Migration of Richardson's Grouse

Abstract

IT was recently my fortune to spend several months within the range of Richardson's Grouse, and to witness its very extensive migrations to and from its breeding grounds, migrations so dissimilar to anything with which I am familiar in the other closely allied species, I have thought my notes on the subject worthy of record.In order that the character of the migration may .bemore fully understood, it is necessary that I give a somewhat detailed description of the region over which my observations extend.The mining camp of Sparta, which was the base of my operations, lies at the lower edge of the pine belt at 4too feet altitude at the base of the Powder River Mountains and about fifteen miles west of Snake River in eastern Oregon.North of the camp, the ridges, which for the most part trend north and south, are cut by the deep cation of Eagle Creek.Running easterly, cutting a gap in the heavy growth of pine, tamarack and fir, of from five hundred to one thousand feet in depth and half a mile in width north of the Eagle, the ridges of the main range rise to approximately eight thousand feet above the sea, dividing the waters of Powder River from those of the Wallow.In these higher altitudes is found the true home of Richardson's, Franklin's and the Gray Ruffed Grouse.South of Sparta the country fails away rapidly in a series of sage-covered benches and ridges to Powder River, from which it rises with equal rapidity to the divide between its waters and those of Burnt River, known locally as the Lookout Mountains.The higher parts and deeper cations of this range are well wooded with pine and fir, but from information furnished by the residents, no grouse winter there.On the first of March, 9o2, when the first of the migrating grouse made their appearance along the edge of the timber north of Sparta, the snow was from two to four feet in depth, though the lower slopes near Powder River were bare and had begun to show the first signs of sprouting grass.Snow squalls and rough