Feeling Grousy
by Berry Wijdeven
by Berry Wijdeven
![Haida Gwaii - Contemplative Pips](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/grouse2_orig.jpg)
Frank Doyle is crawling across the gravel road, pointy rocks poking his hands and knees. He appears oblivious to the pain, focusing all of his attention towards the ditch. A truck passes by, billowing dust, the driver slowing down to stare at the crouching figure before deciding the scene is either not of concern or too weird to bother getting involved in.
Meanwhile Frank is inching forward. In his hand he is holding a 20 foot long fishing pole, at the end of which a small fishing line loop is attached. OK, I admit, to an outsider this must look kinda funny. But this is serious business. We are trying to catch a Sooty Grouse and after driving around for the better part of a day without seeing any, we really want this one. Apparently, Frank wants this one even more than I do, for he is the one doing the uncomfortable crawling.
Meanwhile Frank is inching forward. In his hand he is holding a 20 foot long fishing pole, at the end of which a small fishing line loop is attached. OK, I admit, to an outsider this must look kinda funny. But this is serious business. We are trying to catch a Sooty Grouse and after driving around for the better part of a day without seeing any, we really want this one. Apparently, Frank wants this one even more than I do, for he is the one doing the uncomfortable crawling.
![Haida Gwaii - Heath and Pips](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/grouse4_orig.jpg)
The grouse we are targeting is a male, big and blue, all pumped up with lust and self-importance, performing his come-hither ritual out in the ditch. He is aware of our presence, but as long as we’re not an obvious threat, he’ll keep performing. Spring is almost over, so is breeding season and he therefore has to keep up the performance. Mating is all he has to do towards securing the next generation of grouse, so his focus is intense.
Frank is close enough to the grouse where he can reach it with the long pole. He reaches forward, the loop getting closer and closer to the grouse’s neck. I find myself holding my breath, even though we have done this many times before.
The wire loop is touching the grouse’s head. Somehow the grouse doesn’t recognize this as danger; he shakes off the loop like he would shake off a mosquito. Frank tries again and this time the loop falls around the neck of the grouse.
Frank is close enough to the grouse where he can reach it with the long pole. He reaches forward, the loop getting closer and closer to the grouse’s neck. I find myself holding my breath, even though we have done this many times before.
The wire loop is touching the grouse’s head. Somehow the grouse doesn’t recognize this as danger; he shakes off the loop like he would shake off a mosquito. Frank tries again and this time the loop falls around the neck of the grouse.
![Haida Gwaii - Looking for scat](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/grouse3_orig.jpg)
Now comes the tricky part. Frank has to bring the line in with sufficient force to pull the grouse off-balance, but can’t pull too hard or keep pressure on the line for too long or the bird could get hurt.
Frank pulls. The grouse stumbles sideways and realizes he’s in trouble. He starts flapping his wings to try and get away, but it’s too late. In seconds, Frank and I have run to the grouse, grabbed him and put him in a dark bag. The grouse instantly calms down. There, done.
The grouse population on Haida Gwaii is in decline and likely has been for decades. When Newton Chittenden explored the islands back in 1884 he wrote that grouse were plentiful and made for a quick and easy meal. Old timers as well tell of grouse populations sustantially higher than current levels. Frank’s studies indicate the population may have undergone a sevenfold reduction. There are a number of theories to explain this decline. It could be because of habitat loss due to logging. It could be through the introduction of new predator species such as rats and raccoons. Or it could be due to habitat modifications by introduced deer. Whatever the theory, the decline is of concern.
Frank pulls. The grouse stumbles sideways and realizes he’s in trouble. He starts flapping his wings to try and get away, but it’s too late. In seconds, Frank and I have run to the grouse, grabbed him and put him in a dark bag. The grouse instantly calms down. There, done.
The grouse population on Haida Gwaii is in decline and likely has been for decades. When Newton Chittenden explored the islands back in 1884 he wrote that grouse were plentiful and made for a quick and easy meal. Old timers as well tell of grouse populations sustantially higher than current levels. Frank’s studies indicate the population may have undergone a sevenfold reduction. There are a number of theories to explain this decline. It could be because of habitat loss due to logging. It could be through the introduction of new predator species such as rats and raccoons. Or it could be due to habitat modifications by introduced deer. Whatever the theory, the decline is of concern.
![Haida Gwaii Ermine](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/grouse5_orig.jpg)
Haida Gwaii Sooty Grouse are genetically distinct from the grouse populations on the mainland. This genetic distinctiveness is shared by a host of other Haida Gwaii species (Stellar’s Jay, Pine Marten, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Short Tailed Weasels, to name but a few). Haida Gwaii is separated from the mainland by eighty kilometers of the often treacherous waters of the Hecate Straight. Since the last ice-period, which ended some fourteen thousand years ago, the flora and fauna of Haida Gwaii have therefore eveolved in a unique fashion, creating this genetic distinctiveness. Knowing that we’re dealing with a unique population creates added pressure to make sure the Haida Gwaii grouse population remains viable.
![Haida Gwaii - Pips locates a scat](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/published/grouse7.jpg?1571783415)
Back at the truck we carefully remove the grouse from the bag. While he is calm, he looks royally pissed off. Sorry, dude, this won’t take take long. The grouse is weighted, measured and photographed. He is then fitted with a radio necklace. The radio weights less than three percent of the grouse’s body weight and is attached on an elastic band, kept in place by the downward pointing neck feathers. The radio will last up to three years, so we want to make sure it fits as comfortable as possible. Frank checks the collar to see if the radio and antenna are on straight and releases the grouse, who stomps off indignantly.
We get back into the truck and drive off in search of another grouse. Maybe we’ll get lucky and catch another one today. Bringing the grouse population back to health is going to take some effort. But hopefully, one day, Haida Gwaii grouse will be once again so thick on the ground there will no be longer the need for us to catch any at all. Frank’s knees will be grateful.
We get back into the truck and drive off in search of another grouse. Maybe we’ll get lucky and catch another one today. Bringing the grouse population back to health is going to take some effort. But hopefully, one day, Haida Gwaii grouse will be once again so thick on the ground there will no be longer the need for us to catch any at all. Frank’s knees will be grateful.
![Pips and Heath searching for scat in Haida Gwaii old growth](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/grouse8_orig.jpg)
Ross Vennesland, biologist with Parks Canada lends a helping hand tracking grouse. The tagged birds are monitored year-round to see where they go and what habitat they use. Some birds remain in the same general area. Others go on regular walk-abouts with juvenile grouse travelling the furthest. Teenagers!
![Haida Gwaii - Heath creekside](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/grouse9_orig.jpg)
Once grouse chicks get a bit older, mom no longer needs to keep them under close supervision. She takes up a sentry position to watch for danger while the chicks munch away on seeds, bugs and sweet salal blossoms. When the female spots trouble, she sounds an alarm and the chicks scurry to find cover. While the chicks hide, mom makes herself more visible to draw the attention of intruders. This may, evolutionary, not be the smartest of tactics, since sacrificing a chick or two would be better than losing the mother (which could mean none of the chicks will survive), but one cannot help but admire the females for their sacrifice.
![Haida Gwaii - Heath digging for scat located by Pips](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/grouse10_orig.jpg)
Grouse chicks can fly within weeks of being born. Grouse aren’t particularly good flyers but can manage a couple of hundred meters which is generally sufficient to get out of harm’s way.
![Heath and Pips searching for scat in Haida Gwaii fog](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/grouse11_orig.jpg)
Good morning, little one! When we walked into this tagged female grouse early one morning, her chicks, only a few weeks old, were staying warm under mom’s wing. One of the chicks popped out to check us out.