Preliminary Chukar Survey Results Mixed

The preliminary results of aerial surveys of chukar numbers at Brownlee were not encouraging, but Lucky Peak looked better. Idaho Fish and Game biologists completed aerial surveys in the Brownlee and Lucky Peak areas on August 31 and September 1. Though biologists counted an all time high number of groups of birds at Brownlee, the group sizes were disappointing. It appears production was very poor in the past year. They counted about 71 birds per square mile. But the total of 858 birds was down 59 percent from last year, and the lowest since 1993 when the count was 211 birds. The 10-year average is 1,450 birds. The news was better at Lucky Peak, which biologists have been flying every other year instead of annually like Brownlee. They counted about 27 birds per square mile. The total of 269 birds, down 34 percent from 1987's best on record 409 birds. The count was slightly above the 10-year average of 266. Results also indicated good numbers of groups, but fewer birds per group than the long term average suggests reduced production this year. Biologists suspect a rainy spring may have resulted in the low production this year. Survival apparently was normal to good.