COLORADO 2011: The Dance of the Sandhillers

Day 10 / April 16 – Our last morning was reserved for the final “chicken.” It started early, as usual, when the Wray Chamber of Commerce sent a school bus to pick us up at 4:50 am and take us to the Kitzmiller Ranch, about a 25-minute drive. On this ranch the Colorado Division of Wildlife had set up a trailer blind from where we could view the Greater Prairie-Chickens on their lek here in the northeastern part of the state.

Shortly after we were settled into the blind, around 5:30 am, the windows were raised to reveal a few silhouettes visible in the dim, pre-dawn light. We were thankful that there was no wind blowing into our faces as our eyes adjusted to the view. The males’ booming calls filled the air, attracting females to the lek from up to 4 miles away. We could pick out 13 males that had come in from the surrounding sandhills and already claimed the best piece of “real estate.”

This open area with no cover serves as the historical breeding ground of the Greater Prairie-Chicken, the place where the so-called “Sandhillers” do their dancing. This contrasts with the Lesser Prairie-Chickens, who prefer taller grasses in which to display.

The chickens began to cackle and bicker, as the males squared off in pairs, often facing each other, strutting around or patrolling their patch. Like their ‘Lesser’ cousins, their heads were bowed and pinnae erect. From our close vantage we witnessed them drumming their feet, and could clearly see their golden combs and matching yellow-orange air sacs.

The hens began to drift in about an hour after the males, strolling through the lek attracting the attention of the males. Excitedly, some of the males combatted with each other, jumping up and down and flapping their wings. Occasionally one would pin another for a brief second. Other males would track a female into another guy’s patch, only to be chased away. We counted at least 15 females, and witnessed 6 matings during our two and a half hour visit. All together, we saw about 40 individuals.

Greater Prairie-Chickens were not the only birds with an interest in this lek. Three pairs of Burrowing Owls (above) were nesting along the perimeter. One of them flew straight into its burrow, causing the majority of chickens to scatter briefly.

By late morning we were winging our way back towards Denver. A Ferruginous Hawk flying alongside the road and a pair of Great Horned Owl chicks (above) on a nest were the best sighting during the long drive. We stopped to search lakes and landfills, finding Clark’s Grebe, several Lesser Black-backed Gulls and two immature Thayer’s Gulls at Black Hollow Reservoir, much to Carol’s delight.

Our Colorado birding tour had taken us counter clockwise around the state, through some gorgeous scenery, over snow covered peaks, along sage hillsides and willow bottomlands. We drove over 2500 miles, and saw 20 mammals and 160 species of birds. Among the many trip highlights, the dance of the chickens on their leks stood out as an incredible experience.