4 2012 Apr 3 Sharp Tail Grouse Lek

Here they come....about 50 0r 60 fly into the Lek....the area where they do the mating dance

The Lek: The Lek is one of the most important parts of sharp-tail life. Reduction of suitable Lek locations has caused the decline of sharp-tailed grouse in some areas. The Lek is an elevated patch of native grasslands that ranges from the size of a small house to that of a baseball diamond -- the elevation enables them to spot predators at a distance. The grouse live in communities with up to two dozen males "displaying" in one Lek. A community's Lek is used for years... even decades.

The male birds spend the fall and winter dividing up the Lek into individual areas -- with the dominant males located near the center of the Lek. When spring arrives, things get even more competitive and the males may even peck at each other to keep or expand their territorial boundaries -- especially when females wander through the area.

The main purpose of the Lek is to provide an area for the males to display their dancing ability to the females. The strongest and fittest males dance in the center of the Lek. The longer and stronger the bird is able to dance, the more impressed the female is. During the dance, many of the males must take breaks to rest... those that rest the least and dance the fastest are dominant and preferred by the females.

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