Watch this short video to see the Greater Sage Grouse strut his stuff.
Found across the western United States, the sage grouse population has declined significantly - in Wyoming alone, the population has decreased an estimated 70% in the last 50 years. The Conservation Fund has worked on mitigation projects that ensure the protection of sage grouse habitat in Wyoming's Green River Valley.
To learn more about the mitigation projects click to any of the Related Links to the right.
Video and text (bottom) courtesy of Gail Patricelli, UC Davis
Male greater sage-grouse strut displays on a lek near Hudson, Wyoming USA. During the spring, males gather on breeding grounds, called leks. Males perform strut displays to court females and define their display territories on the lek. The "burp" sounds occur when males inhale or exhale air from the vocal sacs on their chests. A few attractive males will mate with almost all of the females who visit the lek, and most males will not mate at all. Females raise the young on their own.