Columbian
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Columbian sharp-tailed grouse were once
considered the most abundant upland bird in the intermountain
region. They were first described by Lewis and Clark on the
plains of the Columbia River, and early pioneers described
flocks of thousands that “darkened the sky” when they flew.
Once thought to number greater than 2 million birds they have
been reduced to no more than 58, 000 range-wide with the
majority residing in southeastern Idaho.
Current threats to the population include:
Habitat conversion due to agriculture, intensive grazing,
pesticide and insecticide application, loss of riparian areas,
altered fire regimes, rural development, invasion of
non-native species, poaching, road and power line
construction, inbreeding/reduced genetic fitness and diseases
(West Nile Virus, etc.) all threaten the continued survival of
Columbian sharp-tailed grouse.
The largest population of Columbian
sharp-tailed grouse in Washington occurs on the Colville
Reservation and Tribal biologists have been monitoring them
through “lek” counts for over twenty years. The males dance
every spring on ancestral strutting grounds known as leks,
where they defend an area to gain access to breed females. The
dance of the Columbia sharp-tailed grouse is one of the most
awesome animal spectacles and was sacred to various Native
American Tribes, who mimicked the dance in their rituals. The
lekking areas on the Reservation have been declining for the
last ten years. Of the 36 known leks only 8 are still active
and the distance between these areas has lead to genetic
isolation.
This year Tribal Biologists and Technicians
worked with the Washington Department of Wildlife to acquire
additional birds from the population in British Columbia,
Canada. A total of 20 birds (males and females) were trapped
near Williams Lake, BC and released on the Reservation to
augment existing birds to prevent inbreeding, which leads to
loss of genetic fitness. These same Biologists and Wildlife
Technicians are working on protecting and restoring grouse
habitat for the continued existence of Columbian sharp-tailed
grouse here on the Colville Reservation and possibly on other
areas of the West.
TREE TALK by Gary
Martin
Happy May
How’s it going this month! I
hope that all Moms had a great Mother’s Day! Miss ya Mom! We
have Memorial Day to honor and to reflect upon. Graduations
are happening. Congratulations to all our special Headstart
Friends! You’re a very special group every year! This is a
good month for kids! On May 5, there was a fun Natural
Resources Day with Inchelium School. (Photos this month.)
Cathy Desautel and her Washington State University Extension
Program all–star team, put on a great event! Cathy is moving
onto other paths in her life journey and we sure wish her all
the best. You have touched many lives, friend! Owhi Lake Kid’s
Day with Nespelem School was May 12. (Photos next month.)
We’re visiting with Omak and Okanogan 6th Graders this month
at Camp Progress and Camp Disautel. Nespelem 4th Graders will
be at Lost Lake Camp soon. All these fun events and days of
honoring, make for an exciting month! THANKS to everyone who
help make these events happen! Let’s get to the photos! Take
care and we’ll talk with you again next month.
J
Colville Confederated Tribes
Fisheries News
by James F. Ives - Fisheries Tech. V
(1) I would like for you to
meet Mr. Gary Ives the Colville Confederated Tribes New
Hatchery Manager. Gary is the son of the late Marion F. Ives
(enrolled tribal member) And Virginia Jones-Ives of the Port
Gamble S’klallam Tribe. Gary is a Colville Confederated Tribes
enrolled member and has worked in other tribal hatcheries for
27 years and most recently spent 20 of those 27 years as
hatchery manager for the Suquamish Tribe over on the coast. In
this picture Mr. Dan Fairbank our M & E Project Biologist III
is seen welcoming Gary at the tribal hatchery in Bridgeport,
WA/ in front of our brand new 2005 Hatchery Fish Planting
Truck. New Truck! New Hatchery Manager! Two welcome additions
to our Tribe(s). Gary is my little brother. I taught him well,
“En-it”. (aye) Gary and I attended the same Fisheries College
in Bellingham on the Lummi Indian Reservation many moons ago.
Welcome Home My Brother! All
your education and years of experience will make our Tribes
Fisheries Resource(s) sustain and grow for our current and
future tribal members.
(2) On Saturday, April 23,
2005 I attended a day long “Earth Day” event at the Chief
Joesph Dam Park area along with Sheryl Sears - CCT Fisheries
and Rick Desatuel the CCT –“Wild”life Animal Control Officer
for our department.
Sheryl and I had pictures,
posters and brochures of our many on going projects which our
Fish and Wildlife Department operate and manage displayed on
two large traveling display boards for the visiting public. On
our display table we had non-tribal booklet/Regulations for
hunting and fishing along with other project brochures.
Our Fish and Wildlife
Director Joe Peone, sent along plans / design - binded books
of the new future Colville Confederated Tribes SALMON Hatchery
which will be in the construction and operation phase(s)
during the next couple of years. This is really exciting
“en-it” ?!!! (aye) Seriously though, Good News!
Ricky Desatuel displayed
some of the hides and furs which came from animals on our
Colville Reservation. The kids (of all ages) enjoy his display
because as Rick says: It’s a hands on, touchy-feely experience
which gives a greater appreciation of the wildlife.
Sheryl, Rick and I had a
good day and met alot of other good people who had booths Set
up for Tonasket Ranger District, Okanogan Forest Service,
Dept. of Ecology, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Dept. of Natural
Resources and Park Rangers / US Army Corps of Engineers.
(3) I would like for you to
look and see some of the guys I work with on days when I get
the opportunity to get out into the field . Allan Hammond and
Marvin Bob are two great guys and tribal members who work for
our Managment and Evaluation Program in Fisheries. They mainly
work on the Reservation Lakes, Rivers and Streams located on
our tribal lands doing habitat study and surveys, backpack
electrofishing, boat electrofishing and reports, to name a few
of there duties. Allan is a supervisor so he says, (aye.) But
seriously folks Marvin is the real boss, En- it Marv! I enjoy
working with Allen and Marvin. If you get into Nespelem F.&W.
Office stop by and say hello.