(First kiss of sunlight before I changed camera settings, ISO 12,800, f4, 1/640, male STG strutting, not cropped) Originally I was going to share my thoughts on photographing multiple species of grouse while on their lek but once I started compiling notes (and images) I thought better of it and decided to write about one species at a time and in this post it will be the sharp-tailed grouse, aka "sharpies" or known by the acronym STG.  After photographing STG on a couple leks during our 2022 adventure, I can say they are not the highest jumpers. What does that mean? Compared to the greater and lesser prairie chickens, the chickens win. Their fights reached further off the ground and seem to explode in the air high enough to clear most gr...

Ethics on a lek. It should go without saying. When photographing wildlife anywhere, it is imperative to be mindful of your presence and how it might affect your subject(s) and/or situation you are wishing to photograph. As photographers, we are of course documenting a behavior or telling a story the best we can. Lets tell the ethical story. An animal's welfare should never be compromised.  When photographing at a lek there are specific and important guidelines to follow. If I may quote Jackie Augustine, Executive Director of Audubon of Kansas, "If your behavior is modifying what the birds are doing, then don't do it." She also adds, common ways to disturb birds include: 1) placing a blind too close to a lek, 2) having long lenses sick out of the blind and/or moving fast, 3) leaving the blind before the birds leave the lek, and 4) noisy cameras when winds are calm.   Trespassing is to be avoided. Do not step foot off a public roadway and onto a farmers land (including ...

Like with most bird species, Spring is the season!  The action begins in late March and lasts throughout April with offspring hatching after approximately 23-26 days. Females typically lay anywhere from 7-17 eggs in tall, dense grass and on the ground under sagebrush. Only one or two dominant males at a lek usually procure most of the mating opportunities. In the case of prairie chicken males, they stomp their feet rapidly or “dance” to attract females. Greater sage grouse show off in a booming, "strutting" courtship display somewhat different from sharp tail grouse and lesser or greater prairie chickens. But all males fight off other males to show dominance for the chance to breed and defend their territory. Plan your visit accordingly. In our experience, the earlier in the season the better.   

Finding a lek is like finding a needle in a haystack. Well, pretty close. Most locations are TOP SECRET because 95% of leks are located on private land, land which farmers and/or ranchers don't like trespassers. So, our advice to those who wish to find a lek, ask an expert. And keep asking!  There are multiple universities and Audubon Society's monitoring the health of these birds and where you could begin your search. Audubon of Kansas (AOK) is where Christine and I began. We rented a blind during their 2022 Lek Trek and attended the symposium. The education we received was over the top. The program is lead by Executive Director, Jackie Augustine, who works with public officials to advance environmental causes and manages AOK’s three sanctuaries including a 5000 acre ranch in northern Nebraska. The 2023 Lek Trek is scheduled for April 13-16 with optional trips to the Nebraska property to see sharp tail grouse. Check it out HERE . As mentioned in an earlier post, Noppadol Pao...