Sunday, April 14, 2013

Updates from the past week. It's a busy time here in Gunnison!

5 April 2013
MALE HIGH COUNT: 17
FEMALE HIGH COUNT: 11
Today was a good show, the GUSG flushed ~8 minutes after sunrise when a Red-tailed Hawk arrived.

6 April 2013
MALE HIGH COUNT:10
FEMALE HIGH COUNT:10
Volunteer reports multiple copulations-good for this species! Birds flushed ~6minutes after sunrise, reason unknown.

7 April 2013
MALE HIGH COUNT:12
FEMALE HIGH COUNT:20
Unusually high number for females- a few bushes may have been counted, but nevertheless a good show from the birds.

8 April 2013
MALE HIGH COUNT:13
FEMALE HIGH COUNT: 12
A great day today, except for one male that got picked off by a Golden Eagle. Birds flushed ~11 minutes before sunrise when the big predator joined them for breakfast.

9 April 2013
MALE HIGH COUNT: 16
FEMALE HIGH COUNT: 5
A typical Colorado spring day-SNOW! Visibility was low and grouse flushed ~3 minutes before sunrise.

10 April 2013
MALE HIGH COUNT: 11
FEMALE HIGH COUNT: 7
Another snowy spring day. Birds flushed ~8 minutes before sunrise.

11 April 2013
MALE HIGH COUNT: 9
FEMALE HIGH COUNT: 7
Birds flushe ~13 minutes after sunrise, possibly due to coyote presence on the lek.

12 April 2013
MALE HIGH COUNT: 11
FEMALE HIGH COUNT: 5
Great day to be a grouse-3 copulations! The males appeared to be a little picky today though-one female seemed to be presenting herself, but none of the males seemed too interested. Are we beginning to see the Allee Effect in action? Two groups of grouse flushed 13 and 4 minutes before sunrise.

13 April 2013
HIGH COUNT: 18
Good male and female ratio. A copulation was witnessed!

14 April 2013
NO BIRDS TODAY!
A terrible/excellent example of a Colorado spring day today. Blowing snow, bad, slick roads, gusts up to 25mph. We showed up, but the grouse did not tell us they wouldn't be there. Unfortunately this nasty weather is supposed to stick around off and on till Wednesday. If you are driving out to the lek, be careful!!!

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