"Here's everything one needs to know about sage-grouse, but it's much more than that. From the probing analyses of sage-grouse biology, one gains a broader understanding the ecology and conservation imperatives of sagebrush habitats throughout the West."—John A. Wiens, Chief Conservation Science Officer, PRBO Conservation Science "The threats facing Sage-grouse and the sagebrush habitats of the West are as vast as the landscape itself. Anyone’s foray into confronting this monumental conservation challenge should begin in the pages of this book.”-Ben Deeble, Sagebrush-Steppe Project Leader

"Our general objective is to identify a set of short-run (three to five years) policy alternatives that are based on a synthesis of empirical research into the needs of the greater sage-grouse(Centrocercus urophasianus) and its relationship to the sagebrush system. In other words, based on what we know from research, we try to identify the best set of policy alternatives for maintaining and increasing sage-grouse populations on public lands that policy makers could implement and expect some results within a three- to five-year time frame"--Page 1

Provides an overview of 121 birds, mammals, and reptiles native to the Great Plains, organized by habitat with information on each animal's behavior and ecology.

Presents prairie wildlife and the art of nature photography covering one hundred fifty species, explaining the ecology, behavior, and life histories of these creatures.

Admired for its elaborate breeding displays and treasured as a game bird, the Greater Sage-Grouse is a charismatic symbol of the broad open spaces in western North America. Unfortunately these birds have declined across much of their range—which stretches across 11 western states and reaches into Canada—mostly due to loss of critical sagebrush habitat. Today the Greater Sage-Grouse is at the center of a complex conservation challenge. This multifaceted volume, an important foundation for developing conservation strategies and actions, provides a comprehensive synthesis of scientific information on the biology and ecology of the Greater Sage-Grouse. Bringing together the experience of thirty-eight researchers, it describes the bird’s population trends, its sagebrush habitat, and potential limitations to conservation, including the effects of rangeland fire, climate change, invasive plants, disease, and land uses such as energy development, grazing, and agriculture.