Ruffed Grouse
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PART VIII: SPECIES MANAGEMENT RUFFED GROUSE uffed grouse live in 34 of the earth mound from which to display the hen lays one egg each day until 49 continental states and in in spring. Grouse beat their wings her clutch, which numbers from Rall Canadian provinces. which results in a putt-putt-putt eight to 14 light-colored eggs, is Michigan is an important portion of sound similar to a small gasoline complete. After the last egg is laid, the grouse range. Often thought of engine starting up. This display is she incubates the clutch. Hatching as a bird of the deep forest, grouse called "drumming” and is used to occurs in 24 to 26 days. actually thrive best in young, aspen warn other males and attract hens. forests and brushlands. When Drumming goes on all year but Soon after hatching, the chicks aspen is not available, oak, lowland increases in spring. The male follow the hen to a summer brood brush, and dense stands of trees grouse chooses a drumming site range, which can be several miles are optional habitats. Grouse are a that has the following characteris- away. Ideal brood habitat is dense welcome sight at bird feeders in tics: a large log for good visibility stands of brush, young aspen, and neighborhoods where natural habi- located in thick cover of young hardwoods, or lowland alders, with tat is available. Despite human saplings or brush for protection. the ground clear of thick, low- encroachment, grouse are able to growing vegetation. survive. Hens usually nest within a half-mile of their mates. After hol- Chicks feed heavily on insects You can manage for grouse in lowing out a depression in the leaf during the first few weeks of life. Michigan if you own 20-40 acres of litter at the base of a tree or stump, Gradually their diet shifts to green woodlands, and birds have access plant materials and fruits. Mortality to other nearby woodlots. When of the chicks is high. Only half of habitat needs are met, ruffed the brood hatched in late May will grouse usually spend their entire survive to mid-August. Half those lives in an area of 40 acres or less. survivors will not make it to winter, If critical habitat is not available, and perhaps one or two more will grouse will disperse up to several be lost by the following spring. miles in search of a new home. Typically, only one to three birds Birds are basically solitary and do per brood survive through their not collect in coveys like bob- first year. white quail, although sev- eral grouse may feed or At 16 to 18 weeks old, roost together. Be aware the fully-grown young grouse that populations fluctuate even disperse from family units to find when habitat needs are met. new homes, which is called the "fall shuffle". During this period of Life Cycle movement grouse fill Adult males establish available existing habi- territories as small as six tat, and are vulnerable to 10 acres and aggres- to predators and sively defend them against human hunting. The other males during the breeding first to leave are the season. After territories are deter- A drumming log is a necessity young males, which may travel as mined, males select a log, stone, or for attracting hens in the spring. far as 4 1/2 miles. Young hens During winter the flower buds of aspen become the staple grouse food, but winter catkins of hazel and those of willow and birch are also eaten. Aspen younger than 12 or 15 years provide the thick, dense cover that helps protect nesting grouse and hens with broods from aerial predators (hawks and owls) and land predators (foxes and coy- otes). Therefore, the key to more leave the family about two weeks grouse is to create varying ages of after the young males, and they aspen, when possible, and a variety may disperse 15 or more miles. of hardwoods and brushy covers when aspen is not available. A grouse onto your property. Grouse populations fluctuate grouse can be sustained in 10 to 20 according to weather trends, food acres if the habitat is ideal. Species composition and densi- availability, predation, and other ty also determine the long-term reasons not fully understood. Management opportunities for capabilities of your woods in sus- Evidence suggests the high-to-low ruffed grouse and other forest taining grouse. Tall shrubs, greater population cycle repeats itself wildlife in oak forests depend, in than 5 feet, provide year round every 10 years. part, on the composition and food and cover. Recommended arrangement of the principal tree, species include hazel-nut, dog- Habitat Management shrub, and herbaceous food and wood, witch hazel, serviceberry, The best way to attract grouse cover plants. A mixture of oaks, and nannyberry. Maintenance of onto your property is to offer habi- aspen, and conifers are beneficial dense young forest should be the tat that meets the grouse's needs to grouse. Providing a dense highest priority of grouse habitat for food and safety. Optimum understory and overhead cover, management. In addition, ground ruffed grouse habitat should these habitats are most productive cover such as blown down trees include brushy areas, young aspen when they are 10-15 feet in height. and debris, also provide substantial stands, mature aspen stands with However, it is important to avoid a cover and necessary drumming an understory of hazel or ironwood, domination of one species within a sites. and dense sapling aspen stands. woodlot mixture - especially hard- Oak, conifers, and lowland brush woods and conifers as this may Oaks can be maintained by cut- and trees are an option when reduce the potential movement of ting 30 to 80 percent of all trees, aspen is absent. except saplings. However, it is also important to leave small The best grouse habitat clumps of trees for seed is created when a forest such as aspen, birch, with aspen is clear-cut and ironwood. Oak every 40 to 50 years cuts should be 5 to in small dispersed 20 acres in size. patches. Refer to the They can be as Aspen/Birch chapter in the large as 40 acres Forest Management section. as long as they Aspen trees 15 years and older are shaped irregularly. provide the most important year- Spacing between cuts of round food sources in the form of the same age should exceed green leaves, flower buds, and catkins. 600 to 900 feet. RUFFED GROUSE raspberry, blackberry, wire or sheet metal three to four sumac, grape, willow, feet high). Mow open areas and cherry, hazelnut, and iron- trails and plant with mixtures of wood. Make small clover, legumes, and grass. clearcuts no larger than 2 1/2 acres in size in the Concerns interior of the woods, No matter how you manage sparing the above species. your property for wildlife, your The result will be an explo- decisions will always have impacts. Grouse enjoy eating nuts and sion of dense thickets of young For example, clearcutting aspen or berries and gain cover protection trees and shrubs, which will attract oak stands for grouse will discour- from the shrubs that produce grouse. age mature forest loving wildlife these foods. such as woodpeckers, some war- You may consider transplant- blers, and squirrels. For this rea- ing aspen sprouts from another son, it is important to have an over- In southern Michigan, grouse location or planting aspen all management plan with specific will inhabit lowland hardwoods seedlings, which will grow in the goals in mind. such as red maple, cottonwood, newly created open sunlight. Make white ash, swamp white oak, pin sure the soil is conducive to aspen. You should also be aware that oak, sycamore, and black gum if Also, protect young trees with creating or enhancing habitats may there is sufficient understory guards to discourage browsing by invite unwanted guests. For exam- growth. Opening the canopy by deer, rabbits, and mice. ple, if you plant trees and shrubs, selective cutting will allow sunlight in the hopes of providing food for to the ground and stimulate ground Whenever you make a clearcut grouse and songbirds, you most vegetation necessary for cover and for grouse, be sure to leave one log likely will also lure deer, rabbits, food for grouse, rabbits, deer, and per acre as a potential drumming and mice that can become a nui- other wildlife species. site. The log must be at least 10 sance by eating the new plantings inches in diameter and cut at least and even killing them. Free-roam- Establishing a lowland hard- 3 feet from the ground so as to ing dogs and wood stand beneficial to grouse leave a sufficiently sized stump. cats may also can be accomplished by selectively Eventually young trees will grow harvesting in a three stage rotation over the log, and a drumming site within a 30 year cycle. Vertical will develop. cover, of seedlings and saplings, and 20-30 year old poles, along Plant fruit-producing with the horizontal cover provided shrubs (crabapples, haw- by shrub and herbaceous growth thorns, dogwoods, are all needed. The 30 year rota- sumac, etc.) along tion will at all times retain 1/3 of woodland edges and the stand in cover less than 10 within openings. years old. These strips of herba- Encourage these and ceous growth, paralleled by pole other shrubs by cut- and saplings stands, are intended ting away competing to provide the mixed food and growth, thinning, and cover needs for a greater variety of pruning if necessary. wildlife. Protect the smaller shrubs with mouse If there are no aspen, oak, guards (1/4-inch or lowland hardwoods on your mesh wire or sheet wooded property, grouse may still metal 12 inches be attracted to woody plants such high) and deer and rab- as apples, crabapples, hawthorn, bit guards (1-inch mesh wild plums, dogwoods, nannyberry, RUFFED GROUSE 40 acres maple AM LB AP & oak Existing features aspen COCO forest House and yard Stream AP AM Mature aspen oak AS LB Lowland brush forest AP AS A Alders AM AP Aspen poles CO Habitat projects AS AM CO Clover opening AS Aspen saplings LB AP Trail A A This map is an example that demonstrates the many management options discussed throughout this chapter.