Greater prairie chicken
Deep in the heartland of the US, the Greater Prairie Chicken (GPC) used to thrive in a wide open habitat. Today the GPC is limited to a small pockets scattered around the managed land in the vast area it used to be, due to the habitat lost mainly to the farming industry. Its conservation status currently classifies as vulnerable.
In Colorado, back in 1970s the number of GPC was estimated at about 600 and declining. Facing a possibility of extinction like the Atlantic Coast race in 1932, great effort involved the farmers and others has helped to stop the decline in population and with the change in farming practices, the number of the GPC has increased to around 10,000 today.
On the week of March 20, 2017, coincided with the breeding season of the GPC, I had a great opportunity to detour my work related trip to a farming town about 3 hours by car east of Denver, Colorado hoping to see and photograph these beautiful native American birds.
During the breeding season which starts around late March to the end of April, the roosters convene at a lek about thirty minutes before the sunrise to display their wares to impress the hens. To attract the hens to the lek, the roosters create a low booming sound using a pair of air sacks from both sides of their heads. When the hens arrive, the roosters would compete for the attention of the hens by performing a ritual dance. This is also a great opportunity for the hens to inspect the overall skills and healthiness of the roosters. In some cases, the completion leads to a fierce fight between the roosters. This ritual activity goes on at the lek for about two hours before they disperse into the nearby sage brush covered land. According to the ranger, after mating the hens will find a place to lay the eggs, usually about two miles from the lek, and raise the chicks.
Listening to the low booming sound of the male GPCs coupled with the Spring song of the Meadow Larks at dawn, and watching the male GPCs performing the ritual dance, I have to say this was one of the spectacular nature scenes in the work.
Read MoreIn Colorado, back in 1970s the number of GPC was estimated at about 600 and declining. Facing a possibility of extinction like the Atlantic Coast race in 1932, great effort involved the farmers and others has helped to stop the decline in population and with the change in farming practices, the number of the GPC has increased to around 10,000 today.
On the week of March 20, 2017, coincided with the breeding season of the GPC, I had a great opportunity to detour my work related trip to a farming town about 3 hours by car east of Denver, Colorado hoping to see and photograph these beautiful native American birds.
During the breeding season which starts around late March to the end of April, the roosters convene at a lek about thirty minutes before the sunrise to display their wares to impress the hens. To attract the hens to the lek, the roosters create a low booming sound using a pair of air sacks from both sides of their heads. When the hens arrive, the roosters would compete for the attention of the hens by performing a ritual dance. This is also a great opportunity for the hens to inspect the overall skills and healthiness of the roosters. In some cases, the completion leads to a fierce fight between the roosters. This ritual activity goes on at the lek for about two hours before they disperse into the nearby sage brush covered land. According to the ranger, after mating the hens will find a place to lay the eggs, usually about two miles from the lek, and raise the chicks.
Listening to the low booming sound of the male GPCs coupled with the Spring song of the Meadow Larks at dawn, and watching the male GPCs performing the ritual dance, I have to say this was one of the spectacular nature scenes in the work.
