The High Plains Prairie Chicken Festival
Text & Photos (c) Mary Scott
www.birdingamerica.com
The star of the first annual High Plains Prairie Chicken Festival in Milnesand, New Mexico was the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tynpanuchus pallidicinctus). This species of grouse puts on quite a show each year when males gather on traditional display grounds, or leks, and attempt to boom, drum, chant and leap their way into a hen's heart. Hens tend to choose mates who occupy the central part of the lek, so competition for position is fierce and an individual's territorial boundaries within the lek are defended vigorously.
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While hens generally only visit the lek at dawn, the males may display well into the morning and then return again in the late afternoon or at dusk. This guy arrived on his lek just as the sun set. Although you can see some color around the eyes (he's just getting in the mood!), basically you see a bird that would be well-camouflaged in an high plains grassland. This species strikes a balance between safety and gawdy courtship displays by having colorful features specific to lek activity. |
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When a Lesser Prairie-Chicken faces off with another, bright yellow eye-combs are raised, and the long feathers at either side of the neck are erected to look like horns.
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At the height of the "booming" sequence the bright red air sacs on the neck are fully inflated and the tail, eye-combs and horns are up and rigid. From the rear, the erect tail reveals a blaze of white. In the Greater Prairie-Chicken the esophageal sacs are a yellow-orange color. There are also differences in the display patterns of the two species, but both involve tail fanning, drumming of the feet, and some amazing vocalizations. |
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When one or more hens arrive at the lek, activity gets almost hysterical. Hooting, booming, cackling and shrieking noises fill the air as males run from edge to edge of their territories, confront any encroaching rivals, and stop and boom when in their best proximity to the hens. The hens seem to stand coyly about while gauging the suitability of potential mates. Some mornings they just fly off after watching a while, and on others they mate. Females may copulate with more than one male before moving away from the lek to nest.
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Ninety percent of the arid prairie habitat these birds require has been lost in the last hundred years. Many of the remaining leks are on private ranchland. Fortunately, good grassland management can help ranchers as well as chickens. Progressive ranchers throughout the Lesser Prairie-Chicken's range in eastern New Mexico & Colorado and western Texas & Oklahoma are working with specialists to enhance habitat.
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The New Mexico Department of Game & Fish worked closely with ranchers and naturalists to open up terrific birding, photographic, and educational opportunities for attendees at the High Plains Prairie Chicken Festival. The Festival is a unique opportunity to learn about the high plains ecosystem and see the birds of the region at their springtime best.
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