Gunnison Sage-Grouse, Waunita lek

[Bert Harris]

Hi all,

Does anyone know the status of the Waunita lek for viewing displaying grouse this year? I have heard rumors that the lek may be closed and that the birds are so far away that chances of seeing them are low.

The people at Colorado Parks and Wildlife are unsure and they referred me to Sisk-a-dee. I have been trying to get in touch with the latter without success.

Any help would be fantastic!

Thank you,
Bert Harris
Princeton, NJ

[Andrew Bankert]

I was at the lek last weekend and the road is open and you can see birds from the road.  I parked at the traditional site (0.6 miles from the highway) to view the birds before it got light.  After it was light enough to see I scanned the field from my car and could not see any birds.  After a while I got out of my car and began scoping the area until I saw one bird flying to the north of where I expected the birds to be.  Once I drove north (about 1.2 to 1.5 miles north of the highway) I was able to have good, but distant views of the birds (~20 males and maybe as many females) for a good bit of the morning.  I am guessing the closest one to the road was about 800 meters.  I did have some females fly right over me after they left the lek site.  As the morning went on, more birds began moving up onto the ridge across the valley.  This is more than one kilometer from the road.  I left once the sun came up and I could no longer comfortably look towards the east where the birds were, but several males were still displaying from the ridge.

I hope this information helps!  I don't know what they are going to do about the lek, since you really can't see the birds from the pulloff.

Andy Bankert

Fort Collins, CO

[patrick...@gmail.com]

Gunnison Sage-grouse Viewing Update

Greeting to all from Gunnison, Colorado.  The Gunnison Sage-grouse viewing season started on April 1, 2015.  As many of you know, the grouse have made an interesting shift in their distribution.  It is rare for a bird with high site fidelity to move and likely is related to the cumulative impacts of disturbance in the vicinity of the lek.  Last year, the birds started moving off the traditional lek and this year they have so far completely abandoned the traditional site.  While we have tried to create a viewing opportunity that reduces the impacts of viewing on the grouse, it is likely that the presence of birders over the last 15 years has contributed to the behavior of the grouse.  Nonetheless, the grouse are still visible from the viewing site, although much farther away than we have had the luxury of viewing them in the past.  The grouse have moved north in the meadow, in an area where the willows are denser so viewing obstruction is significant.  They have also moved to the east and up on top of the sagebrush ridge.  While the birds may be 1 km or more away from the viewing site, it is still possible to see them fairly well with a spotting scope.  They are often well lit on exposed sites. 

 I am concerned that some birders begin to deviate from the viewing protocols established to protect the Gunnison Sage-grouse.  Many conservation groups including birding organizations supported the recent listing of the Gunnison Sage-grouse as a Threatened Species.  I am encouraging all of you to conduct Gunnison Sage-grouse viewing with the utmost integrity of ethics.  Please see the www.siskadee.org website for specific details on viewing protocols.  I urge all visitors to view the grouse from the Waunita Watchable Wildlife site and not to drive further up the road to get a closer view.  Currently there are approximately 5,000 Gunnison Sage-grouse in existence world-wide with 87% in the Gunnison Basin.  The loss of one lek is a substantial blow.  One lek was already depleted due to lek viewing activities.  If the Waunita lek continues to fade and the birds move further away from their traditional lek, it is very unlikely that another watchable wildlife site will be established. The birding community advocates for grouse protection and all are ambassadors for the Gunnison Sage-grouse.  If birders drive up the road, recognize that they may be subject to a wildlife harassment violation if their actions cause the grouse to flush from the lek.  Volunteers continue to monitor the site daily and will be available to help all visitors locate the grouse in their new locations.

 I observed 29 Gunnison Sage-grouse at the new locations on Wednesday April 1 and 20 birds this morning (Saturday April 4).  Thank you for your consideration of our 15 year effort to protect one of North America's rarest birds.

 Please feel free to contact Sisk-a-dee at 970-641-3959 if you would like to discuss the issue or have questions about your visit.  As in the past, a viewing trailer is available for reservation or you can view the lek from your vehicle 7 days a week starting at least one hour before sunrise from 1 April to 15 May.  Please keep in mind that the viewing site opens on April 1.

 Negotiations are underway to determine the future of the Waunita Watchable Wildlife Site, which is managed in cooperation by Sisk-a-dee, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Gunnison Basin Sage-grouse Strategic Committee.  Depending on this year's grouse counts, site operation may change in the future including complete closure, partial closure (viewing available on certain days each week), or continue the status quo.  Further, speed limit reductions and no parking regulations are being considered.

Patrick Magee!

Sisk-a-dee, Director