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
Grouse have been basically eradicated from the New Haven area. Just looking
at CBC results, the New Haven circle had 20-30 of them to start the 1980's.
They trailed off to just a few found each year for the next decade. The
last one was seen in 1998 and the last year with multiple grouse seen was
1993.
For myself, the last time I saw one in New Haven county was 1999 when one
was in our backyard. Before that I had seen them in Madison, Killingworth,
and Orange.
The cause can be debated....increased predation from coyotes, lack of
understory cover due to high deer densities, increased development and lack
of habitat. I've heard all these from other people. As for the one in our
backyard, I can say that when I spooked it, it flew off into a patch of
woods that is occupied by 2 houses.
Thanks,
JT
John Triana
Prospect
-----Original Message-----
From: ctbirds-bounces@lists.ctbirding.org
[mailto:ctbirds-bounces@lists.ctbirding.org] On Behalf Of Gene Leganza
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:37 AM
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
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
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA)
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Ruffed Grouse in Connecticut - CBC Data:
With 13 of 18 Connecticut Christmas Bird Counts (including all
northern counts) posting results for the 2007-08 CBC season thus far,
here are the reports of Ruffed Grouse:
Barkhamsted 2
Litchfield Hills 5
Pawling, NY/CT 1
Old Lyme-Saybrook 1
Current Total: 9
Ruffed Grouse has gone through one of the most severe declines in
numbers of all species recorded on Christmas Bird Counts.
Connecticut has been able to put 300 or more birders out in the field
on Christmas Bird Counts since the early 1960s. During the 1960s,
1970s, and early 1980s, it was common for birders to record 150 to
200 Ruffed Grouse annually on Connecticut CBCs. The all-time high
CBC counts for the state were in 1980-81 (271 Ruffed Grouse), 1981-82
(267 grouse), 1963-64 (252 grouse), 1979-80 (236 grouse), and 1982-83
(220 grouse). A significant statewide decline in Ruffed Grouse
numbers began in the late 1980s. Since 1989-90, there has been a
steady decline in grouse numbers, from ca. 80-90 birds to 20-40 birds
to fewer than 20 in the most recent years. In the last seven years,
for example, Ruffed Grouse numbers have ranged from a high of 16
statewide in 2004-05 to a low of 4 in 2006-07.
While a series of factors likely have been involved in this
precipitous decline (as mentioned by others), it is interesting to
note that the explosion in Wild Turkey numbers in Connecticut began
in the early 1980s. Turkeys first appeared on Connecticut CBCs in
1957-58, and they remained in single and low double digit numbers
statewide (mostly on northern counts) for the next 25 years. Annual
CBC reports of Wild Turkeys ranged from 14 to 81 in the period
1982-83 through 1986-87, from 103 to 666 in the period 1987-88
through 1994-95, and from 839 to 2038 in the period 1995-96 through
2006-07. These incredible increases (which got underway seriously in
the late 1980s) resulted from a highly successful reintroduction
program, and they have close inverse correlation with the decline in
Ruffed Grouse in Connecticut. It also would be interesting to see if
there are decent population estimates for the Eastern Coyote in
Connecticut over the course of the last 60 years.
I agree that the Ruffed Grouse surveys conducted by the State DEP are
most important in understanding the recent status of this bird in
Connecticut.
Steve Broker
Cheshire