Pennsylvania Ruffed Grouse

2018 Association for Conservation Information 3rd Place, Video Long
2018 Outdoor Film Festival & Tour Official Selection
2018 NatureTrack Film Festival Official Selection
2017 The University of Idaho Fish & Wildlife Film Festival Official Selection
2017 FINN Film Festival Official Selection
2017 Wildlife Conservation Film Festival Official Selection
2017 American Conservation Film Festival Official Selection
Between the periods of 2001-05 the ruffed grouse population suffered a 63% decline statewide. No one was sure why but in 2015 and through 2016 it has been confirmed that our state bird is suffering losses due to West Nile Virus (WNV) infection. Lisa Williams, Pennsylvania Game Commission ruffed grouse biologist, managed to create a network to look for ruffed grouse eggs in the wild, collect those eggs, find a propagator with a quarintine facility, and get those eggs all the way to that facility in Idaho via a volunteer force. Once hatched, the propagator then volunteered to drive the young chicks to the lab where the challenge study was carried out. Chicks were innoculated with WNV and within the first week 40% of the chicks died. After two weeks, an additional 40% of the chicks showed so much organ damage that they probably would not have survived in the wild.
After the challenge study was completed the findings in the lab were then tested on wild grouse in Pennsylvania. This type of study is very rare in the wildlife sciences: where lab findings are then tested in wild populations. Lisa rallied hundreds of hunters across the state to send in blood samples when they harvested a grouse.
By incorporating these findings into habitat management planning, the Game Commission and partners hope to direct habitat management efforts to areas where grouse populations have the best chance of responding.
The Ruffed Grouse is Pennsylvania's State Bird and makes a low-pitched drumming sound to advertise their territory. Males do this by drawing their wings toward their chest and create little sonic booms.
Cinematography: Tracy A. Graziano & Hal Korber
Video Editing: Tracy A. Graziano
#habitat #education #research #wildlife #birdbanding #nature #science #biology #pagamecommission #pgc #pennsylvania #pennsylvaniagamecommission #conservation #bird #ruffedgrouse #WestNileVirus #WestNile #statebird

[@raymondcava4669]

Thank you Lisa Williams for this video it’s very educational I’m very saddened that there’s only 40 comments and only 300 and some views and the video is seven years old. The algorithms should promote this type of video to the people who watch hunting and fishing videos to better educate people. I just happened to find this video purely by chance through my own Internet surfing. To all the people who participated in making this video thank you very much, I live in Ontario Canada and I find this relevant for me. This video in others by the Pennsylvania game commission needs to be accessible to a larger population of people across Canada and the US.

[@GREENGENE18]

I hope the ruffed grouse will endure. Thank you so much to Lisa Williams of the Pennsylvania Game Commission & all of the agencies, associations & individual hunters & conservationists who aided in this comprehensive study, for supporting wildlife.

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

The Pennsylvania Game Commission's ruffed grouse film has been chosen as an official selection of the 2017 American Conservation Film Festival! The film was one of 40 official selections thoughtfully chosen from hundreds of submissions from 39 countries around the globe.

[@UDLTUBE]

Are the y available online?

[@guccipitts]

Am I able to report a grouse sighting? I just saw one today

[@dennisshaffner725]

I've been managing my property for habit and particularly with grouse in mind. The decline in the population on and around my property is incredibly noticeable and I have been thinking that resident buteo presence is responsible. Now I see that the problem is so much more subtle. Looking at the list of song birds that are effected helps me understand why they are not showing up any more in numbers. Thanks for the research being done to bring back our little woods drummer. His drumming is missed.

[@lansmit274]

I have been hunting grouse for 48 years. Here in Bradford County PA its bad. I only hunted 30 hours for grouse this year and only flushed 8. I shot 1 for my 2 year old setter. I didn't shoot any on my property and my neighbors. I have created excellent cover and will enjoy seeing the few that are there. I suppose alot of people don't really care. To an upland bird hunter or to someone who just enjoys the bird, its devastating. Wyalusing PA

[@north4961]

Thank you! Very interesting, our grouse population in 2022 exploded here in British Columbia 🇨🇦 was declining past 4-5 years.

[@cliffmccrudden6306]

This is finally some good understanding of the grouse declines, it makes me think of the impact on woodcock as well I didn't t see them listed but as we all know have declined sharply as well.

[@robertshockey6750]

Wonderful work and dedication! I wonder if there is a way to do a mass spray for mosquitoes to decline their populations.

[@ZeddicusTheMage]

I have never shot a grouse(only missed the few I saw when I was younger), but I flushed three a few weeks ago along a mountain top I was deer hunting on. This was encouraging as I've never really experienced proper grouse hunting.

[@sarahburns7611]

I’m in West Virginia and when I was young I’d jump grouse every time I’d go hunt. I’ve seen two in the last ten years.

[@danielcuff6725]

I feel the uncontrolled pop. of Hawks and Owls has a very big impact on the small game in Pa. and other states. I understand they were endangered at one time but there numbers must be at an all time high. There federally protected because there considered migratory birds but it is not uncommon for these birds to remain in the state the entire year. Why can't there be a controlled hunting season for these predators. I know my view is considered extreme but maybe worth consideration.

[@jliparis2989]

What an amazingly uninformed comment on your part. I would suggest you do some self-education be reading about population ecology and how it relates to the predator prey relationship. FYI whenever a comment starts with the words "I feel" it immediately signals to me that the writer is ill informed at best or willfully ignorant at worst. Fortunately truth does not have anything to do with "feelings" Nuff said.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

@@jliparis2989 No not enough said. You shared this in an open discussion forum, you are obligated to back your statements up with something. And spare us the smug superiority, it was never needed.

[@calripson]

Actually I agree. Predator dynamic is very key. Growing up in my area as a kid I witnessed a collapse in pheasant populations that coincided with exploding red fox populations. (Prior to that time there had been active trapping). You see the same effect in the decline in Kestrel and Barn Owl numbers as populations of Coopers Hawks and Great Horned Owls have sharply increased.

[@skipperruhl1430]

thank you.... well done. i can see this is more then just a job to you. what a great use of hunting license fees.

[@tomobrien458]

Excellent article - thanks for your dedication. I live in Wisconsin. I really took note of the song birds you identified as being impacted by WNV. The goldfinches that were daily visitors to my feeder... are gone. Thanks for all of your hard work!

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Thank you, Tom! We're very happy to hear the awareness this film has created. The list of songbirds comes from a published study and this isn't to say others aren't affected because researchers only looked at certain species at the time. The scope of that particular research is expanding.

[@joshheller4671]

Based on the information provided I do truly believe that west nile is and will be a contributing factor in pa grouse population health. I have yet to see the data proving that west nile is wide spread enough in pa have caused the decline that we hunters have seen, its my belief that there are likely a large number of contributing factors. This research is extremely important for both grouse and other species in the northeast and i hope that both this and further research are taken as seriously as Lisa Williams has approached wnv.

[@mustlovepretzels]

Tracy Graziano: thanks.

[@russellshirk1148]

I belong to a hunting camp in tioga county next to the pine creek ( pa grand canyon). We own 215 acers and have had a decent population of grouse for as long as I have been a member (8 years). The past couple of years that I have been archery hunting up there I'm constantly hearing them drum. We would like to help in the conservation efforts anyway we can. if someone could give us the information to contact who we have to we would appreciate it.

[@belialuedke1880]

Very good. Thank you. :D

[@davyjones922]

No one wants to address the elephant in the room, Pennsylvania is overrun with birds of prey, hawks,owls and now the eagles. As a pheasant hunter i see the devastation these predators are inflicting on the pheasants. I see dead carcass in every field i hunt and have witnessed many times watching the stock truck release birds and the sky had circling hawks just waiting to swoop in and pick them off. The grouse have no better defense from this than the pheasant do. No denying that disease isnt helping things but the enormous predator population has to be addressed also.

[@jeffdeshong]

I have been saying the same thing, there’s been study’s from northern states that show when birds of prey numbers increase, grouse numbers decrease. Seems obvious. Seems like it should be addressed

[@deepthinimmagadda-jr3hh]

I never saw one but I heard they burrow in the winter in the ground

[@joedurovey4988]

Very sad. As a kid I wasted more ammo on those little birds. As a man I wish just to see one. It has been 9 years since seeing my last bird in NW PA.

[@Sharon-Story]

I have never shot a grouse. It's sad. I take care of 6 chickens in New Zealand. but I understand. Have a good day. God Bless You,

[@UDLTUBE]

I'm a bird and wildlife lover. The cover of PA GAME NEWS April 2019 magazine got my attention. Like me, people love and want to protect wildlife. For the last couple of years when i took walks in the woods, i was hoping to se a grouse, never did. Why is this information is just being published now? Does your department have a television show?

[@284rem]

Well Spoken

[@merlemorrison482]

I wonder how many were taken by the expanding coyote population?

[@calripson]

How come populations in Maine are doing fine? Lots of mosquitos in Maine.

[@coltattisan2198]

Wow those chicks got suied

[@scottschaeffer8920]

Makes one think about a lot things,,, mosquito abatement thru good water management, and providing clean, high h20 water habitat for mosquito predators? Along with more young forests, this can help the ruffed grouse.

[@jgraber4]

Watching this film you have proven that a Ruffed Grouse will die from West Nile but have not heard anything as to results of blood samples sent by hunters. At this point you have not proven that the Ruffed Grouse decline is due to West Nile or did I miss something in the video?

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

Havent seen of heard a bird in lawrance co in 18 years. Have 2 travel 2 vt every year 2 c birds. The un checked turkey population doesnt help! They move in, grouse gone

[@calripson]

Probably should close the season on grouse for a few years.

[@jeffdeshong]

The hunting season is what gives us a lot of information about population numbers. The last 2 years numbers have been rising 👍🏻

[@dashriprock6775]

Suitable habitat, yet have not seen or heard a Grouse in a decade, sold my shotgun for lack of use. Very depressing. Washington Co. Far north west area. The only species on the increase in this area are Coyotes. When I was in my teens first hunting (mid 1970's) never did I think I would see, let alone shoot a Coyote in my lifetime. Now they are so common here I would rather shoot them over a choice of what's left of the deer herd on my land. Nor do I hunt Turkey any longer on my place for the same reason. Population crash of all species that I use to hunt. I hope the PGC finally realizes that a Pheasant recovery program is a futile effort and a waste of Licensing revenue. The same would likely be true for a Grouse program. I believe the situation on my farm is NOT unique and will remain this way for quite so time to come.

[@guccipitts]

Just saw one today

[@joedurovey4988]

We in the NW PA always thought it was the re introduction of wild turkey in our area.

[@BoWeava]

It seems to me that enough blood data has been collected and maybe the first step to population recovery should be to suspend the hunting of them? Maybe give them what they need to bounce back...time and the right environment. Nature will find Balance again, if we let it. 🤔🙂💜 Thank you.

[@joshheller4671]

unfortunately humans are part of natures balance and history has proven that we tend to drive animals to extinction. It is the true hunters that will be the driving force behind recovery efforts. Watch the video again and pay special attention to the man hours involved and who provided them.

[@UDLTUBE]

Still hunting them seems cruel.

[@cpsclan2447]

How? It keeps population under control and feeds us

[@nimbus6271]

They face extinction because of greed 👿👿👿👿👿

[@Jester63]

Is it possible to develop some sort of vaccine