Sagegrouse health over a cycle of seasonal habitats. Dyer, K. J.^*,1, Perryman, B. L.¹, Hocombe, D. W. ¹, ¹ University of Nevada Reno, Reno, Nevada

ABSTRACT- Sagegrouse research has often focused on habitat quality without investigating bird condition and health. This project evaluated and compared sagegrouse hen health in two distinct but similar population management units in northern Nevada, over a cycle of seasonal habitats. The first 2 sample periods were: period 1- 15 Mar thru 11 April 04; and period 2- 20 May thru 22 June 04. Preliminary results indicated that plasma protein was greater in the Lone Willow unit than the Tuscarora unit across the two sample periods. Plasma protein was 5.29 (n=28) and 4.99 g dl^-1 (n=31), respectively. Birds also had greater mean weights in the Lone Willow unit than the Tuscarora unit (1287 and 1233 g, respectively). Plasma protein and weight also declined during the progression from spring to summer in both management units. Lone Willow bird plasma protein declined from 5.98 to 4.59 g dl^-1 and Tuscarora birds from 5.71 to 4.28 g dl^-1 between the two sample periods. The blood parasite load also increased during the summer period, primarily dominated by Leukocytozoon sp. Additional blood parameters will be evaluated including: white blood cells, glucose, total serum protein, albumin, calcium, phosphorus, and uric acid. Vegetation characteristics were sampled and will also be compared in the evaluation process.

KEY WORDS: seasonal habitats, Sagegrouse