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.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
Thank you Leah, I have never seen those type of birds before. Now I know more than I did before
LikeLike
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!
LikeLike