Grouse species displaying in the Aspen Forests in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – On this week’s phase of North Dakota Outside, Mike Anderson exhibits us a singular grouse species displaying within the Aspen Forests in North Dakota.

There a 4 grouse species in North Dakota, and three of them, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse and higher prairie chickens, are in attendance on leks or dancing grounds this time of 12 months as a part of their annual mating rituals. The fourth, and the one forest grouse, is doing likewise within the aspen forest on the state’s northern tier.

“And what the ruff grouse do is normally select a useless log, their forest grouse in order that they’re particular to aspen forests, which in North Dakota which means the Pembina Gorge and the Turtle Mountains. And people ruffed grouse will stroll up and down that log. They get to a spot the place they will sit and so they can beat their wings on their breast. And that sound makes an echo that reverberates by way of forests,” stated NDGF upland recreation biologist Jesse Kolar.

When male ruffed grouse beat their wings in opposition to their chest it seems like an previous tractor making an attempt to get began. They may come again morning after morning to show and attempt to entice a feminine from the top of March to the center of June.

“They’ll have multiple drumming web site, however they’re habituated to 1 or two major drumming logs. The log itself ultimately even will get wore down and also you’ll see the spots the place they’ve been pacing forwards and backwards and forwards and backwards,” stated Kolar.

When ruffed grouse are displaying, they’re not going to be straightforward to find like different grouse species on leks or dancing grounds on the prairies.

“They’re going to be in thick forest. They normally want, it’s a down log, however it’s going to be in an space that’s surrounded by cowl, so nicely protected. You possibly can be 30 toes from these grouse and never see them. So numerous occasions you’ll hear that sound,” stated Kolar.

Aspen timber are essential habitat for ruffed grouse.

“In order that they’re very particularly specializing in consuming buds of aspen timber. That’s their major supply of meals, significantly in winter when there’s not different meals sources, no bugs and never numerous inexperienced vegetation for them to nip at,” stated Kolar.

Final 12 months ruffed grouse numbers had been down within the Turtle Mountains and had been up or about common within the Pembina Hills.

Copyright 2022 KFYR. All rights reserved.