This issue had been addressed in the past, but I received a note from a fellow biologist (not Mike Schroeder, but he probably feels the same way.) concerning sage-grouse:

"I followed the brief Tweeter's discussion on recent visitation to the Leahy lek. I fear past patterns are repeating themselves: increasing visitation leading to more lax behavior from birders which leads to lek abandonment. I know of at least three leks lost due to human disturbance. There are two issues: trespass which you covered, and human disturbance. If birders don't stay on the road, and in or by their cars, we could lose this lek as well."

The Leahy lek is the public lek, the one everyone that wants to see sage-grouse in WA can find because it has been in print for years now. Please do not jeapordize the birds or the habitat that so far has not been cleared of sagebrush. Landowner relations can be quite sensitive when listed species are involved, and wildlife management should involve managing wildlife rather than people. These birds are visible from the road, so please stay on the road to view them. This is basic birding ethics.

Randy Hill, President
Washington Ornithological Society