In Oregon, New Sage Grouse Plans Allow For Continued Grazing The Trump administration Friday lifted restrictions meant to protect greater sage grouse across seven western states. In Oregon grazing restrictions are being removed in 13 locations that provide habitat for the imperiled birds. Ranchers are supporting the move, saying proper grazing will help sage grouse. But conservation groups said the controversial and […]
Sage Grouse
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The Dirt on the Bird
Years of collaboration went into the current plans to protect the Greater sage-grouse. Under the new administration, those plans could now face a roll-back.
To those tuned into the happenings on the great sagebrush sea, certain words warrant no further explanation. For them, “the bird” isn’t referring to the Thanksgiving turkey; instead it’s referring to the Greater sage-grouse. Similarly, “a listing” isn’t referring to some vapid Top 10 meme; instead it’s a reference to the threat of the bird being […]
Posted inOutside
Go Here 12/2-12/9
The High Desert Museum is offering a unique and interesting Native American look at the sage grouse in the program “Sage Grouse Legends and Dance of the Wasco and Northern Paiute.” The event will be led by Wilson Wewa, a cultural expert from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Wewa’s ancestry stems from the Northern […]
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Side Notes
More than a week shy of the deadline at the end of the month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the greater sage grouse does not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This marks a historic moment in conservation and resource management. For the past five years an unparalleled, collaborative, science-based, […]
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Sage Grouse Continued
This week our Feature focused on The Endangered Species Act and the Sage Grouse Initiative. “In 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made a decision that set in motion what many are calling a landmark transformation in how the nation recovers imperiled wildlife,” Lisa Seales write. “Ordinarily, the sage grouse’s situation might land it […]
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The Endangered Species Act’s Biggest Experiment
Will an unprecedented collaborative effort and lots of tax dollars be enough to finally save sage grouse?
If you’re anything like me, any mention of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) conjures up images of bumper stickers that say, “Save a logger, eat an owl!” Growing up in Oregon in the late 20th century, the ESA, and specifically the listing of the spotted owl, meant economic and community devastation and LOTS of conflict. […]
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Side Notes 7/22-7/29
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Monday, July 27, to adopt sage-grouse management rules that would cement what are now mere recommendations. The proposal would require developments such as aggregate mining, wind, solar, and geothermal energy plants to engage in mitigation efforts. New rules are also being proposed by the Oregon Land Conservation […]
Posted inOutside
Pity the Poor Sage-Grouse
Public lands for all animals
For the last four years, my wife Sue and I have been bouncing all over parts of Deschutes, Lake, and Harney Counties searching for golden eagle nesting territories. Among the sites we’ve found throughout the Great Sandy Desert are hundreds of square miles of land cleared of sagebrush where cows are chomping their way through […]
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God Save the Sage-Grouse
Will voluntary conservation measures prevent federal regulation?
Last Thursday, the Western Governors’ Association released a report detailing the efforts of 11 states to conserve sage-grouse habitat. It’s part of an attempt to prevent the bird, which makes its home in sage brush-steppe habitat across the West, from being listed under the Endangered Species Act. It’s already been established that the sage-grouse qualifies. […]
Posted inCulture
Film Events 1/21-1/29
It’s Just Sage Brush: The Life History of the Great Sage Grouse The High Desert Museum is hosting a presentation by Garth Fuller of the Nature Conservancy about a new, collaborative effort to restore sage grouse habitat. Following Fuller’s presentation there will be a screening of a documentary film by Steve Chindgren entitled The film […]