New York Catskills grouse report

[Kingston Wulff]

I've read your accounts of wild bird population drops. In Nevada, these numbers seem to be off considerably as well. So what does Nevada have that could relate to New York or New Jersey? Climate change?
I drove into my favorite mtn. range and spooked up a Golden Eagle along with several Ravens. I came back the next morning and was met by the same Golden Eagle and murder of Ravens as before. Only this time the Golden flew at windshield level out in front of my truck. (The wing span was incredible). As if to say, " Come along I'll show you where they are."
This Mtn. range is listed this year as a Zero count for Chukar birds by the Nevada Dept. of Wildlife (NDOW). This is a mtn. range that I have hunted for over 25 years and in 1999 my partner and I collected 25 birds legally between four species in one weekend.
Now, you can barley find a flush. I took the chance that no one would hunt this area because of the Chukar report. And I was right; I know where the birds will be if only just a few. I only got two birds, but I did flush three coveys within range.
Something has changed; or maybe a lot of things have changed. Too little water, too little
water too late, too much hunting pressure, too many natural predators, climate change with warmer temps., loss of proper habitat; or all of the above.