76 The Rufied Grouse 



Location of Nests with Respect to Openings. With the exception of 

 slashings, which have as high a degree of nesting use as any type, 

 the openings (cover types without crown cover) are httie used for 

 nest locations. However, they do determine the location of nests in 

 other types to a considerable degree. The need for "edge" places 

 most nests close to an opening. More than half the nests observed 

 were within fifty feet of such an opening, and almost three quarters 

 were witliin a hundred feet. Very few were located more than three 

 hundred feet away from an open field, brushy area, slashing, or a 

 significant road opening. Most of the nests are nearest to an open 

 field or slashing type of opening, and the proportion placed in or 

 near slashings is significant. 



The occurrence of grouse nests close to roadway openings in the 

 woodland, usually wagon roads, is notable. Nearly one third of all 

 nests were within fifty feet of a road. Although it is not certain that 

 the road location affected the nest site selection in all cases, it was 

 the closest opening by a considerable distance for many of the nests. 

 The woods road seemed to provide an adequate opening and still 

 avoided the exposure of a wide open edge. 



Effect of Slope on Nest Location. The only effect of degree of slope 

 on choice of nesting sites is a relative avoidance of the very steep 

 slopes (twenty per cent and over). Only about one half of the nor- 

 mal proportion of nests are found on steep slopes. The moderate 

 slopes have a proportionally higher number of the nests while the 

 flat land has its proportionate share. 



The slight variations in proportions of nests on the various ex- 

 posures are not significant. 



Does Cover Affect Nest Mortality from Predators? The percentage 

 of nests broken up varies slightly according to cover type, tending to 

 be higher in slashings and conifers. Since these conclusions are based 

 on relatively few observations, it is doubtful if tliey are dependable. 

 It is interesting to note, though, that the seemingly safer cover types 

 are generally the preferred types, and one type ( conffers ) with the 

 higher mortality rate is used to a lesser degree. It is at least possible 

 that the predation hazard may affect the choice of type of cover for 

 nesting. 



There also is a possible correlation between midergrowth density 

 and nest loss, but here again the evidence is not abundant enough 



