In early May, Dad and I
accompanied the Boulder Audubon Teen Naturalists on a trip to the
Nebraska Sandhills. We made the six-hour drive there to observe two
species of prairie birds, the Greater Prairie Chicken and the Sharp-tailed Grouse,
perform their mating dance. The male birds congregate on high, flat areas
of the prairie, called leks, to perform the dance. Because it was later in the season, there were
no female birds around. The males were only dancing on instinct.
Me standing next to an observation blind **
In order to observe the dance, we had to get up at 4:30 am and hike in the dark to a small blind on the prairie.Once we found the blind, we were not supposed to leave it until all the birds had flown off, around 7:30 am, to keep from disturbing them. Some say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I am wrapping up the writing here. Enjoy the photos!
Greater Prairie Chicken
The Prairie Chicken Dance
**
Sharp-tailed Grouse
The feet stomping of the Sharp-tailed Grouse
**
"Caka-wobble"
**
More Sights from Nebraska
Sunrise from the blind
Ring-Necked Pheasant **
Nesting Trumpeter Swan
White-faced Ibis **
Trumpeter Swans
Yellow-headed Blackbird **
Great Horned Owl Nest
An Imperial Bald Eagle **
Grub-grabbing Orange Crowned Warbler
Strutting Wild Turkey **
Vigilant Brown-headed Cowbird
Image Credits: Eva Getman, ** Dan Getman
A special thanks to Steve Jones, and the Boulder County Audubon Society and its Teen Naturalists, for sharing your knowledge and love of birds on all our amazing trips! 😃
Below are a couple of links with additional information about Prairie Chickens and Sharp-tailed Grouse, if my readers would like to learn more:
