[CT Birds] Fwd: Ruffed Grouse Question

[jaybrd49 at aol.com]

 What is not addressed is the decline of ruffed grouse in many areas of Connecticut over the past two decades.? Maturation of forests, habitat loss to sprawl, and competition with other species has eliminated grouse from many former haunts.? Take a look, for example, at Hartford Christmas Bird Count data.? At one time, grouse was easy to find in the West Hartford Reservoir system and other locations.? There has not been a report of Grouse on the Hartford Count for over ten years.? With all the birders participating in January Big Lists this year, how many have grouse on their lists?? I know of one birder who was lucky enough to find a single bird running across a road in Goshen.? Anyone else find one?



Jay Kaplan

Canton





 





 



-----Original Message-----

From: Gene Leganza <gleganza at gmail.com>

To: ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org

Sent: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:37 am

Subject: [CT Birds] Ruffed Grouse Question













Bob from Pomfret asked: "Ruffed grouse question:  Any thoughts on numbers,

distribution in CT for this species?"



CT DEP puts out a bimonthly publication, "Connecticut Wildlife," available

by print subscription or via the web. The Jan/Feb 2008 version is not up on

their web site yet, but I get the print version and this issues summarizes

their 2007 research. In the section on "small game" it reports:



"During 2007, baseline ruffed grouse population data were collected from

grouse observations and drumming surveys. A total of 18 observations were

reported from 9 towns, bringing the total to 134 sightings since 2005.

Drumming surveys were conducted in April. Grouse were heard drumming on 10

of 12 routes and 35 drummers were recorded. The actual number of unique

males heard drumming was between 23 to 35 birds. The survey route that

produced the highest number of birds (5) was in East Hampton."



The online version of Connecticut Wildlife can be found at:

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325718&depNav_GID=1655#CTW



and one can subscribe to the print version at:

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325712&depNav_GID=1655



-- 

Gene Leganza, Wilton

gleganza 'at' gmail.com

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