The rapid pace of wind‐energy development has increased stakeholder concerns regarding the potential effects on wildlife. Locations targeted for wind‐energy development frequently overlap prairie grouse and greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitats. Research suggests that anthropogenic developments may have negative effects on these species. There is, however, no information published regarding the effect of wind‐energy development on Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus), a subspecies that has twice been petitioned for Endangered Species Act protection. To address this need, from 2014 to 2015 we studied Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse nesting ecology across restored grasslands in eastern Idaho, USA, where a 215‐turbine wind‐energy complex had been developed. We monitored 147 nests from 135 females captured at leks 0.1–13.8 km from wind turbines. We used an information‐theoretic approach to evaluate the influence of wind‐energy infrastructure and habitat characteristics on nest‐site selection and daily nest survival. We did not detect any influence of wind‐energy infrastructure on nest‐site selection or nest survival. Nest‐site selection and daily nest survival were influenced by vegetation structure and composition measured at 2 spatial scales. Females selected nest sites with more restored grassland containing >30% forb cover within the nesting core‐use area (i.e., 60 ha around the nest) and exhibited a functional response to the availability of that land cover type. Daily nest survival was best predicted by visual obstruction at the nest site and the amount of restored grassland containing >30% forb cover within the nesting core‐use area. We recommend wildlife managers continue to implement management practices that will provide bunchgrass‐dominated grasslands with >30% forb cover in restored grasslands (e.g., Conservation Reserve Program fields) within Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse range. © The Wildlife Society, 2019
Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) have experienced range-wide population declines, primarily as a result of habitat loss or degradation, and currently occupy <10% of their historical range. Expansion of wind-energy development across the current, occupied Columbian sharp-tailed grouse range is a potential threat to the subspecies. To assess the potential effects of wind-energy development on vital rates of Columbian sharp-tailed grouse offspring, we monitored 68 broods of radio-marked females captured at 11 leks in restored grasslands within 14 km of a 215-turbine wind-energy development complex in eastern Idaho, USA from 2014-2015. We assessed the influence of wind turbine density, habitat characteristics, brood-rearing female age, hatch date, and weather on brood success and chick survival using an information-theoretic model selection approach. Wind turbine density did not influence early (14-day) brood success, but there was weak evidence for a negative effect of wind turbine density on late (42-day) brood success. There was strong evidence that increasing turbine density within the late brood-rearing home range negatively affected chick survival to 42 days after hatch. The probability of an individual chick surviving to 42 days decreased by 50% when there were ≥10 wind turbines within 2,100 m of the nest.Late brood success and chick survival increased with earlier hatch dates. There was weak evidence for positive effects of post-hatch precipitation on early brood success and chick survival and weak evidence that adult females had higher early brood success than yearlings. Habitat characteristics such as
of the University of Wyoming conducted the lifecycle model analyses and prepared the summary of the results. C.E. Braun and an anonymous reviewer provided constructive comments that substantially improved the quality of the assessment. Finally, the authors are extremely grateful to G.D. Patton and P.M. McDonald with the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Their support, technical guidance, understanding, and most of all, patience, made the preparation of this assessment easier. AUTHORS' BIOGRAPHIESRichard W. Hoffman earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. Degrees in wildlife biology from Colorado State University. He subsequently worked for the Colorado Division of Wildlife for over 30 years as an avian researcher specializing in upland game birds. He has conducted research on population dynamics, habitat relationships, nutritional ecology, and behavior of white-tailed ptarmigan, dusky grouse, greater prairie-chickens, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, and wild turkey. In retirement, he continues to work on projects involving white-tailed ptarmigan, greater sage-grouse, and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse.Allan E. Thomas earned his B.Sc. Degree in wildlife management with minors in fisheries and range management from the University of Arizona. He also conducted graduate work at the same university and received additional credits from attending schools in Washington, South Dakota, Arkansas, Alaska, and Idaho. His work experience spans more than 50 years and includes positions primarily with the Bureau of Land Management (22 years) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (19 years). He retired from the Bureau of Land Management in 1999 and started another career as a private consultant in Boise, Idaho. DEDICATIONSadly, Allan E. Thomas passed away before this assessment was completed. Allan was a devoted conservation biologist who believed strongly in documenting and communicating biological information. This assessment is testimony to Allan's work ethic and is dedicated to his memory. COVER PHOTO CREDITPhotograph of male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse in an alert posture by Richard W. Hoffman. 3 SUMMARY OF KEY COMPONENTS FOR CONSERVATION OF COLUMBIAN SHARP-TAILED GROUSE StatusThe Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus; CSTG) is one of six existing subspecies of sharp-tailed grouse in North America. It is endemic to big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), shrubsteppe, mountain shrub, and riparian shrub plant communities of western North America. The subspecies currently occupies less than 10 percent of its historic range, with only three metapopulations remaining in central British Columbia, southeastern Idaho and northern Utah, and northwestern Colorado and south-central Wyoming. Within Region 2 of the USDA Forest Service (USFS), this grouse formerly occurred in as many as 22 counties in western Colorado and in portions of 11 counties in west-central, southwestern, and south-central Wyoming. Today, viable populations occur in only three counties in Colorado and one county in Wyoming. Attempts are being ...
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