NESTING HABITAT SELECTION BY SAGE GROUSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL WASHINGTON

To characterize western sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus phaios Bonaparte) nesting habitat in sagebrush-steppe habitat in Washington, we initiated a study on the Yakima Training Center to determine nestin g habitat characteristics and whether these characteristics differed b etween successful and depredated nests. Most nests (71%) were in big s agebrush (Artemesia tridentata Nutt.)/bunchgrass communities. Nest hab itat was characterized by greater shrub cover, shrub height, vertical cover height, residual cover, and litter than at random locations, Suc cessful 1-m(2) nest sites within big sagebrush/bunchgrass in 1992 had less shrub cover (51%) and shrub height (64 cm) than depredated nest s ites (70% and 90 cm, respectively). Successful 77-m(2) nest areas in b ig sagebrush/bunchgrass in 1993 had more tall grass (greater than or e qual to 18 cm) than depredated nest areas. Management that protects th e big sagebrush/bunchgrass community is essential for maintaining nest ing habitat for sage grouse.