Spring courtship rituals among members of the grouse family are unique. Males gather on elevated grassy areas, called leks, and strut their stuff. Each bird has a not-so-well-defined boundary which results in border disputes. Birds face each other, mock charge and may jump into the air trying to strike their opponent with wings or feet. Injuries are rare, other than a few ruffled feathers.
Females visiting the Lek meander through nonchalantly. Each male does his best to visually and audibly convince her he's the chicken of her dreams. Dominant birds that win the boundary battles are inevitably the ones who get the nod and mating takes place when the hen is ready.
I visited a Lek Tuesday morning. As soon as we exited the truck we knew the morning would be a good one. The ritualistic sounds can be heard for nearly a mile on calm mornings. Six or seven males displayed while a couple hens feigned interest. Two Northern Harriers dove on the birds a half-dozen times. The Lek would go silent and then the birds would flush. The predators wouldn't have anything that "tastes like chicken" this day but it wasn't for lack of effort. This eyewitness account, coupled with the dramatic displays, made this morning memorable.
The sights and sounds of a prairie chicken lek are something right off the Discovery Channel. It's a scene I think all Kansans should get to observe at least once in their life. It's truly one of the Great Plains most inspiring and visual wildlife-watching experiences.
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