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Buffalo Bill Center of the West

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  • Visit
    • Current HoursMarch 1 – April 30: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
    • Hours and RatesPlan your visit to the Center of the West.
    • Group SalesBook a commercial or non-commercial tour with us.
    • Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music RevueEnjoy authentic cowboy music and a western buffet
    • Facility RentalsHost your event in one of our indoor or outdoor spaces.
    • Visiting YellowstonePlan your visit to Yellowstone National Park.
    • LodgingSelect from a variety of local accommodations.
    • ItinerariesDiscover some quick day trips in and around Cody.
    • DirectionsFind driving directions and check road conditions.
    • StoriesFind your story among ours.
    • Calendar of EventsSee what events are happening during your visit here.
  • Explore
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      • Draper Natural History Museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West
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      • Plains Indian Museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West
      • Cody Firearms Museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West
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      • ExhibitionsFind out what’s on view in our Center.
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      • NewsroomStay up-to-date with all Center happenings.
  • Learn
    • School Programs & ResourcesEssential info and resources for teachers and students.
    • Family ProgramsFamily-friendly programs, activities, and craft ideas.
    • InternshipsCollege students may apply to gain museum experience.
    • Skype in the ClassroomLive, interactive K–12 field trips.
    • WorkshopsExplore hands-on programs for kids, families, and adults.
    • Conservation InternshipsTraining for conservators from all over the world.
    • Pre-K ProgramsSet up a guided tour for your preschool class.
    • Field TripsInvestigate outdoor adventures for adults and children.
    • Highlights MapsDiscover collection highlights in each of our museum.
    • Games and InteractivesLearn about the collection through online interactives.
    • Lectures & FilmsPlan for future talks and view past program videos.
    • Western EssaysDelve into historical information on western topics.
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Clothing and Accessories
    • Gifts
    • Native American Replicas
    • Fine Art
    • Quality Leather
    • Native American Jewelry
    • Navajo Rugs
    • Pottery
    • Prints
    • Media
    • Baskets
  • Research
    • McCracken Research LibraryFind books, photos, archives, media, and more.Buffalo Bill Center of the West
    • Digital CollectionsExplore our extensive photo and manuscript collections.
    • Archival Collection List and Finding GuidesBrowse inventories of archival collections.
    • The Papers of William F. CodyDiscover scholarship on the man and the myth.
    • Fellowship ProgramContribute to new scholarship using Center collections.
    • Buffalo BillUncover in-depth information about William F. Cody.
    • Greater Yellowstone Natural HistoryLearn more about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
    • Western ArtDelve into the lives and works of western artists.
    • Plains IndianDiscover more about Plains Indian tribes and collections.
    • FirearmsFind a firearms bibliography, glossary, and more.
    • ConservationFind out how we preserve Center collections.
    • Rights and ReproductionsLicense or reproduce images from our collections.
  • Support
    • Planned GivingLeave your legacy with a bequest or estate gift.
    • Patrons BallAttend our annual gala fundraiser.
    • MembershipBecome a supporter and receive great benefits.
    • VolunteerSupport the Center with your time and talent.
    • Raffle prize: 1966 Pontiac GTOWin a beautiful “nightwatch blue” GTO
    • Give TodayMake a donation to programs and operations.
    • Videos: Why I SupportSee what motivates donors to give to the Center.
    • Raffle Prize: A.P. Proctor bronzeWin a “Sleeping Lion” bronze sculpture
    • Raptor ExperienceHelp provide care for our avian friends.
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Home > Treasures from Our West > Treasures from Our West: Greater sage-grouse

Treasures from Our West: Greater sage-grouse

July 23, 2014 by Nancy McClure

A Treasure from Our West: Greater sage-grouse. DRA.304.7

Treasures from Our West
Greater sage-grouse

The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is an iconic species of the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem of the American West. The largest grouse in North America at up to seven pounds, it is one of the few wildlife species completely dependent on sagebrush habitat.

The greater sage-grouse was once widespread and tremendously abundant, ranging across portions of thirteen western states and three western Canadian provinces. It has declined significantly during the last fifty to seventy years, currently inhabiting only eleven states and two provinces—less than 60 percent of the range it occupied prior to Euro-American settlement.

Greater sage-grouse numbers continue to decline, and the species is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. In 2010, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service declared the greater sage-grouse “warranted but precluded” from federal protection; although imperiled, it is currently a lower priority than some other, more critically threatened species. Elimination, fragmentation, and degradation of sagebrush habitats are generally considered to be the primary causes of the decline of greater sage-grouse.

In spring, male sage-grouse perform elaborate displays to attract females in communal mating grounds called leks. This specimen introduces visitors to a lek in the Draper Museum’s Plains-Basin Environment.

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) specimen. DRA.304.7

Post025

Filed Under: Treasures from Our West
Tagged With: Bird, sage grouse, sagebrush-steppe, treasures from our west

 

About Nancy McClure

Nancy works with electronic communications, including website, events, news, images, and social media. She produces the e-newsletter Western Wire, writes news releases, and assistant edits Points West magazine. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys photography, plays the flute, and is attempting to learn to play the piano.

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