More sage-grouse

[mtmiller]

Well I am headed to Pheonix next weekend, so I am running out of free time to snap grouse. Yesterday morning was a little disappointing with the sharpies, but today was pretty good for sage-grouse. I spent the night in the pick-up and got in the blind before light. The conditions were great and the birds were active. I do need to find a weedwacker to clear out some grass, but I managed a few decent shots.

Here is a larger shot of the lek. I had 17 males and 3 females here this morning. Note the juniper encroachement. Trying to knock this stuff back in the next couple years.

 

[noharleyyet]

Looks like a good Pfizer ad. Could you expound on juniper encroachment please.

 

[mtmiller]

These two walked in late, but were soon chased off.

 

[Big Fin]

So cool. Love those pics.

 

[Muley1]

Great Pics!

 

[upper deck]

Awesome pictures and a great way to spend the weekend.

 

[The Hedgehog]

Awesome shots Miller!

 

[JoseCuervo]

Miller,

Are these shots being taken by in your personal role or in your professional role??? (just wondering on the whole copyright issue, as there are some people that would LOVE to use these photos if they are in the public domain.)

IF not, oh well, these are amazing photos and thanks for publishing them.

 

[----]

Love the last one especially, the head on view.

 

[1_pointer]

Very nice!! I plan on trying to snap a few of those this and next week.

 

[elk_hunter]

Yep, always love the pics. Can you elaborate on the juniper comment? Are the juniper bad for wildlife or something if there's worry about encroachment?

 

[mtmiller]

Miller,

Are these shots being taken by in your personal role or in your professional role??? (just wondering on the whole copyright issue, as there are some people that would LOVE to use these photos if they are in the public domain.)

IF not, oh well, these are amazing photos and thanks for publishing them.

Jose, pics taken on my own time. Just a hobby and for anyone to enjoy or copy.

 

[1_pointer]

How you planning on getting rid of the trees, just felling them? A fire probably would too hard to do in that country, but you'd need some tractor/cat work I'd think to get it lined.

 

[Oak]

How you planning on getting rid of the trees, just felling them? A fire probably would too hard to do in that country, but you'd need some tractor/cat work I'd think to get it lined.

For the relatively small area and few trees, I think saws would work fine? We've also used a Fecon bull hog to clear out mountain shrub around a few leks. Works great, but you can expect regrowth to begin the same year.

Great pics, as usual. Thanks for sharing.

 

[highmountian]

WOW! Super cool pictures, thanks for sharing. I like the last one also!

 

[Outdooraddict]

Awesome pics... what Jose said. Those pictures would look as good on the wall as a mount.

 

[BillyGoat]

Great pics, miller. Those birds are so awesome.

 

[1_pointer]

For the relatively small area and few trees, I think saws would work fine? We've also used a Fecon bull hog to clear out mountain shrub around a few leks. Works great, but you can expect regrowth to begin the same year.

Bullhogs work great on junipers espcially since they don't resprout like mountain shrubs! Hand felling is generally much cheaper for the smaller/fewer trees. Wonder if there's other habitat needs for the sagegrouse that could be addressed? Say, if they're lacking in forbs a pipe harrow could probably remove the trees while at the same time preping a seed bed for some forbs/shrubs. Just a thought.

 

[van franke]

Those are sick. What are you using for a blind.

 

[Big Slick]

Excellent pics, it's just like Mutual of Omaha!