Please register by March 1st for this trip. 

 

BACKGROUND: Greater sage-grouse were first petitioned for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act in 2000.  In 2005 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that the species was "not warranted" for ESA protections, discounting large-scale losses of sage-grouse population and distribution throughout the sage-steppe biome.  There are 52 known leks on the Hart Mountain refuge. Collecting data at the leks allows the Refuge to document population trends on Hart Mountain.

 

PROJECT DETAILS: Count and observe sage-grouse when they gather at their springtime breeding grounds known as "leks." 

ONDA trip participants will arrive around lunch-time on Thursday April 24 at the Hart Mountain Headquarters to get our specific assignments, gear and instructions.  Counting will take place on the mornings of the 25^th, 26^th and 27^th.  The bunkhouse is available for us to stay in again this year:  It is modern and roomy, with 13 beds in 7 separate rooms, a kitchen and utensils.  Because counts are done so early in the morning, everyone will usually return from their leks by about 10 a.m.  That leaves the rest of the day free. It is possible that other projects in the office would be available for volunteers to work on if people are interested, or you can relax or explore the refuge.

A FULL ITINERARY, INCLUDING WHAT TO BRING, WILL BE PROVIDED UPON REGISTRATION.  To aid in our planning, on your registration form "comments" please indicate: Your general hiking ability (high, medium, low) and if you have participated on this trip previously . Space is limited to 5 participants.

 

COST: Free to members

 

ITINERARY FROM THE REFUGE: New lek observers will be paired up with more experienced people.  The day begins by getting up around 4 a.m., although this time changes as daybreak time gets earlier and daylight savings time begins.  Drive a truck (or truck and ATV, but must have taken ATV training through the FWS) to the nearest access to the lek.  Some leks are only a few hundred yards from the road; some are a mile's hike or more.  The weather can be very cold and nasty--often it is snowing and blowing.  Hike in the dark (headlamp or flashlight) to a viewpoint near the lek, trying to arrive there at daybreak, but not so close to the lek that the birds flush.  Set up a spotting scope on a tripod and count birds by sex.  Count and recount until you feel you have the best count possible.  Then come back to HQ to warm up.  The entire elapsed time varies from 2-5 hours, depending upon the lek.

GPS coordinates and a map are given to each lek monitor the day before they count. Some people may feel more secure to go to the lek the day before to make sure they can find it in daylight (no birds will be there then) and to find out how long it takes them to get there so they can miss as little sleep as possible the next morning!  Not all leks have birds, and we need to know that, but most do.  Displaying birds are a glorious sight, well worth the early morning and cold conditions!!

If you would like to volunteer to monitor leks on a different date, or would like to stay longer, the refuge needs volunteers from March 17 to May 4. For more information regarding volunteering on different dates contact Marla at the Refuge: marla_bennett@fws.gov or 541-947-2731.