High Male Count: 13
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Gray-blue Gnatcatcher in willows next to viewing trailer. Spring peepers heard along Hot Springs Creek.
May 10 was the last day monitored by volunteers. Thank you all visitors for following protocols and respecting the unique Gunnison Sage-grouse.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Monday, May 9, 2016
May 9, 2016
High Male Count: 5
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Meadow Larks chasing each other.
Sage Thrasher sing loudly all morning.
Spring Peepers herd early morning.
Rainy, foggy weather with little displaying, mostly males passing through areas.
Tomorrow is a closed viewing day and the last day western students will be monitoring the viewing area for the season. Closed roads will open May 15.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Meadow Larks chasing each other.
Sage Thrasher sing loudly all morning.
Spring Peepers herd early morning.
Rainy, foggy weather with little displaying, mostly males passing through areas.
Tomorrow is a closed viewing day and the last day western students will be monitoring the viewing area for the season. Closed roads will open May 15.
May 8, 2016
High Male Count: 25
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Lots of male aggression and fighting with no females observable. Males moved in groups from one North Meadow to East Ridge.
Great Blue Heron flying along Hot Springs Creek.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Lots of male aggression and fighting with no females observable. Males moved in groups from one North Meadow to East Ridge.
Great Blue Heron flying along Hot Springs Creek.
May 7, 2016
High Male Count: 17
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Chipping Sparrow and Say's Phoebe. All grouse gone or not visible by 6:30 am.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Chipping Sparrow and Say's Phoebe. All grouse gone or not visible by 6:30 am.
May 6, 2016
From Viewing Area:
High Male Count: 13
High Female Count: 7
High Unknown Count: 17
From East side of East Ridge:
High Male Count: 21 visible at one time out of 3 groups of 10 or more.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Displaying and fighting early on, then lots of feeding and walking around later in morning.
High Male Count: 13
High Female Count: 7
High Unknown Count: 17
From East side of East Ridge:
High Male Count: 21 visible at one time out of 3 groups of 10 or more.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Displaying and fighting early on, then lots of feeding and walking around later in morning.
May 5, 2016
High Male Count: 21
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Vesper Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, and Wilson's Snipe singing and displaying.
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Vesper Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, and Wilson's Snipe singing and displaying.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
May 4, 2016
High Male Count: 23
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 0
Lots of displaying and facing off between male grouse. The last snow storm may have killed some eggs, triggering a second round of male displaying and mating attempts by females.
Mountain Bluebirds and Green-tailed Towhee singing early morning.
Red-tailed Hawk on fence post watching North Meadow.
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 0
Lots of displaying and facing off between male grouse. The last snow storm may have killed some eggs, triggering a second round of male displaying and mating attempts by females.
Mountain Bluebirds and Green-tailed Towhee singing early morning.
Red-tailed Hawk on fence post watching North Meadow.
May 3, 2016
High Male Count: 8
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 1
Local ranch dogs barking and walking south of East Ridge lekking area.
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 1
Local ranch dogs barking and walking south of East Ridge lekking area.
May 2, 2016
High Male Count: 19
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 2
Sage Thrasher and Ruby-crowned Kinglet singing nearby.
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 2
Sage Thrasher and Ruby-crowned Kinglet singing nearby.
May 1, 2016
High Male Count: 13
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Swainson's Hawk in North Meadow
Lots of waterfowl activity in Hot Springs Creek
Vibrant orange sky before sunrise
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Swainson's Hawk in North Meadow
Lots of waterfowl activity in Hot Springs Creek
Vibrant orange sky before sunrise
April 30, 2016
High Male Count: 10
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 0
Red Fox hunting rodents in Traditional lek.
Red-tailed Hawk in North Meadow.
An older coyote with a limp crossing Traditional lek.
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 0
Red Fox hunting rodents in Traditional lek.
Red-tailed Hawk in North Meadow.
An older coyote with a limp crossing Traditional lek.
April 29, 2016
High Male Count: 8
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Coyotes hunting in Traditional lek.
Lots of Wilson's Snipe displays and winnowing.
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Coyotes hunting in Traditional lek.
Lots of Wilson's Snipe displays and winnowing.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
April 27, 2016
High Male Count: 6
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 19
Lots of flush events. Flushing grouse are counted as unknowns.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 19
Lots of flush events. Flushing grouse are counted as unknowns.
April 26, 2016
High Male Count: 3
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Red- tailed Hawk on East Ridge.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Red- tailed Hawk on East Ridge.
Monday, April 25, 2016
April 25, 2016
High Male Count: 13
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Red Fox and Red-tail hawk in Traditional lek. Golden Eagle patrolling East Ridge.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Red Fox and Red-tail hawk in Traditional lek. Golden Eagle patrolling East Ridge.
April 24, 2016
High Male Count: 16
High Female Count: 4
High Unknown Count:1
As we head into the end of the season the grouse are displaying less, arriving early and leaving earlier.
High Female Count: 4
High Unknown Count:1
As we head into the end of the season the grouse are displaying less, arriving early and leaving earlier.
April 23, 2016
High Male Count: 19
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Over 150 elk observed on the slopes of Tomichi Dome.
Wilson's Snipe winnowing display.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Over 150 elk observed on the slopes of Tomichi Dome.
Wilson's Snipe winnowing display.
Friday, April 22, 2016
April 22, 2016
High Male Count: 11
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 2
Slow morning, with minimal displaying. Most grouse left lek by 6:30 am.
Clear morning, full moon, glittering frost.
The viewing site will be closed to the public tomorrow April 23, 2016.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 2
Slow morning, with minimal displaying. Most grouse left lek by 6:30 am.
Clear morning, full moon, glittering frost.
The viewing site will be closed to the public tomorrow April 23, 2016.
April 21, 2016
High Male Count: 18
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Sharp-shinned hawk chasing song birds near viewing trailer.
Lots of ducks and geese flying over lek and landing in Hot Springs Creek.
Weather has cleared up, beautiful bright morning.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
Sharp-shinned hawk chasing song birds near viewing trailer.
Lots of ducks and geese flying over lek and landing in Hot Springs Creek.
Weather has cleared up, beautiful bright morning.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
April 20, 2016
High Male Count: 16
High Female Count: 9
High Unknown Count: 9
Snowy and cloudy weather continues.
Red-tailed Hawk in North Meadow.
Pie-bald elk has been observed on slopes of Tomichi Dome behind East Ridge lek.
High Female Count: 9
High Unknown Count: 9
Snowy and cloudy weather continues.
Red-tailed Hawk in North Meadow.
Pie-bald elk has been observed on slopes of Tomichi Dome behind East Ridge lek.
April 19, 2016
High Male Count: 4
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 0
Light snow and heavy cloud cover.
Coyotes and raptors continue to visit lekking areas.
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 0
Light snow and heavy cloud cover.
Coyotes and raptors continue to visit lekking areas.
April 18, 2016
High Male Count: 15
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 3
Coyotes observed on East Ridge patrolling area.
Cloudy weather continues.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 3
Coyotes observed on East Ridge patrolling area.
Cloudy weather continues.
April 16, 2016
Sisk-a-dee public viewing day lead by Pat Magee!
No grouse were observed, due to snow and low visibility.
Golden Eagle perch on East Ridge lek.
Swainson's Hawk on h-brace in traditional lek.
Northern Harrier in North Medaow.
No grouse were observed, due to snow and low visibility.
Golden Eagle perch on East Ridge lek.
Swainson's Hawk on h-brace in traditional lek.
Northern Harrier in North Medaow.
Friday, April 15, 2016
April 15, 2016
High Male Count: 6
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 2
Golden Eagle patrolling East Ridge, causing grouse to pause displaying and hide.
Swainson's Hawk in North Meadow.
The next closed viewing day will be Monday, April 18.
The site will be closed to the public and visitors who show up that morning will be asked to leave. We are attempting to limit human presence at the lek, so please respect this rule. It is important to remain aware of our impacts on the grouse and understand that the grouse are sensitive to our presence. Thank you for respecting the grouse and caring about their well-being.
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 2
Golden Eagle patrolling East Ridge, causing grouse to pause displaying and hide.
Swainson's Hawk in North Meadow.
The next closed viewing day will be Monday, April 18.
The site will be closed to the public and visitors who show up that morning will be asked to leave. We are attempting to limit human presence at the lek, so please respect this rule. It is important to remain aware of our impacts on the grouse and understand that the grouse are sensitive to our presence. Thank you for respecting the grouse and caring about their well-being.
April 14, 2016
High Male Count: 27
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Coyote chasing displaying males and flushing them to east side of East Ridge.
Lots of activity across East Ridge, over 20 males observed displaying at once.
Rough-legged Hawk North Meadow.
Pink, red and orange clouds during sunrise, beautiful!
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Coyote chasing displaying males and flushing them to east side of East Ridge.
Lots of activity across East Ridge, over 20 males observed displaying at once.
Rough-legged Hawk North Meadow.
Pink, red and orange clouds during sunrise, beautiful!
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
April 13, 2016
High Male Count: 9
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
3 coyotes in Main Lek fighting and snarling at each other. One large coyote with a limp.
Red Fox hunting on north side of Main Lek.
Golden Eagle perched on East Ridge watching grouse.
Foggy, wet morning. Minimal displaying and cautious grouse due to lots of predators
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 0
3 coyotes in Main Lek fighting and snarling at each other. One large coyote with a limp.
Red Fox hunting on north side of Main Lek.
Golden Eagle perched on East Ridge watching grouse.
Foggy, wet morning. Minimal displaying and cautious grouse due to lots of predators
April 12, 2016
High Male Count: 16
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 2
Golden Eagle on East Ridge hunting grouse, causing grouse to flush to east.
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 2
Golden Eagle on East Ridge hunting grouse, causing grouse to flush to east.
Monday, April 11, 2016
April 11, 2016
High Male Count: 22
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 2
Cloudy, warm morning.
Grouse counts have been higher the past few days. The lekking season is in full swing!
Lots of fighting males.
High Female Count: 0
High Unknown Count: 2
Cloudy, warm morning.
Grouse counts have been higher the past few days. The lekking season is in full swing!
Lots of fighting males.
April 10, 2016
High Male Count: 27
High Female Count: 7
High Unknown Count: 3
Very active morning. Lots of grouse displaying, fighting and chasing females.
Coyote with limp hunting in front of viewing trailer.
White dogs running across East Ridge. No grouse disturbance observed.
Wilson's Snipe winnowing early morning.
High Female Count: 7
High Unknown Count: 3
Very active morning. Lots of grouse displaying, fighting and chasing females.
Coyote with limp hunting in front of viewing trailer.
White dogs running across East Ridge. No grouse disturbance observed.
Wilson's Snipe winnowing early morning.
April 9, 2016
High Male Count: 12
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Sisk-a-dee public viewing day guided by Pat Magee!
One copulation observed on East Ridge!
Golden Eagle searching area.
Great Horned Owl hooting early morning.
A Male and a Female spotted in Main Lek just North of H-brace. First observance of grouse using traditional lek this season.
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Sisk-a-dee public viewing day guided by Pat Magee!
One copulation observed on East Ridge!
Golden Eagle searching area.
Great Horned Owl hooting early morning.
A Male and a Female spotted in Main Lek just North of H-brace. First observance of grouse using traditional lek this season.
April 8, 2016
High Male Count: 18
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 10
Red-tail hawk in North Meadow.
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 10
Red-tail hawk in North Meadow.
April 7, 2016
High Male Count: 17
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Milky way galaxy very bright early morning!
Red Fox hunting in south north meadow.
Heavy displays by males with lots of wing fights.
High Female Count: 2
High Unknown Count: 0
Milky way galaxy very bright early morning!
Red Fox hunting in south north meadow.
Heavy displays by males with lots of wing fights.
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
April 6, 2016
High Male Count: 11
High Female Count: 5
High Unknown Count: 2
Continued coyote and hawk sightings near displaying grouse.
April 5, 2016
High Male Count: 6
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 0
Coyotes observed disrupting displaying males on East Ridge.
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 0
Coyotes observed disrupting displaying males on East Ridge.
Monday, April 4, 2016
April 4, 2016
High Male Count: 8
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 5
Golden Eagle observed feeding on East Ridge, possibly on Sage-grouse.
Over 50 elk spotting beyond East Ridge.
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 5
Golden Eagle observed feeding on East Ridge, possibly on Sage-grouse.
Over 50 elk spotting beyond East Ridge.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
April 3, 2016
High Male Count: 15
High Female Count: 1
High Unknown Count: 0
Male grouse displayed on the North end of the East Ridge and in the North Meadow. Intense wing fights were observed in North Meadow.
Wildlife sightings:
Red Fox hunting near willows.
Coyotes observed across all lek locations.
Killdeer were seen and heard near Hot Springs Creek.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
April 2, 2016
High Male Count: 13
High Female Count: 2
High unknown: 9
Coyotes observed in North Meadow.
Rough-legged Hawk in North Meadow.
Displaying and fighting males on East Ridge.
High Female Count: 2
High unknown: 9
Coyotes observed in North Meadow.
Rough-legged Hawk in North Meadow.
Displaying and fighting males on East Ridge.
2016 Waunita Watcheable Wildlife Program Opening Day!
Greetings friends,
Yesterday was the opening day of the 2016 Waunita Watcheable Wildlife Program.
Volunteers have viewed grouse this season on the East Ridge and North Meadows. The birds are far away and difficult to see, yet with patience, good views of displaying males are possible. Various wildlife including coyotes, a shrike, hawks, elk, song birds, and rabbits have been observed at the lek.
I highly recommend visitors have a spotting scope in order to see the grouse.
As a reminder to all visiting birders, the Waunita lek will be closed to the public on April 4, 5, 18, 23, 26, 27 and May 5, 6, 10, 11.
Please feel free to contact Sisk-a-dee (970-641-3959) for any questions, concerns and for viewing trailer reservations.
Yesterday was the opening day of the 2016 Waunita Watcheable Wildlife Program.
Volunteers have viewed grouse this season on the East Ridge and North Meadows. The birds are far away and difficult to see, yet with patience, good views of displaying males are possible. Various wildlife including coyotes, a shrike, hawks, elk, song birds, and rabbits have been observed at the lek.
I highly recommend visitors have a spotting scope in order to see the grouse.
As a reminder to all visiting birders, the Waunita lek will be closed to the public on April 4, 5, 18, 23, 26, 27 and May 5, 6, 10, 11.
Please feel free to contact Sisk-a-dee (970-641-3959) for any questions, concerns and for viewing trailer reservations.
Monday, March 14, 2016
2016 Waunita Watchable Wildlife Program: Gunnison Sage-grouse
Greetings to all from Gunnison, Colorado. Gunnison-sage
viewing at the Waunita public wildlife viewing area will begin on Friday, April
1, 2016. Over the past several years the sage-grouse at Wauntia have moved off
of the traditional lekking area and are located much farther away with more
obstructions in between the viewing location and the birds. After a
continuation of this pattern in 2015, the decision was made to have two
non-viewing days a week (total of 5 days of viewing per week) in 2016 to
minimize further human disturbance to the grouse. The public viewing site will
be closed on April 4, 5, 18, 23, 26, 27, and May 5, 6, 10, 11. We are asking
viewers to refrain from going to the site on these dates. In addition, Gunnison County has installed no
parking signs that prohibit parking along the county road adjacent to the watchable
wildlife site (CR 887). The Gunnison county sheriff's office has agreed to
patrol the site and enforce the no parking policy. As ethical wildlife viewers,
it is our duty to be aware of our impacts on the grouse and do our best to
ensure that we are not impeding on the reproduction of this species. Please see
the www.siskadee.org website for specific details on viewing protocols.
I recommend having a spotting scope for optimal viewing at
Waunita. On average, grouse are 600 - 800 m away and may be in three locations.
Main lek is the traditional lekking area located in the pasture perpendicular
to the viewing area. East Ridge is located beyond the the Main lek directly
east of the viewing area. Grouse are often silhouetted against the sky at the
top of the ridge. You will also find several lekking areas across the East
ridge by scanning from south to north. The North Meadow can be seen from the
viewing area by locating the willow thickets that begin just north of the
viewing area. The birds can be seen in the strips of pasture in-between the
willow trees and beyond the trees toward a farm house further north.
Dan Schneider
Waunita Watchable Wildlife Program Coordinator
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