Sage-grouse Lek Observation

After our introduction to sage-grouse over Spring Break, we were looking forward to visiting Dave's study site again to observe a lek, where the males congregate to perform their fancy displays in the hopes of winning the most females for breeding purposes. Kevin wasn't able to go with us this trip, but Dave's wife Lacey was there this time and offered to tend Erin and Dallin at the field station while the rest of us went out. So we drove back to the DLL on a Thursday evening and had this great view of a striped skunk. We also saw a huge herd of pronghorn.

We took some games to play.
Somehow we missed taking any photos of Dallin and Maylee,
Dave and Lacey's adorable 10-month-old.

In order to observe a lek, you must be in position in the blind an hour BEFORE sunrise. This meant we had to wake up around 4:00 a.m. to have time to get ready, eat, and get out to the study site. We bundled up because it was really cold.

Dave drove us out to the lek, and we hiked to the blind in the dark using headlamps. Then we sat, and waited, and waited, and waited in the cold. There was a small propane heater in the blind.

We could hear the grouse making noises before we could see them. As it got lighter, we were able to watch their bizarre displays. Every so often, Dave would scan the lek and take a count of the males and females present.

Here are two hormone-pumped males trying to impress the hens.

A male and a hen

Another male

It was evident that the females had definite preferences. Why? The researchers don't really know all the cues are that distinguish one from another. This morning was a good morning, however, and at one point there were 20 males on the lek.

Here is our attempt at getting some video of their displays:

This is the blind in the light.
Once the grouse had left the lek, we could emerge and
work on restoring feeling to our cold appendages.

Back at the apartment we found all well with the little ones. Erin was helping "babysit" Dallin and Maylee (with Lacey's help). We ate some more, packed up, and ventured home.

View of Bear Lake from a rest stop;
For some reason, April was very tired on the drive.