Displaying Greater Prairie Chicken
A greater prairie chicken male displaying at a predawn lek in Central Wisconsin. Prairie chickens belong to the grouse family and are found mostly in open lands. Loss of habitat has significantly affected their population and today they are found only in isolated pockets in Midwest US. The prairie chicken leks in occur in early to mid spring when the weather in Wisconsin is still cold as seen in the frosted grass all around.
A greater prairie chicken eyes its competition during an early morning lek. It was an unforgettable experience to trek across a dry marsh before dawn and see these rarities at first light.
Greater Prairie Chicken at a Lek
Lesser prairie chicken displaying at a lek. The colors and markings of the chicken stand out in the morning light against the frosty ground.
A male peacock wakes up at first light in the Mudumalai Forest. Peacocks greet the arrival of a new dawn through loud calls which enabled me locate this bird in the dawn light.
Ring-necked Pheasant in Habitat
I enjoy seeing and creating images of birds in their habitat. An opportunity presented itself when I saw this colorful male pheasant feeding with a hen in the middle of fresh spring grass. Occasionally it would look up, still partly hidden by the grass, to see if there was any danger. The striking colors of the pheasant in the new grass made for an attractive scene.
A pair of California quails feeding in a backyard. The quails are common visitors to many backyards in Southwest US, especially in the suburbs. In summer, they often forage as a pair and usually the male keeps a lookout while the female feeds.
A pair of California quails scan their surroundings in the middle of feeding. Quails are ground feeders and poor fliers, who rely on running to escape danger. Any movement in their vicinity attracts their attention and they scurry off at the smallest signs of danger.
