Finding a Lek


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 Paothong's publications are another excellent resource. He is considered an authority on these Midwest birds and an accomplished photographer. It was helpful to study his work.

The Wyoming Game & Fish Department offers a Lek Viewing Guide that can be found HERE. 

Definition of a lek from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: an assembly area where animals (such as the prairie chicken) carry on display and courtship behavior. Or a better description might be "a worn down area in sagebrush country, varying in size, from a small patch of land to as large as a football field, where grouse gather annually to breed."


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