Endangered Greater Sage Grouse - Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus - Tétras des armoises
A wonderful moment before sunrise, a Greater Sage Grouse on its lek (dancing ground) near Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada. The photo was taken at extreme distance from a vehicle, no disturbance of this endangered species is tolerated.
Member of the Flickr Bird Brigade
Activists for birds and wildlife
From the Government of Canada's Species at Risk Public Registry website:
"Scientific Name: Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus
Other/Previous Names: Sage Grouse (Prairie population)
Taxonomy Group: Birds
Range: Alberta, Saskatchewan
Last COSEWIC Assessment: April 2008
Last COSEWIC Designation: Endangered
SARA Status: Schedule 1, Endangered
Habitat loss and degradation are the most significant threats to the urophasianus subspecies of Greater Sage-Grouse in Canada. The transformation of the habitat of Greater Sage-Grouse into farmland played a major role in its decline. Heavy grazing, particularly over the long term, has detrimental effects on the species. Furthermore, large areas of sagebrush grassland have been converted to the exotic crested wheatgrass for cattle forage. These introduced stands have limited potential in terms of winter forage and shrub and forb cover.
Oil and gas development near leks represents another threat to the urophasianus subspecies of Greater Sage-Grouse in Alberta. During the oil exploration boom in the 1980s, the number of males displaying on leks in southern Alberta decreased by approximately 50%. Oil and gas wells and associated pipelines affect 28% of sagebrush habitats across the species’ range. Industrial development has also fragmented sagebrush habitat through the addition of buildings, highways, trails, fences and electrical poles. In addition, a number of these structures provide raptors with prime perching sites. Predation may be a factor limiting nest success.
Habitat alteration may result in a loss of concealment cover for grouse or a change in the predator community. Drainage impediments such as dams, dugouts and reservoirs increased fourfold in southeastern Alberta between 1951 and 2001, altering hydrological regimes and degrading silver sagebrush communities. More than 80% of the current range of the urophasianus subspecies of Greater Sage-Grouse in Alberta has been altered by such impediments. Because of the small size of the population in Canada, the urophasianus subspecies of Greater Sage-Grouse is highly vulnerable to climatic and chance events. Extended droughts in recent years may have reduced the already limited amount of sagebrush that the grouse need for nesting and brood-rearing. Mortality due to West Nile virus could devastate the small Canadian populations."
Endangered Greater Sage Grouse - Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus - Tétras des armoises
A wonderful moment before sunrise, a Greater Sage Grouse on its lek (dancing ground) near Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada. The photo was taken at extreme distance from a vehicle, no disturbance of this endangered species is tolerated.
Member of the Flickr Bird Brigade
Activists for birds and wildlife
From the Government of Canada's Species at Risk Public Registry website:
"Scientific Name: Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus
Other/Previous Names: Sage Grouse (Prairie population)
Taxonomy Group: Birds
Range: Alberta, Saskatchewan
Last COSEWIC Assessment: April 2008
Last COSEWIC Designation: Endangered
SARA Status: Schedule 1, Endangered
Habitat loss and degradation are the most significant threats to the urophasianus subspecies of Greater Sage-Grouse in Canada. The transformation of the habitat of Greater Sage-Grouse into farmland played a major role in its decline. Heavy grazing, particularly over the long term, has detrimental effects on the species. Furthermore, large areas of sagebrush grassland have been converted to the exotic crested wheatgrass for cattle forage. These introduced stands have limited potential in terms of winter forage and shrub and forb cover.
Oil and gas development near leks represents another threat to the urophasianus subspecies of Greater Sage-Grouse in Alberta. During the oil exploration boom in the 1980s, the number of males displaying on leks in southern Alberta decreased by approximately 50%. Oil and gas wells and associated pipelines affect 28% of sagebrush habitats across the species’ range. Industrial development has also fragmented sagebrush habitat through the addition of buildings, highways, trails, fences and electrical poles. In addition, a number of these structures provide raptors with prime perching sites. Predation may be a factor limiting nest success.
Habitat alteration may result in a loss of concealment cover for grouse or a change in the predator community. Drainage impediments such as dams, dugouts and reservoirs increased fourfold in southeastern Alberta between 1951 and 2001, altering hydrological regimes and degrading silver sagebrush communities. More than 80% of the current range of the urophasianus subspecies of Greater Sage-Grouse in Alberta has been altered by such impediments. Because of the small size of the population in Canada, the urophasianus subspecies of Greater Sage-Grouse is highly vulnerable to climatic and chance events. Extended droughts in recent years may have reduced the already limited amount of sagebrush that the grouse need for nesting and brood-rearing. Mortality due to West Nile virus could devastate the small Canadian populations."