Sage Grouse: hens and chicks
I tagged along on a trip to the Laramie Plains to check cattle. Finally, I saw a Sage Grouse.
In the tall grass was a group of hens and their chicks.
They spotted me but continued to graze on sagebrush and insects.
Sagebrush, I learned, is approximately 60% of their total food intake.
Off they went without me getting too close. I hope to see more soon. Apparently the males strut like turkeys during mating season and have two yellowish sacs on the neck, kind of like a pelican, and are inflated during courtship. They make the neatest sounds, people say the sagebrush sings during mating season.
I love these photos.
Hey, thanks! I was so excited to see these ladies. I hope to see some males some time. According to pics I’ve seen, they are really neat looking with pointy feathers with a bright white chest.
Thank you Leah, I have never seen those type of birds before. Now I know more than I did before
Glad you like them. They are really neat birds. Unfortunately they really struggle with disease like West Nile from mosquitoes. But these girls looked nice and healthy!