CHAPTER III 



COVER CHARACTERISTICS AND SHELTER REQUIREMENTS 



By Gardiner Bump 



CHARACTERISTICS OF PRODUCTIVE GROUSE COVER 



In General — Covert Size and Shape — Type Size and Shape — Type Composition — Inter- 

 spersion of Types — By Regions in New York State — The Adirondack Region — The 

 Catskill Region — Rest of State. 



THE ROLE OF SUCCESSION 



COVER TYPES RECOGNIZED 



COVER REQUIREMENTS OF THE GROUSE 



Nesting Cover — Types of Cover Chosen — Density of Undergrowth at Nest Site — Sites 

 Preferred as Nest Locations — Nest Location in Relation to Degree of Slope — Nest Loca- 

 tion in Relation to Aspect of Slope — Influence of Conifers on Nest Location — Effect of 

 Openings on Nest Location — Effect of Slashings on Nest Location — Influence of Other 

 Types of Openings on Nest Location — Effect of Crown Cover on Nest Survival — Effect of 

 Undergrowth Density on Nest Survival — Thickets versus Open Cover as Nest Locations 

 — Effect of Distance from an Opening on Nesting Success. 



Brood Cover and Related Influences — ^Types of Cover Used by Grouse Broods — 

 Change in Cover Use as the Broods Develop — Effect of Crown Cover Density on Brood 

 Choice — Types of Cover LIsed by Grouse Broods at Various Times of Day — Choice of 

 Crown Cover as Affected by Climatic and Ground Conditions — temperature — ivmd 

 — atmospheric coridilions — ground conditions — Some Relationships of Undergro^vth to 

 Grouse Broods — Types of Undergrowth Chosen by Grouse Broods at Various Ages- 

 Effect of Density of Undergrowth on Brood Cover Choice — Effect of Miscellaneous Con- 

 ditions on the Types of Undergrowth Chosen by the Brood — L^se of Different Degrees of 

 Slope at Various Ages — Slopes Used by Grouse Broods at Different Times of Day — Some 

 Relationships of Temperature, Wind and Atmospheric Conditions to Slope Use. 



Adult Grouse Cover and Related Influences — Types of Cover Used by Adult Grouse 

 — Seasonal and Monthly Cover Preferences — Types of Cover Used by Adult Grouse at 

 Various Times of Day — winter — spring — summer — fall — Effect of Various Weather Con- 

 ditions on the Choice of Cover by Adult Grouse — temperature — wind — atmospheric con- 

 ditions — Effect of Various Ground Conditions on the Choice of Cover by Adult Grouse — 

 Preference of Adult Grouse for Ground Over Tree — Influence of Slope on Adult Grouse 

 Distribution — Influences Affecting the Distance Grouse Flush from an Observer. 



