Ecology and Management of Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock

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1 Ecology and Management of Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock

2 RUFFED GROUSE Weigh pounds Inconspicuous plumage Males have prominent dark ruffs around neck Solitary most of year

3 FEMALE

4 MALE?

5 GENDER DETERMINATION Central tail feather < 157 mm = Female, >163mm = Male Best to use rump spots

6 Color Phases

7 Range of Ruffed Grouse and Aspen In MD: Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick Counties only

8 Grouse Habitat = Early-successional forest = High STEM DENSITY

9 SPRING Males drum to attract females Use regular drumming logs Hens will begin laying nest

10 NESTING HABITAT

11 Hen will lay 8-13 eggs and incubate for 24 days All eggs will hatch at same time and chicks leave nest within hours

12 SUMMER BROOD HABITAT: Herbaceous Vegetation + Insects Need Sunlight on the forest floor!

13

14 FALL Only 10-20% of chicks will live to September Young will disperse up to 20 miles from brood range Adults will often shift to winter habitat near food sources

15 WINTER

16

17 SNOW-ROOSTING

18 Grouse Habitat Management Important to set back plant succession Succession is the change in plant and tree species through time Most efficient method Timber harvest 2 main types of tree harvest Clear-cut Seed-tree or shelterwood harvest Both types provide benefits to grouse Depends on objectives and current forest conditions

19 Clearcut in Western MD

20 Habitat quality will peak at around 8-15 years Within 2-3 years, timber cuts will provide some habitat for grouse

21 Grouse Habitat Example Recent clear-cut Heavily Thinned Forest Clear-cut yrs old Conifer thicket Openings Mature oak Old logging roads or trails

22 Mast trees High Stem density Logging Road

23 Appalachian Cooperative Grouse Research Project (ACGRP) Key Findings: Appalachian grouse rely on hard mast extensively and grouse with access to hard mast have higher reproductive rates Chick survival appeared to be limiting factor better in years of good mast production Hunting that took as many as 35% of grouse had no impact on the breeding population (hunting is COMPENSATORY) Avian predators were primary cause of adult mortality Project emphasizes the need to provide FOOD (mast) and COVER (early-successional habitat) in close proximity

24 Other Management Recommendations Encourage fruit-bearing trees and shrubs Grape vines, crab-apples, cherries, blackberries Small clearcuts are best (2-5 acres) Can use prescribed burning or herbicides to control unwanted tree species on recently cut sites encourage oaks

25

26 American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

27 Woodcock Ecology Small migratory bird Breeds in Canada and around Great Lakes south to WV Winters in southeast U.S. including MD In MD, breed statewide, peak migration in October- January, and many wintering on the Eastern Shore

28 American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey: Eastern Region 4 Breeding Population Index

29 Woodcock Ecology Unique courtship behavior: Begins in April Sing at dusk Use singing grounds male flies in pattern and calls (peents) to attract females

30 Woodcock Ecology Usually nest at base of tree near forest edge Lays 2-4 eggs, incubates days Chicks leave nest immediately

31 Woodcock Foods 50-90% of diet is earthworms Specialized flexible bill for probing soil Moist soils, many times along field edges, preferred

32 Woodcock Habitat Important that feeding sites, singing grounds, & roosting fields in close proximity Abandoned farms and overgrown orchards are often prime habitat

33 Woodcock Habitat: Feeding areas - young saplings or shrubs; moist soils with earthworms

34 Woodcock Habitat: Roost sites Fields > 3 acres; pasture and hay fields or forest openings

35 Woodcock Habitat: Singing Grounds Forest clearings close to feeding areas

36 Woodcock Habitat Management Similar to grouse habitat management High Stem Density! = early-successional Timber harvest: small strips cut in a rotation are best; 1-5 acres in size But.. Need more openings for roosting and singing Maintain existing pasture or hay meadows with mowing Can create openings in young forest (> 0.5 acres) with cutting or herbicide

37 Woodcock Habitat Example Old field Hardwoods Opening 5 year-old 15 year-old 10 year-old Recently cut 10 year-old Pasture Old field Saplings (5-15 years old)

38 Feeding (diurnal) cover Roosting/singing ground openings

39 Grouse and Woodcock Summary Both grouse and woodcock populations are declining: they need young, diverse forests Key is to provide early-succession habitat & diversity

40 Soft Edge A soft edge will benefit many wildlife species Field or pasture Shrubs Saplings Mature forest EARLY SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT

41 HARD EDGE

42 SOFT EDGE

43 Other Wildlife of Young Forests Golden-winged warbler Common yellowthroat Yellow-breasted chat Eastern towhee White-eyed vireo Field sparrow Eastern Cottontail Wild turkey White-tailed deer Blue-winged warbler Chestnut-sided warbler

44 FOR MORE INFORMATION

45 We welcome the opportunity to discuss management options to benefit young forest wildlife in decline. Contact Information: Tom Mathews, Habitat Biologist, Contractor for The Wildlife Management Institute

46 QUESTIONS???

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