Gunnison County hired a sage-grouse coordinator in 2005. The decision on the Gunnison sage-grouse in no way predetermines a decision on the greater sage-grouse, which the Service is independently evaluating. The Gunnison sage-grouse is a distinct species from the greater sage-grouse, a larger bird which exists across a much broader range throughout the West and, in some places, faces different threats. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the Gunnison Sage-Grouse as a candidate species for threatened or endangered status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A rare and localized bird, found in southwestern Colorado and a small part of adjacent Utah. The Gunnison Sage-Grouse is a flagship species for a uniquely American ecosystem; it will probably stand forever as the last bird species to be described from the North American continent; it is widely invoked as a classic example of how evolution produces distinctive behavior and ornamentation in isolation. Sage-grouse mating takes place in the morning. The U.S. FWS's Threatened & Endangered Species System track information about listed species in the United States The Conservation Plan recognizes recreational use of the Gunnison Sage-grouse during the spring lekking season as a viable human activity, but as a potential impact on grouse population status. The Sage Grouse Initiative is a partnership of ranchers, agencies, universities, non-profit groups, and businesses that embrace a common vision: wildlife conservation … Rangewide the … Since the conservation agreement was adopted, the Gunnison sage-grouse population in the Gunnison Basin has declined dramatically from 3,149 in 2013 to only 1,667 in 2020 — a more than 40% decline in just six years. The property borders public lands and is leased for seasonal grazing by a local family ranch. Remarkably, this bird was not recognized as a separate species from the Greater Sage-Grouse until the year 2000. In the late 1970s, Braun estimates there were as many as 10,000 Gunnison sage grouse alive — 7,000 of those in the Gunnison basin alone. The Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) is a newly named species native to the Gunnison Basin and surrounding areas, recognized by the American Ornithological Union in 2000.It was formerly known as the Northern sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), which is spread throughout the western United States.The Gunnison sage-grouse is about 2/3 the size of the Northern sage-grouse… Click here for complete Sage-grouse information from Gunnison County; Here are further details concerning the above points: Please do not visit the sagebrush country before 9am until May 15th. The project was partially funded by grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 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