About 170 greater sage grouse gather on Wes McStay’s ranch in northwestern Colorado. They're here to mate in an open field of recently-planted rye. Biologists call such a gathering a lek , where male grouse perform an elaborate mating dance that involves inflating two yellow air sacs in their chests and then releasing the air with a bubbling pop. The national sage grouse coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service watches the spectacle, her gloved hands holding binoculars tightly to her

Saving The Sage Grouse: Lessons From Listing The Gunnison Sage Grouse

The greater sage grouse is under threat. Its population has shrunk by more than 90 percent in the last century. Scientists say wildfire, invasive species, energy development and other human activities are to blame. Now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will decide if the bird will be added to the Endangered Species List. Boise State Public Radio will explore the issue in a series of reports we're calling Saving the Sage Grouse . Our five in-depth stories will introduce you to the unique species at the heart of the issue, look at unusual collaborations to help the bird, and explore if those steps will be enough to keep the animal from being listed. Our series begins on Tuesday, September 8 during Morning Edition on KBSX 91.5 FM. We will also be hosting a Community Conversation for Saving the Sage Grouse . The event will take place Wednesday, September 16 at 6 p.m. on the first floor of the Yanke Family Research Park, located at 220 E. Parkcenter Boulevard in Boise. You can RSVP for