Lek attendance and disturbance at viewing blinds in a small, declining Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) population

Charlotte L Roy,Pamela L Coy

doi:10.5751/ace-01986-160225

Abstract

Roy, C. L. and P. L. Coy. 2021. Lek attendance and disturbance at viewing blinds in a small, declining Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) population. Avian Conservation and Ecology 16(2):25. https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-01986-160225

Highlights

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) populations have faced severe reductions to their historic range within the Great Lakes region (Miller and Graul 1980) and have continued to decline over the last few decades (Maples and Soulliere 1996, Hanson 2021, Roy 2021)
We studied observer arrivals and departures at public viewing blinds placed at Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) lekking areas using trail cameras
We suggest that managers consider the impacts of human disturbance at viewing blinds in declining populations and potential mating losses that might occur at leks with inconsistent attendance

Summary

Introduction

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) populations have faced severe reductions to their historic range within the Great Lakes region (Miller and Graul 1980) and have continued to decline over the last few decades (Maples and Soulliere 1996, Hanson 2021, Roy 2021). Birds in declining populations may become less tolerant to disturbances at leks, the consequences of disturbances at leks may last longer, or repeated disturbances might cause birds to flush at longer distances (Smit and Visser 1993, Laursen et al 2005, Stankowich and Blumstein 2005, Baines and Richardson 2007, Thiel et al 2007). Human activity at viewing blinds, which might cause repeated disturbances, may reduce lek attendance and exacerbate obstacles to successful reproduction at leks in populations already facing challenges to persistence

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Conclusion