CHARACTERISTICS OF PRODUCTIVE GROUSE COVER 113 



Nature, often aided by axe and plow, produces the type; man distinguishes and classifies it 

 according to its composition to meet his needs*. So also does the grouse. Though the makeup 

 of a type may vary considerably, its essential vegetative characteristics are sufficiently constant 

 so as to meet more or less completely certain requirements of the bird. Just how completely 

 depends upon composition. 



A type reaches its best development for grouse when a large variety of species distinctive 

 of it and useful to the birds are present. An uneven distribution of species and of plant density 

 within the type is usually a sign that it will adequately fill its niche by providing certain neces- 

 sities of life for the grouse. 



Likewise the more luxurious the growth (though not the density) of the various species, the 

 better the net result is likely to be. 



A more detailed discussion of type composition will be found later in this chapter for com- 

 position is one hallmark of quality in grouse cover. 



Interspersion of Types 



The same principles that make plant variety and interspersion so desirable within a type, 

 apply with equal force as regards the arrangement of types within a covert. Two of these, 

 furnishing essentially similar services, such as fall feeding grounds, adjoining each other, are 

 less likely to be used than as though they were separated by types furnishing acceptable shel- 

 ter and resting opportunities. On the other hand, should birds have to travel far from food to 

 shelter over open land, for example, they would be more subject to predation than as though 

 the types were adjacent. 



There is, then, a rather definite pattern of type arrangement which must exist if a covert is 

 to be productive of grouse. The types that provide for the critical necessities, winter shelter, 

 spring breeding grounds and summer and fall feeding grounds must lie within the territory'^ 

 of, and be available to each grouse without necessitating the taking of undue risks or effort 

 to reach them. The greater the distance any one is from all the others, the larger the territory 

 occupied by an individual or a group of birds must be and the smaller the number of grouse 

 the covert will support. 



The territory requirement of an individual grouse varies considerably. Psychologically a 

 bird may be satisfied to maintain ten to fifteen acres as its especial domain, though at various 

 seasons it may be shared with other grouse. But the cover quality and interspersion is often 

 so poor that its food and shelter needs cannot be met without including 50 to 75 acres in its 

 estate. 



A major objective in cover management, then, is to encourage the development of a type 

 pattern in which these cover requirements are met within a relatively small area. No matter 

 how productive an individual type may be. grouse will not use it to the fullest extent unless it 

 is properly located with respect to other types. The order of arrangement seemingly matters 

 but little; it is the fact that all necessary types are to be found within the normal cruising radius 

 or territory, that is important. 



By Regions in New York State 



On the basis of grouse habitats three major regions may be recognized in New York. In 

 figure 13 the portions of the State most typically representative of these are shown. While 



* See description of types recognized, p. 120. 

 A See diecussion of grouse territories, p. 257. 



