Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Sharp-tailed Grouse |
|||
Witten by Stan Shadick, Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours Guide (birdtours@sasktel.net)
We met at 4:45 AM on April 15, 2021 at the north edge of Saskatoon (Saskatchewan's largest city).
After a short 15 minute drive, we arrived at a pasture where Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours had set up a photographic blind at the edge of Sharp-tailed Grouse lek. We arrived in pitch darkness so that the client could quietly move into the blind in darkness without disturbing the grouse which had arrived at this location near sunset on the previous evening.
We only needed to wait 10 minutes before we heard the rich variety of sounds created by the group of dancing male Sharp-tailed Grouse. In a brief flurry of activity, all of the male grouse on the lek stand up, stretch out of their wings and raise their tails. Their voices give both cooing and cackling sounds while their feet add a drumming percussion effect as they stomp furiously on the prairie grass. Their rustling tail feather add another percussive sound. This burst of action lasts only 5 - 10 seconds before a short interlude of silence returns.
After a short 15 minute wait, the glow of sunrise in the east allows us to view the birds in action. Their white pointed tails show up first in the dim light. As the sky brightens, we can make out the bright orange-yellow comb of feathers above each eye. When the birds face us, we can view their royal purple skin exposed by moving their breast feathers.
During each of their frequent performances, the birds spin around like robots and run across their personal territory towards one of their closest rivals. The performance stops briefly when each bird reaches their neighbour. Both birds then sit down facing each other in a staring match during an interlude of silence. The beautiful melodies of a nearby singing Western Meadowlarks add to the enjoyment of this ancient ritual. We count a total of 25 males at this lek this morning.
Occasionally we notice a female Sharp-tailed Grouse approach the lek. The males put on their best performances when a female is watching. If you CLICK HERE, you can watch a short video clip of 4 male grouse performing near a single female while a meadowlark sings in the background. If the hyperlink does not work, the video may be found at
https://livingskywildliferehabilitation.org/birding-tours/dancing-grouse/
At Saskatoon's nearby Wanuskewin Heritage Park, the indigenous local Cree dancers often perform an elaborate spinning performance based upon this ancient dance of the Sharp-tailed Grouse.
While we listen to the grouse, a small group of 10 all white Ross's Geese fly low over the dancing grouse. A few minutes later we saw much larger flocks of about Snow Geese totalling about 1500 individuals. A few dark morph Snow Geese are mixed in with the mainly white morph birds. The Snow Geese give a series of relatively high-pitched honks whereas the Ross's Geese emit mainly lower pitched honks.
A few minutes later, 2 Lapland Longspurs fly across the pasture and briefly stop allowing us to view the dark face and chestnut nape. Later a lone coyote walks slowly past the lek while the grouse watch attentively.
After this 3-hour performance comes to a close, the grouse noisily fly away from the lek. We can then leave to enjoy other highlights of early spring birding on the Canadian prairies.
Four male Sharp-tailed Grouse performing for 1 female.
Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours website
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Canada Goose
American Crow
Lapland Longspur
Western Meadowlark