Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia
Home | Geographical Scope | Historical Perspective | Format | Species Accounts | Hypothetical List | Acknowledgements | Literature Cited
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus
WINTER: Uncommon Resident. See Remarks section for CBC data and Ohio Drumming Count data.
SUMMER: Uncommon Resident.
MIGRATION:
Spring: Uncommon Resident.
Fall: Uncommon Resident.
REMARKS:
Rankin (unpublished data) has noted significant declines in abundance of this species, in Wayne County, WV, during the last five years.
Since the 1970's, there has been a general decline in Ruffed Grouse abundance in Ohio. Since1983, abundance has averaged below the long-term mean (Ohio Division of Wildlife 2001).
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA
Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):
Recorded on 30% of Counts. Total Birds: 42. Range: 1 to
8.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976): Recorded on 39% of Counts. Total
Birds: 21. Range: 1 to 10.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):
Recorded on 40% of Counts. Total Birds: 33. Range: 1 to
7.
Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):
Number of Counts: 61. Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0. Party
Hr./Bird: 71.9.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976): Number of Counts: 18.
Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0. Party Hr./Bird: 16.8.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):
Number of Counts: 40. Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0. Party
Hr./Bird: 55.0.
ANNUAL ROADSIDE RUFFED GROUSE DRUMMING COUNTS IN OHIO
OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
YEAR MALES HEARD/100 STOPS ANNUAL PERCENT CHANGE
1974
23
-26
1975
22
-5
1976
27
23
1977
26
-4
1978
27
5
1979
29
9
1980
41
39
1981
38
-5
1982
42
10
1983
32
-23
1984
29
-10
1985
25
-15
1986
21
-17
1987
19
-10
1988
18
-2
1989
18
0
1990
22
23
1991
21
-5
1992
16
-25
1993
18
14
1994
13
-29
1995
13
0
1996
19
48
1997
17
-15
1998
14
-18
1999
8
-43
2000
9
13
2001
13
37
2002
12
-9
2003
8
-36
2004
9
64
.