Ecology and Management of Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock

Ecology and Management of Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock

RUFFED GROUSE Weigh 1-1.5 pounds Inconspicuous plumage Males have prominent dark ruffs around neck Solitary most of year

FEMALE

MALE?

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

Color Phases

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

Grouse Habitat = Early-successional forest = High STEM DENSITY

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

NESTING HABITAT

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

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

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

WINTER

SNOW-ROOSTING

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

Clearcut in Western MD

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

Grouse Habitat Example Recent clear-cut Heavily Thinned Forest Clear-cut 10-15 yrs old Conifer thicket Openings Mature oak Old logging roads or trails

Mast trees High Stem density Logging Road

Appalachian Cooperative Grouse Research Project (ACGRP) 1996-2001 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

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

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

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

American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey: Eastern Region 4 Breeding Population Index 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004

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

Woodcock Ecology Usually nest at base of tree near forest edge Lays 2-4 eggs, incubates 19-22 days Chicks leave nest immediately

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

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

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

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

Woodcock Habitat: Singing Grounds Forest clearings close to feeding areas

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

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)

Feeding (diurnal) cover Roosting/singing ground openings

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

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

HARD EDGE

SOFT EDGE

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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 301-707-3475 tommathews@atlanticbb.net www.timberdoodle.org www.youngforest.org

QUESTIONS???