Bird of the Week – Sharp-tailed Grouse
With AKM’s permission, Wickersham’s Conscience will post a Bird of the Week very nearly every week here at the Mudflats. This week, it’s a male Sharp-tailed Grouse dancing on a lek outside of Delta Junction, Alaska.
Sharp-tailed Grouse Male on a Lek
Sharp-taileds, like many grouse species, engage in competition with males to win the favor of females. The dance is amazing. The trick is finding a lek. After seven years, WC and Mrs. WC located one this spring. Technical stuff: Canon 1D-X, 300mm lens with a 2.0 teleconverter, handheld; f8, 1/500, ISO800.
Cross a sharp tail grouse with a Canada goose and imagine the nightmare of trying to sneak that through airport customs. If you declare a sharp tail,you likely get detained or worse. If you admit your Canadian heritage your passport better be up to snuff. Besides birds don’t know how to use toilets and they don’t use cash or credit cards.
I don’t know if it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else
experiencing problems with your blog. It appears as
if some of the text in your content are running off the screen.
Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too?
This might be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before. Appreciate it
Beautiful pic WC & Mrs. WC!
Since this is a bird thread, here’s a find:
This was sweet and interesting, from my ‘Click it daily’ site: At the bottom of the article the lady shows what the fake nest looks like, as well as all the well thought out directions. I’m not a knitter, but truly loved the story from Bainbridge Island, WA (my state).
Purl One For Orphan Fledglings
May 15, 2013 by RJ
http://therainforestsite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/trs/article/Knitters-Purl-One-For-Orphan-Fledglings034
In the spring, West Sound Wildlife on Bainbridge Island, WA, receives numerous fledglings who have fallen out of nests or have been separated from their parents.
The baby birds get popped into fake “nests” – like the berry basket style shown here – that are perfectly sound but maybe not as cozy as their original nest.
So this year, the group put out a call to knitters for a soft solution using a knitting pattern created by Barbara Johnson. They’ve already received dozens of washable, cozy beds for the babies …snipped
Thank you, WC, for the most beautiful grouse photo I’ve ever seen. Dancing on a lek!! Outstanding.
In other news, Happy Birthday to both AKM and Irishgirl. Enjoy it!
Must not have gotten arrested in today’s march. Good on you!!
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal has a good one somewhat related to this topic…
http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2986#comic
That photo looks like it may have inspired ceremonial Native American costumes. Absolutely gorgeous plumage and something I’d never get to see here in iowa.
Beautiful! Thank you!
I did not know what a lek was-
now I do:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lek_mating
Goodness,who wrote that Wiki page-Masters and Johnson? RWNJ would be up in arms and try to ban this as inappropriate reading material for everyone except one man-one woman couples duly married in a christian church.
😀
http://tinyurl.com/nj6fpy7
I should know better than to ask,but have you seen this article from Conoco-Phillips? Their spokesperson claimed all profits for the bext few years goes to shareholders portfolios,effectively putting the lies to Parnell’s contention that reduced taxes=increased oil revenues for Alaska. How in the world could anyone,anywhere believe that lying reprobate in the guv mansion?
I left a response ( with no swear words even ! ) on the Parnell Signs SB21…” thread.