I have two large male grouse that frequent my front yard. They seemed like brothers, friends, or mates of some sort, often wandering together, often one would follow the other out of familiarity or with a semblance of safety. The gist is, they seem like mates. Rather, they seemed like mates.
Yesterday morning a pair of young lady grouse entered the scene. The mates quickly went from bonded to rivals. With large red patches on their throats, tails in full regale, and strutting harder than the old Bob Seger song, one of these males chased, danced, strutted, bobbed, weaved, and courted the two ladies for ninety minutes.
On a tree, in the field, on my split rail fence, you name it, one of the ladies was coy, almost receptive, and then blushed and shyly flew away every time. I am not sure I’ve seen a fellow work harder for less effort, but he gets an A in my book for the relentless attempts.
