiet we were careful to whisper. It was easy to hear the two booming pops of the males. As we quieted down, a complex sequence of swishes, coos, and whistles also emerged from the stillness, joining the clear booms. Combined with the sight of puffed up yellow air sacs, flourish of tail feathers, and macho strutting, the sage grouse put on a show that is somehow goofy and majestic at the same time. 

Post-sage grouse viewing smiles © Grace Hargrove

Will sage grouse be able to survive into the 22nd Century? Or will a maelstrom of fire, weeds, and climate change sweep them into oblivion? As Alan adjusted the spotting scope for my daughter Grace, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of hope as this natural wonder came into focus. With the wisdom of leaders like Alan and the energy of Grace’s generation, we can make sure the sage grouse continue their dance indefinitely. It will take lots of hard work on the ground and plenty more meetings I’m sure. But if my own energy flags, I know I can use the spotting scope of my mind’s eye to find inspiration from this fine spring day in the Owyhees.

Tracking the Wild Greater Sage Grouse

By David Weskamp conservation manager for Eastern Idaho

The greater sage grouse is an iconic symbol of the west. It inhabits sagebrush steppe habitat in eleven states from Colorado to California. While the population of sage grouse once reached the millions, it is estimated to only reach around 200,000-300,000 today. Several factors have contributed to this dramatic decrease including wildfire, habitat fragmentation, and climate change. 

Sage grouse have been listed as a candidate species for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is required to make the decision to either list sage grouse under protection of the ESA in 2015 or to remove them from the candidate list. 

Male sage grouse © Bob Griffith

There is a strong collaborative effort to improve sagebrush steppe habitat and increase the population. The Nature Conservancy, along with state and federal agencies, NGO’s and private landowners are working together to improve sage grouse habitat on multiple levels. One example is the effort of private landowners working with the USFWS on a program called Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances. This program is a proactive approach for landowners to take initial steps to improve sagebrush steppe habitat and sage grouse protection, such as employing best management grazing practices. 

One of my first protection efforts as the Eastern Idaho Conservation manager is to help improve sagebrush steppe habitat and monitor sage grouse populations. Recently, I joined Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and the Bureau of Land management (BLM) in their efforts to monitor and trap female sage grouse and install 30 radio-collared GPS tracking units and 15 VHF tracking units. 

Radio collar © David Weskamp

The morning of our trapping adventure, I met IDFG and BLM at 4:30 a.m. out in the Sands Creek Desert and then ventured down a gravel road to a sage grouse breeding site or lek.  Sage grouse traditionally return to the same lek year after year, much like salmon returning to their natal streams to spawn. Once we arrived, we discussed our plan by the light of our headlamps, trying to dodge each others' high beams. 

We split up and shared a small blind (camouflaged tent) that was strategically placed around the lek and the large drop net that would be used to trap sage grouse. The drop net was controlled by a remote trigger that was activated once female sage grouse walked under the net. The goal was to trap as many females as possible; although, getting several females to walk under the net is a challenge and you only get one chance.  

 

Installing the drop net © David Weskamp/TNC

I joined my crew member in the blind and waited patiently in the dark. Like clockwork, around 6 a.m.  I could hear the birds dive bombing our blinds and the males chanting their unique mating calls. When the sun rose, I was amazed how many male sage grouse were strutting and puffing their chests, showing off for the females. We counted 60 males and approximately 15 females. 

While we waited, my crew member was texting back forth with the other members to inform them if any females were getting close to the net. During the morning several males entered into the net zone, but females were staying clear. Finally at 8 a.m. one lone female walked under the net, and in a split second the net was deployed, the blinds were thrown off and crew members rushed to the net. 

We had trapped two male sage grouse and one female.  I worked with one IDFG member to free the males while other members captured the female and prepared to install the radio collar. This particular radio collar is placed on the rump of the bird and will help track the nesting sites and migration patterns. Once the radio collar was installed, she was set free and the crew talked about the morning and how to capture and collar the remaining 35 females.

 

Releasing the female © David Weskamp/TNC

I joined IDFG on one more monitoring project, driving through the desert and counting sage grouse on four different leks.  IDFG monitor several lek routes annually and works closely with others agencies and community members to count birds and track migration patterns of recently radio collared females. 

This iconic bird of the west has a special place in everyone’s heart and is great to see how much effort there is to protect, understand, and enjoy the greater sage grouse.
 
Editor’s note: Effective conservation requires more understanding of the movement and habitat needs of these iconic birds. The tracking devices will help researchers identify conservation strategies to help protect sage grouse and their habitat. 

For more information about TNC's involvement in tracking birds in Idaho, click here.