17 March 2007

Sat, Mar 17, 2007

BB & VS set up trap at McCal. Brought new deer out and set up. 1st bbma at 7:14 and 1st CORA at 7:38. No cora fed on bait, but at least 6 fed on old hairt piles near the bait. All left and so did we at 9am.

counted 21 SAGR on Moutlon Lek

TR set up trap at barn. didn't see birds. Didn't see them come out of shed either.

After leaving McCal, B and I threw some cheetoes out at golf course and went to McCal bait to find several CORA's feeding. B tried to fire the net launcherl w/ no luck . At approx 1200pm M CORA at barn nest seen roosting over carcass. 1100pm B and I went to cover Barn carcass and discover T accidentally left out carcass cover right next to moose. We then go to cover McCal carcass and B examines the faulty NL and it misfires as he is opening the chamber.

16 March 2007

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

TR VS and BB went out to trap at the barn. Got set up and went over to hide in the barn and both birds flushed out of the shed! Both showed interest in the bait, but didn't come close to feeding. Both transmitters were fit on well. Left at 9am.
Saw 1st grouse on moulton lek. 5.
Went to town to show VS and TR raven territories. Saw Mead incubating! Pair near deloney, but no nest located. Pair building at Bickner.

B stayed in his truck and T and I were in barn. CORA's seen flying in the area but no birds down on the carcass. B showed us CORA territories in town w/ good spots to glass for stick carrying birds.

Thurs, Mar 15, 2007

Vince started work.

Antelope Flats opened today.

Took VS around BTB and set up moose carcass near the barn. Saw birds building in old nest tree by -B- junct. One (F?) was banded (purp inv C). TR and BB fixed up transmitters.

First day on the job! Had a meeting with H and D discussing protocol, safety, etc. B drove me around and showed me nesting territories and study areas.

Wed, Mar 14, 2007

BB - Went out to trap again at McCal to see if 22893 would come back. Only 2 cora came in at about 9 and perched in the aspens for ~10min before leaving.

TR - set up on airport again. Coyote got grouse, so set up with a rooster. Had to pull the trap at 8 becuase of maintainance guy.

DC - went out to NER lek and got shut out by elk. Didn't get there til 9-9:30 and saw no birds.

Vince came in late and we checked the camera trap at McCal. No birds.

Tues, Mar 13, 2007

Trapped at McCal. 8 cora came in. 2 banded: on inv a orng (male from hutner shed) and 22893 (no color band). Transmitter looked good. Coyote started feeding before 22893 did, so I waited until he left (~1.5 hr) and all 8 cora came in right away. Tried to fire, with no luck. pin slightly hit, but not hard enough and spooked all the birds. They all left the area.

TR set up for the airport birds with a grouse carcass by the gun range. They showed interest, but didn't come down. Left the trap at about 11:30.
DC and BB went to town to pick up a road-killed deer and got a few pieces from the dump. Got NER permits on the way out. Met with the airport guys.

Got GPS locs from 51 over at dump in Driggs. First time since June.
TR pulled Lester.

Put a deer out at McCal after dark.

12 March 2007

Mon, Mar. 12, 2007

BB - Went to trap at McCal and couldn't find the detonator, so bagged it. Pulled the launcher to dry it.
Went to the gun range to check for grouse - no sign.

Sun, Mar. 11, 2007

BB & TR - Picked up moose parts at village.

BB - Saw Poney Express raven building in town.

Went to bird club and got a report of a raven building at 3 creeks. Checked the McCal bait on the way back and pulled the pictures. Looks like a coyote pulled the net out of the launcher. Most of the elk eaten, but still enough for ravens. I'll try trapping tomorrow.

Fri, Mar 10, 2007

Sage Grouse meeting in afternoon.

Thurs, Mar. 8, 2007

BB - went over to gun range at first light to check for grouse. No sign, but cloudy and snowy. Didn't see the airport pair.

Wed, Mar. 7, 2007

BB - Set McCal trap and sat in blind. 5 CORA were in after first light and 3 were banded. Green H/5, an orange and a yellow. No reads on the orange or yellow. Got the impression that it was a group of juvies. No defensive behavior at the carcass. 3 finally came in to feed, but didn't take a shot in hopes that 7/W would show. Left the bait at about 10am. Set up the camera trap. One coyote came in to feed for a few minutes while I was there. Left the trap.