Study: Greater sage-grouse need wide-open spaces

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Greater sage-grouse. Photo courtesy USFWS.

Biologists take close look at sage-grouse habitat requirements

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A new U.S. Geological Survey-led study illustrates some of the challenges associated with conserving greater sage-grouse in western landscapes that are increasingly fragmented by human activities, including exurban sprawl and energy development.

Within their sagebrush habitat, the scientists documented very specific environmental conditions showing that the birds prefer to breed in drier-than-average regions within a small temperature and precipitation range. The findings suggest that predicted changes in climate may cause lek locations to change depending on where there are optimal arid conditions.

After taking a close look at most of the data available for more than 3,000 active breeding areas, the biologists concluded that the large birds do best in “landscapes with extremely minimal levels of human land use.” (more…)

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Colorado: Drones eyed for greater sage-grouse monitoring

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Public invited to learn more about the use of unmanned aircraft at a demonstration in Kremmling

FORT scientist and Raven-A sUAS pilot Leanne Hanson launches the drone. USGS photo.

FORT scientist and Raven-A sUAS pilot Leanne Hanson launches the drone in the San Luis Valley as part of an effort to monitor sandhill cranes.  USGS photo.

Greater sage-grouse. Photo courtesy USFWS.

Greater sage-grouse. Photo courtesy USFWS.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — State and federal scientists may use small drones to monitor greater sage-grouse in their breeding grounds, and will offer the public a chance to see how the technology works starting next week.

The planned test flights are a collaboration between Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Geological Survey. The agencies will conduct test flights to evaluate whether the small unmanned aircraft can save time and money and offer a safer and enhanced alternative to gather greater sage-grouse data.

The low-flying aircraft may be able to get more detailed counts of the threatened birds, and may even help biologists find previously unknown leks.

“The aircraft proved successful in other recent wildlife inventory projects conducted by USGS,” said Lyle Sidener, area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Hot Sulphur Springs. “We are interested to see if greater sage-grouse will tolerate the craft flying near their leks at the lower altitudes necessary to provide useful data.” (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, Colorado, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado State Parks, endangered species, Environment, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado: Greater sage-grouse viewing tours offered

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Greater sage-grouse. Photo courtesy Brian Currie/Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

State biologists team up with Conservation Colorado to offer wildlife-friendly bird watching

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — From afar, the wide-open sagebrush steppes of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau can look stark and daunting, but each spring, the region comes to life with the mating ritual of greater sage-grouse.

The birds gather in traditional mating grounds, called leks, where the males spread their impressive tail feathers and strut while inflating and popping giant air sacs on their necks to impress the females.

The best available science suggests that greater sage-grouse qualify for endangered species status and studies are under way to develop the best possible conservation plans. (more…)

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Draft report outlines greater sage-grouse conservation goals

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Greater sage-grouse. Photo courtesy USFWS.

States, BLM trying to stave off an endangered species listing

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — A new draft report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may help provide a road map for greater sage-grouse conservation by identifying high-risk populations of the birds, outlining specific measures needed to avoid or mitigate impacts and setting population conservation goals.

The draft report is part of a multi-state planning aimed at protecting sage grouse and enabling economic growth, including oil and gas development, across the interior West.

The USFWS is working toward a court-ordered deadline for making a decision whether list greater sage-grouse as threatened or endangered. As part of that process, the Bureau of Land Management is updating land management plans across huge swaths of the West. At the same time, western states are also involved in trying to develop sage grouse conservation plans, hoping to forestall an endangered species listing. (more…)

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Opinion: More action, less talk, on sage grouse conservation

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Greater sage-grouse. PHOTO COURTESY USFWS.

Look out when politicians get involved in endangered species conservation

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — If I were a sage grouse, I’d be heading for the hills right about now, because there’s nothing scarier than a “task force” of politicians sitting around discussing your fate.

The task force will be co-chaired by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead, neither one of whom ever saw a gas-drilling proposal they didn’t like.

They will, according to a press release from Hickenlooper’s office, look for ways “to collaboratively identify actions that could preclude the need to list the sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act.”

It would be nice to believe that executive level participation might lead to meaningful conservation measures, but a more cynical interpretation of that political jargon might be, “How can we avoid taking any real, meaningful measures to protect a fast-disappearing species that once ranged widely across the sagebrush ocean of the interior West while making sure that energy company and real estate developers have their way with the land?” (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, Colorado, endangered species, energy, Environment, gas drilling, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , | 11 Comments »

BLM to limit impacts in sage grouse habitat

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Greater sage grouse. PHOTO COURTESY U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

Interim measures aimed at providing guidance for more pending land-use plans — and some certainty for private landowners
By Bob Berwyn
SUMMIT COUNTY — The Bureau of Land Management this week took a  step toward preserving habitat for greater sage grouse by limiting disturbance in areas identified as priority habitat.
The iconic western bird  once flourished across the sagebrush ocean of the Great Basin, but has declined in recent decades as a result of habitat fragmentation from agriculture, ranching, oil and gas development and other human development pressures.
Greater sage grouse is one of many species deemed worthy of protection under the Endangered Species Act but precluded from listing because of more immediate threats to other species. More information on the status of the species at this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, Colorado, endangered species, Environment, Summit County news, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Controversial sage-grouse hunt starts in Nevada

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

A sage-grouse in full mating strut. PHOTO BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

Conservation groups question the wisdom of hunting a species that qualifies for endangered listing

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Along with Colorado, Nevada will also allow hunting of greater sage-grouse, with an open season starting Sept. 19 in parts of eight counties in the state.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently determined that great sage-grouse qualifies for protection under the Endangered Species Act, but delayed listing the birds, citing other priorities. At the same time, the federal agency announced it will work with states to develop better protection plans for one of flagship species of the great western sagebrush ocean. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Environment, Summit County Colorado, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Key lands protected in northwest Colorado

Posted on August 14, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

No drilling in Vermillion Basin; potential wild & scenic designation for Yampa River under new Bureau of Land management plan

A new BLM plan for lands in northwest Colorado will protect key areas for their wilderness characteristics. PHOTO COURTESY CENTER FOR NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS.

A map shows the vast expanse of northwest Colorado lands covered by a new BLM plan.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Some key Northwest Colorado wilderness areas, including the contested Vermilion Basin, will be  set aside in under a new Bureau of Land Management plan for the area administered by the Little Snake field office.

The 77,000-acre Vermillion Basin will be managed to protect its wilderness character and will be closed to all oil and gas development. Overall, the plan covers about 1.3 million acres in the northwestern corner of the state, stretching from just east of Steamboat Springs all the way to the Utah and Wyoming borders.

BLM officials said the plan will be released at the end of July to start a 30-day protest period. The plan addresses including oil and gas development, off-road vehicle use, safeguarding imperiled sage-grouse and preliminary Wild and Scenic River protection for the Yampa River. Click here to visit a BLM page with links to all the formal documents. (more…)

Filed under: BLM, energy, Environment, gas drilling, oil drilling, public lands, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Sage-grouse: The paradox of hunting endangered species

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Greater sage-grouse are a candidate for the endangered species listing, but are still hunted in some states, including Colorado. PHOTO COURTESY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

Colorado Wildlife Commission to consider new restrictions for greater sage-grouse hunting at July 8 meeting in Gunnison

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — In all the commotion over the designation of the greater sage-grouse as a candidate for endangered species listing, it was often overlooked that the bird can still be legally hunted in some places.

That may seem counter-intuitive, but the rationalization is that a small-scale hunt of individual birds doesn’t pose a huge threat to population as a whole.

The bigger problems stem from habitat loss and fragmentation on a large scale, primarily from agricultural land use practices and from energy development in the sagebrush habitat of the west slope of the Rockies and the Great Basin. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently named confirmed the status of the greater sage-grouse as qualified for the endangered species list, but did not list the birds. Instead, the federal government will work with state agencies, industry and private land owners to develop conservation plans. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, Colorado Division of Wildlife, endangered species, Environment, Summit County Colorado, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

CDOW responds to federal sage-grouse decision

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

A male greater sage-grouse in full mating mode. Photo by WWW.KEVINSMITHNATUREPHOTOS.COM, VIA THE CENTER FOR NATIVE ECOYSTEMS. Click on the image to visit Smith's online gallery.

Officials say Colorado population stable, state protection efforts on-track; conservation groups say lack of enforcement on BLM lands hinders conservation plan

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Top Colorado biologists said this week that the federal decision to not list greater sage-grouse as endangered won’t affect state conservation efforts one way or another.

See all the federal documents related to the listing decision here.

“Colorado has been front and center in sage-grouse research, conservation management for over four decades,” said Colorado Division of Wildlife director Tom Remington. “The Fish and Wildlife Service decision places a responsibility on federal and state agencies and private industry to sustain and increase greater sage-grouse populations and we are committed to making that happen.” Much more after the break: (more…)

Filed under: Colorado Division of Wildlife, Environment, public lands, Summit County Colorado, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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