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Sage grouse

As the first light of dawn breaks over the sagebrush of Oregon's high desert during a few weeks in spring, dozens of chicken-sized birds make their way to mysterious arenas -- marked by nothing other than the birds' certain knowledge -- where, as the sun comes up, the males strut and boom and the females sit back and make up their minds.

The birds are sage grouse, also known as prairie chickens, and watching their courtship ritual is one of the strangest things you can do in Oregon. The males puff themselves up with air and strut like tom turkeys, all the while making a noise like an old-fashioned coffee percolator.

This behavior takes place in locations called "leks," and there are a number of known leks in Harney County. The easiest way to find your way to one is to sign up for the John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival, which takes place in Burns in April, and conducts early morning lek tours.

all text and images © 2005-06 by Bob Keefer
no reproduction allowed in any form without written permission