Grouse & Prairie-Chicken Updates (Last Updated 1/20/2009)
Gunnison Sage-Grouse
Gunnison County
Gunnison County Road 38
In 2008, GUSG were found 7/1 to 8/31.
In 2007, GUSG were found 7/2 to 8/11.
The only public viewing lek this year is Waunita Hot Springs Lek
Waunita Hot Springs Gunnison Sage-Grouse Leks
First and Last reports:
3/6/2009 to ? (Lek does not officially open until 4/1/2009
4/2/2008 to 5/27/2008 (It was a very snowy spring)
3/7/2007 to 5/10/2007
3/26/2006 to 5/8/2006
3/6/2005 to 5/11/2005
NOTE RULES FOR 2009:
Visitors at the Waunita Watchable Wildlife site should NOT leave their vehicle.
This is a new rule as of 2005! Vehicles should drive into the viewing area and
should be parked behind the wall, all engines should be turned off throughout
the visit to the viewing site, and visitors should remain in their vehicles
for the duration of the viewing experience. Viewing is over when the Gunnison
Sage-grouse depart the lek; the time varies but may be one to two hours after
sunrise. Spotting scopes and binoculars should be used in order to view the
grouse. If visitors wish to get out of their cars, they can arrange with
Sisk-a-dee to join one of the guided tours (see events page).
A viewing trailer is available for groups (must contact Sisk-a-dee for reservations).
Personal Behavior: All visitors should arrive at the lek at least one hour
before official sunrise. Cars should be parked and not moved for the duration
of the morning, and engines should remain off. Car alarms and beeping door
lockers must be avoided. Car headlights and inside lights must be turned off.
Visitors should remain in their vehicles behind the wall and screening, and
keep conversation to a quiet whisper if windows are open. Visitors must
remain on the site until the grouse have left the area. These policies
have been established by the Gunnison Sage-grouse Working Group, and any
violation may result in a citation for harassing wildlife.
Your cooperation will reduce unnecessary stress on the birds and
allow you and other visitors to view the birds longer!
NOTE: Gunnison Sage-Grouse are more easily observed in the morning
than the afternoon! They seem to start later in the afternoon and
sometimes not until after it is too dark to see them!
The Waunita Site was developed to allow general public access and guided or
commercial tours. The general public is encouraged to contact Sisk-a-dee
for details regarding viewing and to make reservations for one of the
guided tours provided by Sisk-a-dee (see events). Commercial groups are
required to contact Sisk-a-dee to make reservations for use of the site.
All commercial groups must pay a fee to use the site.
http://www.siskadee.org/
Free Events (see events link on siskadee website)
April 15 & 16; April 23 & 24
Greater Sage-Grouse
Jackson County
Coalmont Greater Sage-Grouse Lek
NOTE: The Department of Wildlife has lost its lease on the lek.
THE LEK IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY NOW AND MUST BE VIEWED FROM CR 26 ONLY.
VIEWS ARE ALMOST TOO FAR AWAY TO SEE BIRDS!
GRSG are visiting the lek now 3/10/2008!; views are quite a distance!
This is not the best location to observe Greater Sage-Grouse anymore.
See Routt & Moffat Counties for better locations!
With some luck, Greater Sage-Grouse can be seen along CR 26.
Early in the morning, drive CR 26, north of Hwy 14.
Especially look in the area about 3.0 miles north of Hwy 14.
First of Season: Ehlmann 3/3/2009
Another avenue for seeing the grouse is to volunteer with the DOW.
The number of slots is limited and go quickly and there is a required
orientation session (which is not necessarily at lek locations).
Greater Sage-Grouse Mating Ritual (2009 Tour Dates!)
The tours are sponsored by the North Park Chamber of Commerce and
the Colo Div of Wildlife for the weekends of April 18, 19 & 25 and 26.
Trips will be limited to 20 people each day.
NOTE: Trip information below is for 2009. Email or write for further 2009 info.
Trips begin in Walden at 6:30 pm on Friday or Sat with an evening
meal, followed by a short program.
The reservations fill quickly! Calling might be best!
Cost of the lek trip is $225.00 for couples, double occupancy;
$150.00 per person, single occupancy. Price includes dinner, the
program, lodging and the trip to the lek. Lodging will be arranged
at one of the local motels, if you desire.
Camping information and prices are also available.
You may call the North Park Chamber of Commerce at 970-723-4600;
e-mail - northparkcoc@cs.com; or write to North Park Chamber of
Commerce, PO Box 68, Walden, CO 80480.
Moffat County
Greater Sage-Grouse Leks
THIS IS THE BEST LEK TO VIEW GRSG; BRING A SCOPE, DISTANCE IS FAR FROM ROAD
Stevens & Ehlmann observed 10 birds on 3/11/2008 (Last report: 5/24/2008
Ehlmann & Stevens observed several birds on Timberlake Lek 3/7/2007
Bryan Ehlmann observed several birds on Timberlake Lek Road 3/11/2006
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Routt County
Hayden Sharp-tailed Grouse Leks
Ehlmann reported several on 3/4/2009
Stevens reported 20 STGR on the morning of 3/11/2008 Last: 5/25/2008
Bryan Ehlmann reported 1 STGR on the evening of 3/7/2007! Last: 6/2/2007
Richard Stevens found 2 STGR on the evening of 3/26/2006!
Another avenue for seeing the grouse is to volunteer with the DOW for
STGR Lek counts April to late May, 2006 (Milner Oak Creek & Steamboat Springs).
The number of slots is limited and go quickly and there is a required
orientation session (which is in Steamboat Springs; Times to be determined).
Contact: Valerie Masiello, 970-879-9136 or email: valerie.masiello@state.co.us
Sharp-tailed Grouse Viewing—Hayden (Mid-April through mid-May.)
The Colorado Division of Wildlife offers limited guided tours to
view sharp-tailed grouse near Hayden. Tours are provided by the
Division of Wildlife’s local district wildlife manager;
participants must arrange for meals and accommodations on their own.
Hayden is located in the Yampa Valley between Steamboat Springs and Craig.
To request a tour, call 970/871-2854 and leave a message.
80 Route Leks
This area received much snow in 2008 and access was not possible until late spring.
Fifteen birds were reported on 4/27/2008. Few birders tried this area in 2008.
(The 20 Road Leks are not far from access to 80 Route Leks.)
Richard Stevens found Sharp-tailed & Greater Sage-Grouse 4/11/2007
Dusky Grouse were seen on 4/14/2007
Allison Hilf found Greater Sage-Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, & Dusky Grouse 5/5/2005
Snow did not allow access on 3/7/2007.
This location may not open until April; will post when open.
There is a new location to find Sharp-tailed Grouse.
The 80 Route Leks produced Sharp-tailed, Sage, and Dusky Grouse Sightings.
Another avenue for seeing the grouse is to volunteer with the DOW.
The number of slots is limited and go quickly and there is a required orientation session
(which is not necessarily at lek locations).
Dusky Grouse
One of the best locations to see Dusky Grouse is Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
NOTE: South rim drive is closed at Visitor's Center until Spring.
We will remove this notice when road reopens.
It is quite a cross country ski trip to western end.
Last spring (early) we found Dusky Grouse at closed gate and
along the main road just west of the campground entrance.
We have the most success by driving to the western end of the South Rim Drive
about an hour or two before sunset. Then walk (or drive) back east.
Male Dusky Grouse will come out and display on the road.
Females eventually come out also.
Greater Prairie-Chicken Leks
Greater Prairie-Chickens from a Public Road (2008)
Weston reported 2 birds on 3/3/2009
Stevens reported 3 birds on 3/23/2008! Last: 5/23/2008
Bjorkman reported 3 birds on 3/8/2007! Last: 5/23/2007
Eleven to fourteen birds observed below by Stevens party on 3/8/2006!
Three birds were observed after sunrise on 3/19/2006
From Wray, drive North on Hwy 385 to Yuma County Road 45.
Drive east from US 385 on Rd 45 about 1.5 miles until you see the
windmill on the south side of the road appear over the horizon.
Keep driving east for a total of 1.7 miles. You should be on the
crest of a hill just before the top. Get out and setup up your
scopes pointing west and find the windmill. From the windmill
scan south (left) until the ridge behind the windmill descends
to a point where ridge further west becomes the horizon line.
Note that there is now a closer lower ridge that is greener and
barer than the other two and into which the first ridge recedes behind.
This is the lek and if you are there between first light and the
next two hours during the lekking season (See Lane bar graphs) you
may have a good chance of viewing the birds. Note that the tops
of the yucca plants have be flattened and disarrayed from the males
jumping up and sitting on them. At the time we were there a red
irrigator pipe was visible between the west most ridge and the
east most ridge and the lek was below this pipe on the east
most ridge mentioned.
The WRAY MUSEUM HOLDS TOURS
to Greater Prairie-Chicken Leks (All are on Private Land)
Telephone: 970-332-5063 or 970-332-3484
Tours fill up quickly after reservations are taken (starting February 1)
Another avenue for seeing the grouse is to volunteer with the DOW.
The number of slots is limited and go quickly and there is a required orientation session
(which is not necessarily at lek locations).
Wray Greater Prairie-Chicken Tours 2009
2009 Dates!
Trip to view courting ritual; two price plans
Tours will originate in Wray, CO on the weekends of:
March 27-29
April 3-5
April 17-19
April 24-26
Two trips are scheduled each weekend.
See link for dates still open & additional information!
Then Call 970-332-3484 for information and register
Or register on the Internet by following above link.
You can register by mail, however spots go fast, I would call!
Museum Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 12:00pm to 4:00pm
If your are in town, check them out. It's an interesting experience!
Klassen Farms
For information contact: Linda: 719-765-4676
Contact at least 48 hours in advance.
Working Ranch, access is limited;
if you visit, leave all gates as you found them.
Please Respect private property!
Lazy LW Ranch
To schedule a visit to this working ranch
with Greater Prairie-Chicken Lek:
They allow other birding!
Deee Wilson: 970-332-5407
website: www.lazylw.com
Contact at least 48 hours in advance.
if you visit, leave all gates as you found them.
Please Respect private property!
Lesser Prairie-Chicken Leks
Last year the Colorado Lek was down to 1 or 2 birds. The Forest
Service has decided to close access to this lek for 2008.
LEK IS CLOSED FOR 2009 ALSO!
Best viewing is near Elkhart, Kansas where there are two free leks.
This trek adds about 30-40 additional miles to the trip.
For directions and information:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/cim/cim_lpc.shtml
The US Forest Service provides a viewing blind (free) at the Campo Lek.
Key is obtained by stopping at Springfield Office (south end of town)
27162 Highway 287, PO Box 127, Springfield, CO 81073
Reservations are suggested on the weekend.
Your car can be used as blind, by parking 20 yards or so behind official blind
(No key needed and no backtrack drive to return key).
Telephone: 719-523-6591
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:30pm
GRANADA BED & BREAKFAST
website: arenadusttours.com
email: arena_dust at yahoo.com
tel: 719-734-5226 or 719-734-688-3870 or 719-688-3869
Rooms at $65/day
They only have two rooms. One with Queen Bed, the other,
one double bed, also offer sofa ($25) for those interested.
Tours at $55/person
Tour includes Breakfast afterwards!
Owners Norma and Fred Dorenkamp
"We can get within good viewing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken Leks.
This is all on private land. There are also many other birds in
this area, as the birds are now starting to migrate and many different
birds come through this area. There are many interesting and historical
sites to view in the area. We also own the convenience store in Granada
and would welcome anyone coming through to stop and visit with us."
Do not expect much in accommodations, basic, but clean.
Hospitality is fantastic, friendly, and helpful.
Quaint hands on bird trip with many Lesser Prairie-Chickens
and a few other birds to keep your interest.
WITCHER RANCH
website: www.santafetrailhunts.com
Contact at least a week in advance:
Emma Sneed: 719-324-9258
Package deal includes evening meal, lodging,
morning tour of lek, then breakfast.
Location: extreme southeast Colorado.
COLORADO BIRDING SOCIETY CHICKEN TOURS 2009
CoBus offers several "Grouse Tours" each year.
Popularity has increased and they are filled quickly.
Only 3 or 4 birders plus a leader participate each trip.
(Trips sometimes include only one birder and leader).
Expenses of Transportation and Lodging are split
between non-leader birders. No extra charge for leader.
Write: cobus@worldnet.att.net
Number of days is still flexible. Call soon!
OUR 2009 TOURS
I leave itinerary for those who would
like to make it a self-guiding tour.
Basic Route: Grouse Tour
Contact me for further information:
birdertoo (at) hotmail.com
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Guanella Pass
Is one of the best locations to search for White-tailed Ptarmigan.
CLOSED FOR SEASON!
NOTE: The county did not plow the road in 2007, 2008 and will not in 2009.
The area received much snow and may not be open well into May?
Will post when opened!
1. Check willows around the lake 500 yards below the parking area.
2. I have more success by checking the hill to the southeast of the parking area.
I like to walk to the sign-in box to the Rosalie and 603 trails (SE of parking area).
Then walk south up hill on the 603 trail to top of the hill.
Then hike east and pick up the Rosalie Trail about 100 yards from top of hill.
Follow Rosalie Trail north and west back to Sign-in Box.
Especially check either side of 603 trail.
After 400 yards up the 603 trail, look to highest point to southeast.
If you draw a line between this highest point (far off in distance),
there is a large triangular rock surrounded by 4 or 5 fir trees (about 200 yards from you).
(This large rock will look different depending upon the amount of snow).
Ptarmigan often are around this rock and fir trees.
Along the Rosalie Trail check a clearing surrounded by willows about 30 yards
below the trail (when trail is running south to north).
Also check uphill from here to another large bowl with 4 evergreens in it.
Loveland Pass
Probably the best location to search well into 2009.
Ptarmigan reported below east side of Summit: 12/2009 & 1/2009!
Ptarmigan also reported above Hwy 6 at 200 yards South of Summit 1/2009
This area is better searched during the week as many skiers use the pass on weekends.
Scope hillside below the eastern Continental Divide Sign
Then check, uphill east of the parking area for 1000 yards.
If not successful, then check west side of road.
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Please feel free to contact CoBus and
President, Gary Weston at the following address:
E-mail: