SUMMARY 107 



Nests in woodland types are commonly located within 100 feet of a woods road, trail or 



an open field, (p. 135). 

 Nests are most likely to be broken up by predators when in coniferous cover; least likely, 



if in spot-lumbered areas, (p. 135). 



About the same number of nests are destroyed by predators irrespective of the density 

 of the undergrowth in the cover type in which they are located, (p. 135). 



A nest within a thicket is no safer from predators than is one located in a more open 

 spot. (p. 136). 



Nests located within ten feet of an opening (including woods' roads) are no more likely 

 to be broken up by predators than are those at greater distances, (p. 136). 



Grouse broods exhibit certain cover preferences as follows: 



The outstanding characteristics of brood cover are its diversity and its youth, (p. 139). 



Most used by broods are overgrown lands deficient in conifers, second-growth hardwoods, 

 patches of popple, birch or alder and the more recently cut-over areas. I p. 1 40 ) . 



The presence of conifers contributes little to brood cover, (p. 140). 



Cover use changes, but not markedly, with the age of the brood. I ]j. 141 J. 



Broods prefer types in which the crown cover is sparse. I jj. 1 41 I. 



No type of cover is shunned by broods at any time of (ia\. Woodlands are preferred 

 for night roosting, early in the morning and in late aflcriiooii. Overgrown lands and 

 slashings are generally patronized during mid-morning. The former are also partic- 

 ularly attractive during the mid-day and early afternoon periods. In late afternoon 

 many birds seek out the alder runs and the young slashings, (p. 142). 



Broods tend to prefer the more open hardwoods when the weather is colder than normal 

 and the types containing some conifers when it is warmer than usual, (p. 142). 



Wind but little affects brood cover choice. I p. 142). 



Woodland types are more used in rainy weather, overgrown lands and cut-over areas 

 when it is clear, (p. 144). 



Ground conditions (wet or dry I seem not to affect materially brood cover choice, 

 (p. 144). 



The more complex the undergrowth, the more attractive it is to broods. Small hardwoods, 

 shrubs and berry bushes and a "combination of types"" are most frequented, (p. 146). 



Undergrowth density does not seriously affect brood cover choice. Sparse undergrowth 

 is more frequented by the very young birds; medium and dense, as they grow 

 older, (p. 147). 



Steep slopes are markedly less used by broods than are level lands or moderate inclines, 

 (p. 148). 



No aspect of slope is shunned at any time of da) , although minor differences in use have 

 been observed, (p. 149). 



Adult grouse behavior in relation to cover and related influences niav be sununarized as fol- 

 lows: — 



Adults spend most of their time in woodland cover types, (p. 152). 



