Demise of the Sage Grouse

[CNP]

Appears that there is little optimism that the situation can be reversed

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en...n-the-prairies

[trapperdodge]

You'd think Sage Grouse would have evolved in drought.

[wind drift]

Sage grouse are doing ok in the US. They won’t go extinct, just maybe none in AB. Is that worth the fuss and struggle?

[CBintheNorth]

It's like the glass that's already full.
If we keep bringing humans over at a quarter million+ a year, some things are going to get displaced.

Greenies don't like to see energy (O&G) being developed, but most of those same people are pro mass-immigration. Gotta supply all those people with energy somehow.

Unfortunately, very Unfortunately, it doesn't look good for the disturbance-sensitive sage grouse. Which is very sad. They're a neat bird, symbolic of the grassland eco system.

[CBintheNorth]

Originally Posted by trapperdodge

You'd think Sage Grouse would have evolved in drought.

That's just the flavour of the day.
Look at how many advertisements and news Clips there were in that article talking about climate change, lack of snow, and rivers that will surely run dry.
The fact is, the sage gross population has declined every year for decades, regardless of moisture levels and rainfall.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by wind drift

Sage grouse are doing ok in the US. They won’t go extinct, just maybe none in AB. Is that worth the fuss and struggle?

I remember as a kid flushing flocks of up to a hundred birds out of the sage flats while chasing Pronghorns.... It was an amazing sight.

I think it is worth it, but it probably is too late to save them here.



Don't be naïve, Sage grouse are having trouble in the US too.


The main problem is habitat loss and increased human caused disturbance.

Agriculture, cattle, tractors and trucks are the main reason we will no longer have these magnificent creatures in our lives. It's Sad.

[pikergolf]

I got a Sage Grouse in the last season Alberta had, beautiful bird.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by wind drift

Sage grouse are doing ok in the US. They won’t go extinct, just maybe none in AB. Is that worth the fuss and struggle?

Our Sage grouse. like antelope are at the northern extreme of their range, which makes them exceptionally vulnerable, Bummer.

[Smoky buck]

Habitat not drought

But hey that doesn’t fit the agenda

[gman1978]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Habitat not drought

But hey that doesn’t fit the agenda

Exactly. Do these poor guys just say that to get funding? They have to know it’s not the weather conditions.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by gman1978

Exactly. Do these poor guys just say that to get funding? They have to know it’s not the weather conditions.

Worst part is this kind of BS just hurts the credibility of the studies/bios that are actually trying to make a difference and improve wildlife numbers. Not to mention the epic waste of money that could be used to actually accomplish something

Everyone wants to look special and no effort actually put into making a real difference

[sealevel]

if one reads the old hudson bay records the last 200 years in the prairies have been unusually wet .

some years the north and south saskatchewan river didn`t have enough water to float there canoes

[traderal]

I'm amazed that we know to the exact bird as to how many grouse are left (45 in Alberta according to a Weather network blurb). Is there someplace a registry with serial numbers for these birds. Do we have thousands of wildlife biologists roaming the countryside looking under rocks and crannies and bushes to count these birds. Is there a bird census that parent birds have to fill out and send in.

[2 Tollers]

I remember putting some up hiking around the Milk River in Writing on Stone years ago. Very Impressive bird. West Nile took a toll on them as well.

All about habitat. If they will survive it will be in the states that have the will to control and set aside blocks of suitable land. Wyoming perhaps is the leader on this.

[ram crazy]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

Our Sage grouse. like antelope are at the northern extreme of their range, which makes them exceptionally vulnerable, Bummer.

Sage Grouse are not the smartest bird in the world. Predators had it easy with them around. We used to have a Lek about 2 miles from the back door of the house. It was cool to watch them dance.