OkaKnowledgy! April 16th: To The Beat of Their Own Drum: Behavior and Life History of Grouse in Okanogan County

Join us Wednesday, April 16th 6:30 pm at the Okanogan PUD Auditorium for a presentation by Michelle Martin – Conservation Coordinator, Okanogan Land Trust

Michelle has spent her career prior to working at OLT researching avian behavior and conducting surveys for birds throughout the Intermountain West. She completed her master’s in Southern Alberta, Canada, studying ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) behavior, specifically variation in the ability of a grouse to communicate via the non-vocal drumming display during the breeding season, based on time of day, month, and year. In her talk, Michelle will discuss her findings and the research on this species. 

Interestingly, the varied habitat types across Okanogan County provide a home to at least six species of grouse. In this talk, we’ll explore the life histories of these remarkable birds, from forest to shrub-steppe, and highlight what makes each species unique within our local landscape. Enjoy an evening learning about the surprising uniqueness of the grouse clade- beloved by hunters and begging to be known by others!

We will have coffee, snacks, and some Land Trust gear at the event. See you there!