GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — Conservationists are getting creative in their endeavor to lure greater sage-grouse to restored mating grounds.
As greater sage-grouse populations and habitat in the West decline, Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) staff works to restore sage-grouse habitat that lures the birds away from the Jackson Hole Airport and provides a safe space for their intricate mating rituals. This year, a partnership among GTNP, the airport, Teton Raptor Center, Jackson Hole High School RoboBroncs and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department resulted in animated and stationery grouse models.
GTNP shared photos of the grouse robot project on social media this week, explaining that these new breeding grounds, or leks, have ben carefully designed with plant species that support grouse activities.
“Each spring, male sage-grouse come to leks to ‘strut’ in showy mating displays that attract females,” GTNP posted. “Rival males join in, competing for attention. To help spark this activity at the restored site, partners built lifelike model grouse, both stationary and moving ones, paired with recorded breeding calls to enhance the scene. Hopefully these model birds will draw in some real sage-grouse to join the dance party at the restored lek.”
This new generation of sage-grouse models represents an evolution from the papier-mâché models deployed by the park last year.
“Restoration takes years,” GTNP posted. “Patience and ingenuity can help it succeed.”
