THESIS
EVALUATING GREATER SAGE-GROUSE BROOD HABITAT USING
HUMAN-IMPRINTED CHICKS
Submitted by
Sherri Lynn Huwer
Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology
In partial fulfillment of the requirements
For the Degree Master of Science
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
Spring 2004
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
5 March 2004
WE HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THE THESIS PREPARED UNDER OUR
SUPERVISION BY SHERRI LYNN HUWER ENTITLED “EVALUATING GREATER SAGE-
GROUSE BROOD HABITAT USING HUMAN-IMPRINTED CHICKS” BE ACCEPTED AS
FULLFILING IN PART REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE.
Committee on Graduate Work
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Adviser
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ABSTRACT OF THESIS
EVALUATING GREATER SAGE-GROUSE BROOD HABITAT
USING HUMAN-IMPRINTED CHICKS
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations are experiencing long-
term declines throughout their current range. Several researchers have suggested that the quality
and availability of brood habitat may be limiting populations through reductions in the
recruitment of young. In order to effectively manage brood areas, reliable information is needed
on chick resource requirements and the role of various components of the habitat in chick growth,
development and survival. Forb abundance has been identified by several studies as an indicator
of brood habitat quality, but no studies have quantified the direct effects of forb abundance on
sage-grouse chicks. A promising method for conducting such studies involves using human-
imprinted sage-grouse chicks in field experiments. In 2002 and 2003, I conducted field
experiments in Middle Park and Moffat County, Colorado, respectively. The objectives of these
studies were (1) to develop and evaluate methods for ac