Sage-grouse monitoring under way
July 2010 – Scientific information showing sage-grouse movement and migration habits is flowing fast, following the successful tagging of 40 female sage-grouse in April on The Overland Trail Cattle Company ranch.
The birds were tagged around the ranch property with lightweight GPS devices that are providing data and insight into seasonal habitat uses by the species.
Each sage-grouse was carefully captured and tagged following established protocols from wildlife officials. The birds were named, numbered, weighed and photographed as well.
Data from the devices will be recorded and analyzed over the next several years as part of this long-term monitoring program.
Located south of Rawlins and Sinclair in Carbon County, Wyoming, the Overland Trail Ranch is the site of Power Company of Wyomingʼs proposed wind energy project.
By connecting the data points received, scientists are able to "follow" sage-grouse like "Joyce" as she roams the ranch and beyond.
The pink circle indicates a lek while the orange lines show this sage-grouse's path.
"Deanna" shows off her GPS tag with an antenna that sends signals back to the biologist team.
Follow-up observations reveal the tagged "Deanna" happily returned to a lek area.
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BLM Wyoming cites PCW efforts in its BLM Fact Sheet about "ongoing collaborative sage-grouse conservation initiatives."
It's Time
A video overview of PCW's wind power project is now online.
Media contact
Members of the media with inquiries about the PCW wind energy project
should contact
, Director of Communications, 303.299.1395.
BLM Environmental Assessments
From 2013-2015, BLM prepared two separate site-specific Environmental Assessments, both tiered to the project-wide Environmental Impact Statement completed in 2012. Review our archives of the BLM’s public scoping documents: