Hooting of Sitka Blue Grouse in Relation to Weather, Season, and Time of Day
Stewart PA. 1967. Hooting of Sitka Blue Grouse in Relation to Weather, Season, and Time of Day. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 31(1):28-34
The hooting behavior of a population of Sitka blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus sitkensis) was studied on Mitkof Island in southeastern Alaska, chiefly by counting hoots at different times and under different weather conditions. Hooting was first heard on April 7 and last on June 12, but a longer hooting season could be assumed for larger populations. Hooting was maximum on April 26 when 627 hoot-series were heard in 1 hour. Hooting began to decline 1 week after its peak. The level was high from April 24-May 6, and lower but still relatively high during May 7-15. Hooting then declined markedly; during some counting periods there was no hooting. Eight seconds was the shortest interval observed between hooting of individual birds. Early in the season, hooting was inhibited by inclement weather; after peak activity was reached, weather seemed to have no effect. Hooting started in the morning 58-95 min before sunrise and continued until 19-65 min after sunset, with a lull between 5:00 and 7:00 AM.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Stewart, Paul
- Units
- GLBA , KLGO , SEAN , SITK
- Keywords
- Birds, Breeding Biology, calls, Dendragapus obscurus sitkensis, Grouse, Mitkof Island