Assessment of greater sage-grouse response to pinyon-juniper removal in the Parachute-Piceance-Roan population of northwestern Colorado

Assessment of greater sage-grouse response to pinyon-juniper removal in the Parachute-Piceance-Roan population of northwestern Colorado

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Parachute-Piceance-Roan (PPR) region of western Colorado face at least two major potential stressors: projected habitat loss from energy development and a long-term decline in habitat suitability associated with pinyon-juniper (PJ) encroachment. PJ removal may be a useful mitigation tool to offset potential habitat losses associated with energy development. Although PJ removal is commonly used to improve habitat for greater sage-grouse, no studies to date have quantified the timing or magnitude of how birds respond to treatments. Since 2008, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has cooperated with industry and landowner partners to investigate the effectiveness of PJ removal for restoring sage-grouse habitat in the PPR. In fall 2008, I established nine “survey” study plots, arranged in three groups of three, with each group consisting of a sagebrush control plot, an untreated PJ control plot, and a PJ treatment plot. Treatments were completed on the three treatment plots in 2010 and 2011.

Walker, Brett L.

Greater sage-grouse

Parachute-Piceance-Roan (PPR) region

Wildlife habitat improvement

Northwestern Colorado

various pages

2014-2016

Text

application/pdf

English

Cost Center 3420 Avian Research. Work Package 0660 Greater Sage-grouse conservation