The habitat and population dynamics of the ruffed grouse (Bonaso umbellus togata L.) in Prince Edward Island

Ruffed grouse populations were studied on Prince Edward Island from 1974 to 1977. Approximately 70 hunters returned material from 1,175 grouse which was subjected to an evaluation of aging and sexing techniques, colour phase composition, crop analysis and parasitic infection rates. Immatures comprised 76 percent of the total sample. Immatures of both sexes were significantly more susceptible to road-hunting than woods hunting. Immature males were significantly more susceptible to road- hunting than immature females. Approximately 61 percent of the female grouse have a "split" colour phase, an observation which facilitated sex identification. The "pyramidal" tail band pattern was characteristic of females only. The division point for the sexes in the length of the mid-rectrix was 151 millimeters. Ascaridia bonasae was the most common parasite occurring in 40 percent of the grouse examined. Seeds of grain crops constituted a much higher proportion of the grouse diet than have been reported in studies elsewhere. Vegetative factors measured on 27 drumming sites were tree stand density, shrub cover and overhead cover. The distribution of drumming site locations differed in each study area and were related to a behavioural association of drumming males plus the edge effect.