Ancient Display III
February 2007
It was early morning just before daybreak as we pulled up and parked the jeep near what I hoped would be the lek grounds. When we rolled down the windows to listen I was feeling anxious that we may not be in the correct area.
I know that the male sage-grouse congregate on their strutting grounds in open areas along side of the thick aromatic sage brush clustered on the western plains… That shouldn’t be to hard to find.~Wrong! It’s a little more complicated than that. They don’t just display in ANY open area, these grouse return only to specific areas, as they have for decades. The males (boomers) will stiffen out their spiky tail feathers and fill the sacks on their chest with air as instinct drives them to join in an intimate dance with nature. The female will observe these displays to choose a suitable mate. While all the males strut only a choice few do most of the breeding. The females then disperse off onto the sage covered planes to raise the young on their own.
As the silence spread around us I began to detect a sound, the sun began to slip over the eastern hills and the sound started to pick up and soon we were surrounded by an almost hypnotic music. I can only describe it as water dripping and the sound of drums playing faintly in the distanced.
It was hard to imagine that these birds are responsible for this beautiful sound. I have always loved the songs of birds, but this I wouldn’t say is a song. It is more like ancient music and if you listen carefully, and close your eyes.. you can almost picture the native ancestors of this land gathered around the drums and dancing in the flickering firelight, dancing with the never ending circle of life…
April 1,2008
I wrote this post 3 years ago.. and like the returning sage grouse I find myself being called to the lek grounds each Spring.. I am not in search of a mate, I already have one of those. I enjoy watching and listening to these beautiful creatures. But what intrigues me most, is trying to figure out what exactly it is that triggers the whole display.. The cool thing about digital photography, is each photo is marked with a time and date.. in 2007 on an over cast evening I went out the end of February to descover over 200 Males dancing and drumming on this particular lek ground, a moment I will not soon forget. Yet the next year it was on a bright sunny morning the first of April when I found them again, the lighting was perfect, though there weren’t nearly as many boys out showing their stuff.. I went out a few times in 2009 but by then the quiet Lek grounds had become quite the early morning gathering spot for bird watchers… and well, honestly I am not a social person, when I go out to enjoy nature it is a very personal thing that I am happy to share with those I love, but to stand around in a group with a bunch of strangers.. for me takes that extra “something” away from it all.(one of the reason’s I seldom visit Yellowstone) So I turned around when I spotted the lind of cars parked in the distance… in search of another more secluded, private area..I did not photograph the Sage grouse last Spring, but I did capture the beauty of their back yard(and mine)
Beartooth Mountain Range 2009
Last week, I found myself once again returning to the sage in search of the sage grouse, and I found them, and again, I wonder what it is that called them, and me, to this windy little spot surrounded by spectacular mountain views and pungent sage. Although the “dancing” was taking place a bit to far away for photographs and to far to hear, It was still a beautiful moment alone with nature.. and as they dispersed for the day, several groups passed right by me ~ and My photo journal of the Mating Dance on the Wyoming sage flats continues…
Female Sage Grouse March 7, 2010
Male Sage Grouse March 7,2010
One of my favorite things. Awesome.
Thanks Cory~ headed out in search of sharp tail grouse this weekend.. found them last spring,but was unable to get any good photos..
I feel repetitious saying the photos are “terrific”, “spectacular”, … – but they are!
I was particulrly interested in your comment re: crowds watching wildlife. I try to get out to Rocky Mountain Natl Park every year in Sept to fish. I know the park well enough to get away from the crowds. I can park my vehicle, walk for a halfan hour, and see bugling / sparring bull elk, mule deer, and have awesome fishing, while seeing no one. Meanwhile, there are SERIOUS traffic jams back at Horseshoe Curve and Morraine Park. I think I’ll keep doing it my way.
Wolfy
Hi Stacey,
I simply agree with Wolfy. I have been following your blog for over a year now and you still managed to surprise me! This is just amazing to see the set of pictures and also that you know where this kind of birds live!!! You are a talented photographer, no doubt on that, but you are also a talented nature field person!!!
Stacey – I think one of the reasons you are such an awesome wildlife photographer is that you know as much about the animals you are photographing as you do about the photography.
-Jenn
Thank you lady
Thanks Chris.. you are too kind
I have my favorite places to go as well Wolfy.. I have even offended a few friends who asked. “where did you get that?” I do not mean to be selfish, but some places are just special and I would hate to have to go even farther to find those quiet moments that touch the soul.. I will share most, but not all.. unless it is through a photo… and a memory..