Fires

The resident fire crew here at Malheur was called out yesterday.  There was a brush fire east of here toward Crane.  Right now, fires in brush and sage have priority over fires in forests.  Fires kill Sage Grouse and burn their habitat making them vunerable to predation. 
     About 30 miles southwest of here is Foster Flats, a dry lake bed.  For as long and anyone can remember, this area has been a Lek for male Grouse to do their mating strut.  A couple of years ago a fire burned the sage brush in the whole area.  I asked if the birds still return to the same spot or have moved to a new one.  I was told that their numbers are down, but they still return to do their dance.  It would be something to see.