142 COVER CHARACTERISTICS AM) SHELTER REQUIREMENTS 



On the basis of use, when compared with the relative amount of each density present, the ten- 

 dency for grouse broods to prefer types in which the crown cover is sparse is even more 

 strongly emphasized. 



Types oj Cover Used by Grouse Broods at I arious Times of Day 



Grouse, even at an early age, are comparatively adaptable birds. As might be expected, 

 therefore, in analyzing table 137* one finds that no type of cover is strongly shunned by 

 the broods at anv time of day. Apparently, however, most birds prefer to spend the night 

 in the shelter provided by woodlands rather than in the more open overgrown lands or slash- 

 ings for there is a tendency for broods to be found most commonly in the former cover early 

 in the morning and late in the afternoon. Curiously enough, open fields (type A), though 

 not strongly patronized at any time, are again most likely to be used early and late. While, 

 as previously noted, the presence of conifers usually makes but little difference to grouse 

 broods, some types containing evergreens also show increased use at this time of day. 



By mid-morning many of the groups have returned to overgrown lands (B, C and D) or 

 recent slashings (I) where food is normallv most easily obtainable. The latter, also, seems 

 to be more attractive again later on in the day. 



Brush patches (C) continue to be particularly patronized throughout mid-day and the early 

 afternoon. The table also indicates alder runs iB) to be rather attractive in the late after- 

 noon. 



It would be interesting to speculate on the reason for these trends, but since one has avail- 

 able only the limitations of human experience with which to interpret such reactions, no 

 real basis of fact can be established for such conjectures. 



Choice of Crown Cover as Affected by Climatic and Ground Conditions 



Temperature, wind and atmospheric conditions might logically be expected to affect brood 

 cover choice. It is, therefore, desirable to check on this point and thus to determine whether 

 or not any are sufficiently important to be taken into consideration in designing grouse hab- 

 itats. 



Temperature. The first of these to be considered is tiMnperalurc liable 138)^. Wliilc the 

 number of broods flushed in the various tvpes of cover did not show a strong relationship 

 to teni[icratiir(' conditions, there is a tendencv for grouse broods to seek the more open 

 cover of hardwood types during cold periods and of types where coniferous shelter is avail- 

 able during warm weather. Thus overgrown land (ty])e Cl and second-gniw lli hardwoods (E) 

 were found to be most frequented when tem|)erature conditions were c()ld<T than normal, 

 whereas young hardwoods and conifers I KH ) and conifers alone (H) were patronized more 

 on excessively warm days. Some inconsistencies in this general situation are apparent if one 

 studies the table carefully but these mav be attributed to an insuflicient nnmiier of records. 

 At all events, the tendency above described is strong enough to warrant the inclusion of some 

 coniferous areas in developing brood cover. 



Wind. Mature grouse are inclined to be ill at ease on windy days. Youngsters, too. nor- 

 mally move around less on such days. But in comparing cover type choices on windy versus 

 still days, no strong tendency to take to heavy coxer is apparent (table IS"))*. Here again, 

 even though the reactions of 1,515 broods have been analyzed, the differences, which at first 



» .Src Apiirnilii. p. 803. 

 A ScF A|>|irnilii. r'. «U>. 

 t Srp A|i|trndii, p. BOS. 



