258 GENERAL HABITS 



while individual birds probably have their own "stamping ground", the territories of several 

 usiually overlap one another to some degree. This is especially true with respect to patches of 

 conifers to which groups of birds resort for winter shelter. For this reason, any attempt to 

 discuss the characteristics of grouse territory of this type must pertain to general areas used 

 by several birds. 



Size. E^lsewhere in the book*, the requirements for suitable grouse habitats are discussed 

 in detail. The size of areas (i.e. territories) within which groups of birds have been able to 

 find conditions suitable for year around existence, has been observed to vary considerably. 

 A major factor in this variability is the degree of interspersion of types. A separated unit, 

 comprising 23 acres of diversified grouse cover on Connecticut Hill, has evidenced, through- 

 out the period of the Investigation, a carrying capacity of one pair of birds and, in addition, 

 has usually produced a brood. Although this unit is not sufficiently removed from nearby 

 coverts to prevent some trading back and forth, it is the belief of the authors that, if com- 

 pletely isolated, it could still support at least two grouse. From this, the size of these com- 

 posite territories, as near as it has been possible to estimate them, has ranged through all 

 gradations to areas of from 100 to 150 acres occupied by from three to 13 birds. It must be 

 remembered, however, that a direct computation of the number of acres per bird over such an 

 area rarely represents the size of the territory occupied by the individual members of the 

 group. For example, although a population of 18 birds was estimated on some 90 acres of 

 the Connecticut Hill study area in the spring of 1935, each bird, because of overlapping terri- 

 tories, actuallv occupied a much greater area than five acres. 



The number of birds utilizing individual areas varies, in general, with the cover types 

 present and their degree of interspersion. Of course, it also varies with the general population 

 level. The figures noted above represent spring densities which are the best measure of car- 

 rying capacity. In most cases, however, larger groups of birds were present during the early 

 winter but became reduced through losses and through the spring shuffle. 



When Chosen. Final choice of territory by a grouse seems to be made i)rior to the bird's 

 first breeding season. The locality chosen may be close to where the bird was reared or a 

 considerable distance away. It is likely that this distance varies in general with the local 

 population density. Similarly, it is probable that the so-called "crazy ffight" is a by-product 

 of such movements^'. An interesting fact in this cuiiiiection is that adult birds, brought in 

 and liberated on an area new to them, often "light out" anil travel considerable distances. 

 But once settled, the territory usually becomes the peniianent home of the bird. This con- 

 clusion is supported by an interesting series of data from female grouse trapped and banded 

 at their nests on the Connecticut Hill area as illustrated in table 33. 



Aiiollier fciiialc. baiidid at her nest in 1932, was found dead in the spring of 1931 at a 

 point 1,500 feet distant. 



Three other records of marked grouse have been recorded by I.l<)>d'". These birds were 

 banded at Muscow, Saskatchewan, in March. 192.5. During the following October, they were 

 shot at distances of a quarter-mile, a half-mile and a mile, respectively, from the banding 

 station. The third case may represent either an exception or a first-year bird which had not 

 become finally located when banded. 



• Sep Ch«|ilcr. 111. IV. una XV. 



A Sec dt*cu«tioD under Mobility, p. 25S. 



