Sharp-tail Grouse, Fort Frances Area, I960 

 Spring Census 



The i960 spring census was limited to one township. It was felt that in 

 this way it would be a more concentrated study. 



The township of Carpenter was chosen as it was felt that it was average 

 as far as favourable habitat was concerned in the townships in the farming 

 area. .^^^^^.'-^ 



The township of Carpenter is made up of approximately 2^^,000 acres of 

 land. Twenty per-cent or ^-800 acres of this is D.A.L. or grass lands. 

 Fifteen per-cent or 36OO acres is muskeg. The remaining sixty-five 

 per-cent is made up of young poplar - - 20 year age class. 

 Method of Taking Census 



In May dancing grounds were located. This was accomplished by driving 

 roads and stopping every half mile. Practically all the township was 

 covered in this manner as it was fairly well divided by roads. 



It is felt that all dancing grounds were located. To make a more 

 accurate census, each dancing ground was visited several times at intervals 

 and a recount made and recorded each time. 

 Results of Census 



A total of six dancing grounds were located in the townships. The 

 following is a list which consists of the largest number of birds found 

 in each dancing ground on our various visits: 



Dancing ground no. 1 - 2^- birds 

 . . V Dancing ground no. 2 - 11 birds 

 Dancing ground no. 3 - I8 birds 

 Dancing ground no. ^ - 1^- birds 

 Dancing ground no. 5 - 9 birds 

 Dancing ground no. 6 - 12 birds 

 Total No. of birds on dancing grounds - 88. 

 It is assumed that all birds on the dancing grounds at the time of 

 counting were males. By using a ratio of 2 males to each female we 

 theoretically devise that there are I32 birds on 36 square miles of land 

 or 3*^5 birds per square mile. This would be before nesting takes place. 



