A better understanding of female social behavior could aid in the management and conservation of Gunnison Sage-Grouse. As land managers seek to establish new populations and augment existing populations, knowledge of female social structure of sage grouse on and off the lek will be critical. This study of female Gunnison Sage-Grouse was conducted to determine if there is a correlation between aggressive behavior on the lek between females and their mating choice, success, and order of mating. We predicted that aggressive female behavior on the lek leads to advantages in mating and may also lead to less time spent on the lek. Limiting lek visitation time may reduce the probability of depredation. We found that female aggressive behavior on the lek was rare; however, there did appear to be some effect on mating.
The Study Site
We observed the grouse on the Razor Creek Dome Lek from April 4th to April 20th. We arrived before sunrise each morning (around 5:30am) and departed after the birds left the lek. Total time of observation was 1,384 minutes. We staked out a grid system on the lek to facilitate observations. Observations were made from a blind on the north-west edge of the lek and from a truck positioned just off the lek to the south-west. Equipment used in observations included binoculars and spotting scopes. We recorded female interactions characterized by aggressive chasing, avoidance, proximity to males, and mating.
