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<\/a>There is no surer sign of spring in the American West than the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) strutting their stuff on their breeding grounds, known as leks.<\/p>\n
The Grouse return to traditional leks year after year. Males display two inflated yellow air sacks on their throats and spread their long pointed tail feathers to attract potential mates.<\/p>\n
The Greater Sage-Grouse is the largest American grouse species, with large males weighing over 6 pounds. The current estimated population is now only 500,000 compared to an estimated 16 million a century ago. The decline is attributed primarily to loss of habitat, as is the case with so many other species. The Sage-Grouse are dependant on mature sagebrush habitat. To an urban-dweller driving through the high-desert of the American West, it may appear to be pristine because of the low human population density, however, livestock grazing, energy development and agriculture have taken their toll.<\/p>\n
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I’m fortunate to have leks in the area near where I live. To photograph the grouse I arrive at a lek well before dawn. Sunrise is when the males display their courtship behavior. I photograph using my vehicle as a blind and do not drive away until the sun is high and the grouse have left the for the day. This minimizes the impact of my presence.<\/p>\n \n \n