The effects of prescribed fire on the ecology of migratory sage grouse in southeastern Idaho

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Abstract:

NOTE: Only the literature cited is on file. Presents results of investigation of the effects of fire on sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) breeding, nesting, and brood-rearing habitat, as well as on the birds' summer migration. The study covered 3 years after a late summer fire (postburn) on the Big Desert, southeastern Idaho. Preburn data was available for comparisons. Although the number of active leks declined, a difference in the number of active leks was not detected between burned and unburned habitat before and after fire. No differences were found in habitat characteristics at nest or random sites in a multivariate comparison between burned and unburned habitat. Drought conditions and a declining grouse population may have masked differences between burned and unburned habitat for breeding and nesting grouse. Timing of sage grouse migration varied among years and was negatively correlated with vegetal moisture content; when moisture content declined to about 60%, birds began migrating.

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ANIMAL EF: CENTROCERCUS UROPHASIANUS; ELECTRONIC FILE - ZOOLOGY: BIRDS