BLM OR-WA Sage-Grouse Movement Analysis, Spokane District

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Washington State University has been working with the BLM since 2009 to study habitat selection and movement patterns of translocated sage and sharp-tailed grouse in Lincoln County, Washington. Vegetation maps of the translocation area have been jointly developed by WSU and BLM to provide a detailed habitat layer from which to base habitat selection models. In 2013 a Master's thesis on habitat selection of translocated grouse was published by WSU (Stonehouse 2013). Currently WSU has begun analyzing grouse movement data and home range size in relation to a recent fire in the study area. This work is ongoing, but will eventually compare grouse movement after the fire to the pre-fire results shown in Stonehouse (2013). In 2015, project partners expect to translocate up to 40 more sage-grouse to the Lincoln County population, 20 of which will be fitted with radio collars. Also in 2015, we expect to deploy up to 12 radio collars on native sage-grouse in Douglas County, Washington. Previous studies have focused on nesting habitat and spring/summer movements, but little is known about how movement and behavior affects survival, and how re-introduced grouse compare to residents. Since the re-introduction effort is continuing using radio collared birds, there is opportunity to learn more about these specific questions. To study movement and behavior of sage-grouse in the Crab Creek and Moses Coulee Management Areas of eastern Washington. This work will be conducted in close coordination with project partners in a collaborative setting.

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