COVER REQUIREMENTS OF THE GROUSE 



157 



other types, is one of the outstanding impressions to be gained from a close study of table 

 154. In winter, in New York, coniferous cover attracts grouse like a magnet. In spring, 

 though still much used, it becomes of decreasing importance. This continues deep into the 

 summer. Fall brings a strong resurgence of interest in this type on the part of the grouse. 



The last forest type, spot-lumbered woodlands (type G) is strongly patronized during the 

 summer months and is still attractive during the fall. It is of minor importance in winter. 

 Remembering the profusion of small vegetation which often conies up in the miniature slash- 

 ings produced by this operation, it is probable that the birds here find a welcome variety in 

 comparison with the limited food choice available in most of the other wooded areas. 



Turning to clear-cut areas, there seems to be considerable variation in the use grouse make 

 of them, depending upon the length of time which has elapsed since cutting. Young slash- 

 ings (type I) are patronized only intermittently by the birds from December until March, 

 for the food available there is then largely covered by snow. With the coming of warmer 

 weather interest in these areas increases gradually, until in July better than nine per cent of 

 the adults were found in such situations. The older slashings (type J) are patronized more 

 consistently throughout the year. From June through August more adults are found here than 

 in any other type. In the fall the birds are more likely to be found in old* rather than the 

 young slashings except during the month of IN'ovember, when there seems to be a sharp re- 

 turn of interest in the latter areas. 



A study of figure LW"^. where these relationships are graphed b\ nmiillis. will prove well 

 worthwhile. 



The following analysis of the most used types' bv months « ill also ser\e to bring the sit- 

 uation more clearly to mind: — 



Month 

 January 



February 



March 



Types mosi jrc<iu<'nlly used 



Conifers (type H) 

 Second-growth hardwoods (E) 

 Second-growth hardwoods and conifers (EH) 

 Overgrown lands with conifers (D) 



Conifers (Hi 



Mature hardwoods and conifers I FH ) 

 Mature hardwoods iF) 

 Second-growth hardwoods (E) 



Conifers (H) 



Mature hardwoods (F) 



Mature hardwoods and conifers (FH) 



Second-srowth hardwoods (E) 



April 



Conifers (H) 



Mature hardwoods (F) 



Mature hardwoods and conifers (FH) 



Second-growth hardwoods and conifers (EH) 



Second-growth hardwoods (Ft 



* On the areas stiKliei) a tilashiii^ passed its prime for grouse from eiglil lo twelve years after eiittiny 



A See Appendix, p. 154. 



t Adjusted for dilTerenees in type aereage. 



