A male sage grouse struts May 1 to impress females at a lek in southern Twin Falls County. The 2020 Idaho sage grouse population was essentially flat compared with 2019, and Gem State numbers have dropped 53% in the last four years.
TWIN FALLS — Idaho sage grouse lek counts didn’t improve much in 2020. The flat count marks yet another down year for the struggling bird.
According to Idaho Fish and Game’s 2020 data, the number of males at leks was up 2.5% compared to 2019. Every spring, sage grouse gather at leks where males put on elaborate and bizarre breeding displays to attract females. Fish and Game counts the number of birds at leks each year in order to keep track of the population.
Idaho’s sage grouse declined 53% from 2016 to 2019, and birds north of the Snake River have been disappearing in even greater numbers. Many sage grouse biologists say too little is being done to protect habitat and help the bird stave off extinction.
There are two proposed sage grouse hunting seasons for this year.
Sage grouse were once common throughout their range, but they’re now a relatively rare sight even for those who spend time in sagebrush environments. The birds once roamed the sagebrush in great numbers from western Nebraska to eastern California; from southern Alberta and Saskatchewan down into the northern tip of Arizona and New Mexico. The birds now occupy just half of their historical range.
Biologists estimated there were once about 16 million sage grouse. Since the 1960s the bird’s population has fallen by more than half. It’s estimated there are fewer than a million sage grouse left.
The sensitive birds have struggled to maintain their numbers as oil and gas development, industrial activity and fires chip away and degrade the large, unbroken chunks of sagebrush steppe they depend on.
Hunters once harvested significant numbers of the birds each fall, but hunts have either been canceled or pared back in recent years as the bird’s population plummets.
This season, Fish and Game is proposing one two-day and one seven-day season. Hunters would be able to take one bird per day. The two-day season would be from Sept. 19 to 20 and the seven-day season would stretch from Sept. 19 to 25.
The seven-day season would be south of the Snake River, covering much of Cassia County, all of Twin Falls County and most of Owyhee County. The two-day season would be north of the Snake River and would include all of the northern Magic Valley counties, extending north to Montana and east to Wyoming. There will be no season in southeastern Idaho.
Magic Valley sage grouse
A male sage grouse struts May 1 to impress females at a lek in southern Twin Falls County. The birds display at dawn and dusk every day from March to May.
Magic Valley sage grouse
Ken Harris (far left), Pat Weber and Sarah Harris count sage grouse April 3 at a lek in southern Twin Falls County. Idaho sage grouse numbers have declined dramatically in the past few years.
Magic Valley sage grouse
A male sage grouse displays May 1 at a lek in Twin Falls County. Idaho sage grouse numbers have decreased by 52% since 2016 — scientists say federal agencies aren't doing enough to help the species.
Magic Valley sage grouse
A male sage grouse inflates the yellow air sacks on his chest May 1 at a lek in southern Twin Falls County. During the mating season, male sage grouse emit a bizarre pop noise with their air sacs.
Magic Valley sage grouse
Male sage grouse display April 3 at a lek near the Nevada border in southern Twin Falls County. The 2020 numbers haven't been analyzed yet, but from 2016 to 2019 Idaho sage grouse numbers declined 52%.
Magic Valley sage grouse
Male sage grouse face off May 1 at a lek in southern Twin Falls County near the Nevada border. Every spring the birds form leks, where they display and fight to impress females.
Magic Valley sage grouse
Pat Weber looks for sage grouse April 3 in southern Twin Falls County. Weber works as a volunteer with Idaho Fish and Game every spring, counting the number of sage grouse at leks.
Magic Valley sage grouse
Seen through a spotting scope, male sage grouse strut at a lek April 3 at a remote location in southern Twin Falls County.
Magic Valley sage grouse
A male sage grouse struts on a lek May 1 in southern Twin Falls County, near the Nevada border.
Magic Valley sage grouse
A male sage grouse dances May 1 at a lek west of Rogerson.
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August 16, 2020 at 09:00PM
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Idaho sage grouse numbers flat this year, Fish and Game proposes restrictive hunting season - Twin Falls Times-News
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