Thanks Michael. The recording was in northern Utah. Access to this
site is quite strictly limited. I did record with permission. The
species is now listed as threatened mainly due to habitat degradation
and loss.
One site that is more well known and accessible to the public is
called Emma Park Road. The grouse have forsaken some of their past
lek sites there after a few oil wells were put in. The wells use
almost none of the space used by the grouse, nonetheless, they left
once the pumps were put in. I suspect the rhythmic deep pumping sound
from the wells interferes with the deep booming sounds the male grouse
use to advertise to the females. Without the right acoustics, the
males move to a new venue or simply abandon the place. Emma Park Road
still has some active leks up the road but the areas down the road to
the east are not used. Emma Park Road is between Spanish Fork and
Price on highway 6. Mid April is peak season, although I was up there
a few times during wind and snow and the birds didn't show due to the
weather.
Kevin
On Apr 26, 2010, at 12:27 PM, Michael Raphael wrote:
> Kevin this is really wonderful. Where did you record this?
>
> Best,
> Michael
> On Apr 26, 2010, at 1:55 PM, Kevin Colver wrote:
>
> > Thanks Bernie.
> >
> > If you look at the photo on my web site you can see the microphone
> > within the tan windscreen sitting within the sage to the far right.
> > The grouse is displaying right in front of the mic. You can hear the
> > swishing of his feathers with each display. He walked all around the
> > mic, displaying all morning. I'll go back next spring with hopes to
> > leave the mic running all night during the full moon to see what
> they
> > do throughout the night. The occasional coyote group called, once a
> > coyote flushed most of the group but they returned within 10
> minutes.
> >
> > Kevin
> >
> > On Apr 26, 2010, at 11:31 AM, Bernie Krause wrote:
> >
> >> Beautifully done, Kevin. Many have tried for years to get this
> sound.
> >> Truly lovely! Congrats.
> >>
> >> Bernie
> >>
> >> On Apr 26, 2010, at 10:07 AM, kjcolver wrote:
> >>
> >>> By planting my microphones (Sennheiser MKH 30/40) within a
> sagebrush
> >>> the night before, I was able to record the Greater Sage Grouse
> >>> during lek display at dawn. I've published a sample on my podcast
> >>> "Soundscapes for Birders" at the iTunes Store or at www.
> 7loons.com.
> >>> I must admit that after trying for this species for years without
> >>> success I am pleased with this recording. One male bird displayed
> >>> all morning within inches of my microphone.
> >>>
> >>> This is a great bird, deserving of careful conservation efforts.
> >>>
> >>> Kevin
> >>>
> >>> www.7loons.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> ------------------------------------
> >>>
> >>> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
> >>> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie
> >>> Krause
> >>> Yahoo! Groups Links
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> Wild Sanctuary
> >> POB 536
> >> Glen Ellen, CA 95442
> >> 707-996-6677
> >> http://www.wildsanctuary.com
> >>
> >> Google Earth zooms: http://earth.wildsanctuary.com
> >> SKYPE: biophony
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
> > sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie
> Krause
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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