Representatives of Audubon California urged the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to grant Endangered Species Act protections to the Bi-state Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Greater Sage-Grouse when the Service rules on the petition on April 21.
Researchers report that the current range of the population is limited to six population management units (PMUs) along the California and Nevada border, which is less than 50 percent of its historical range. Scientists predict that four of the six PMUs could be lost in the foreseeable future, putting the species in grave peril of extinction.
“This unique species holds an important place in the natural history of both California and the United States and is emblematic of sagebrush country,” said Andrea Jones, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon California. “The Greater Sage-Grouse is worthy of our protection.”
The Greater Sage-Grouse is one of North America’s most fascinating and threatened birds. With its spiked feathers and unusual mating rituals, the bird prefers desolate sagebrush habitat of the Western United States. While the bird is somewhat more plentiful in plains states, a small population along the eastern California/west central Nevada border (known as the Mono Basin area population) continues to struggle for survival. Listing would create the habitat protections and land management practices that this unique population of Sage Grouse needs to survive.
The listing would extend Endangered Species Act protections to the species and designate 1.86 million acres of critical habitat, 86% of which occurs on federal land. The Mono Basin population spans eight counties in the northeastern Sierra in California and in western Nevada. Greater Sage-Grouse live in elevations ranging from 4,000 to 9,000 feet and exist only in sagebrush habitat. Protections for this species must include both leking areas (places that the males come year after year to engage in an elaborate dancing and courtship display) to their nesting areas where females raise the broods.
In 2014, Audubon released its study of impacts of climate change on North American birds and concluded that the Greater Sage-Grouse is predicted it could lose 71% of its breeding range by 2080, intensifying the risk of extinction. Protecting designated habitat now will make the bird better able to resist the impacts of climate change in years to come.
“The listing will support the recovery of the population by allowing increased flexibility in implementing conservation actions that will help protect the species,” added Jones.
About Audubon California
Audubon California is building a better future for California by bringing people together to appreciate, enjoy and protect our spectacular outdoor treasures. With more than 50,000 members in California and an affiliated 48 local Audubon chapters, Audubon California is a field program of the National Audubon Society
More information is available at www.ca.audubon.org.
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