COVER REQUIREMENTS OF THE GROUSE 149 



As on the Connecticut Hill area, from this it would appear that steep slopes are markedly less 

 attractive to broods than are level lands or moderate inclines. 



It will be remembered that few nests were found on abrupt hillsides. Perhaps the reason 

 for this is that fewer grouse live there. Be that as it may, both observations point to the 

 desirability of including as much good grouse cover on the less rugged slopes as possible in 

 any lands on which a large partridge crop is to be encouraged. That few sportsmen are hardy 

 enough to hunt there, and the likelihood of encouraging severe soil erosion should one attempt 

 to improve the existing cover by judicious cutting, should also not be overlooked. 



There are a few minor variations in the choice of slopes at various ages to be found in the 

 table. A majority of the broods at all ages (63.9 per cent) are found on gentle slopes. Steep 

 hillsides are used very occasionally either by the very young birds (probably recently hatched I 

 or by the broods as they approach maturity. In the Adirondacks flat alder beds are used to 

 a pronounced degree throughout the brood period, although less during the latter part of Aug- 

 ust than earlier. 



Slopes Used by Grouse Broods at Dijjcreiil Times of Day 



After considering so many of the forces which might, but seem not to. strongly affect brood 

 cover choice, it is reassuring tu find the chicks actually exhibiting, in table 148*. apparently 

 valid preferences for certain slopes at certain times of day. 



The number of broods found on a certain slope during an) particular hour ma\ at lirsl 

 glance be misleading for the records are so few as to vary considerably. By glancing at the 

 graph*, however, the eye can pick up trends which are interesting though difTicult to explain. 



No slopes are really shunned at any particular jieriod. There is a trend for more grouse 

 broods to frequent the cooler north slopes in the rnorning rather than in the afternoon. 



Likewise the east slopes, open to the morning sun. a|)pear to be more attractive eai I\ in the 

 day and again in the afternoon rather than through the late morning hours or at iniil(la\. It 

 is then that the warmer south slopes attract more broods. 



No particular preference for western exposures at any special time of day is observed. Cov- 

 erts without slope, that is flat lands, are likewise about cqualK well patronized throughout the 

 day. 



As with many another link in the chain of life-history facts about the grouse, it is far easier 

 to chart the trends than to offer logical explanations for the underlying reasons therefor. It 

 seems evident, however, that no exposure is so uncomfortable at any certain time of day as 

 to cause broods definitely to avoid it. 



Some Relationships of Temperature, W iiid and Atmospheric Conditions to Slope Use 



It is often productive to explore even the seemingly inconsequential relationships between a 

 wildlife species and the habitat which nurtures it. Like a complicated puzzle, each piece of 

 information that can be fitted into its proper niche helps to interpret the whole even though 

 individually it may be of but little immediate moment. 



The differences in use grouse broods make of cover facing north, east, south or west under 

 varying conditions of temperature, wind velocity and moisture conditions, are apt cases to 

 point. For instance, if the birds were disinclined to make use of otherwise satisfactory cover 

 because it was located on a slope facing strong prevailing winds, such situations might be 



* See Appendix, p. 81 1. 



