Spring Drummer

[Water Wolf]

I was working in the yard the other day when I heard a distant drumming in the bush across the road.
I knew it was a male ruffed grouse drumming to attract the females, so I grabbed the camera hoping to get a glimpse of this secretive bird, and, possibly a photo.

I have always heard them, but never had a chance to see one in action.

Well I was in luck, I followed the sound, and, there on a large hollow log in the bush was this guy.
As long as I stayed 20 yard or more away he continued to drum.


He shifts his position, getting ready to drum.


He then stands upright, droops his wings and the drumming starts.


He starts slowly at first.


But starts to build speed and volume.


He then slows.


And finishes off his show with a fan of his tale and a flair of the ruffle around his neck.


It was quite amusing to watch this male ruffed grouse.
I must have watched him for over an hour.

WW

[billditrite]

wow outstandibg pics WW...love the action shots...pretty bird and you caught him in his own element...great job!

[fireplug]

Cool!  Heard them before, just never seen them in action.

[pikemaster789]

great serious of shots there. Nice camera job. I like to watch them when im deer hunting from my tree stand. They help pass the time

[MasterAngler]

Great action shots WW.  I have seen it a fair number of times, but never with a camera handy.   And from what I've learned about grouse, he'll likely be back at that same log next year........that is if he makes it through the fall hunting season, or doesn't get eaten by something else.

[Chucker]

About 15 years ago, my mom and I came around a curve, and saw one in the middle of the road.  Horny little bugger was drumming back and forth across the middle of the road!

[ULTRAlite]

You're one of the privileged few who get to see this in person - great shots....

[Morin88]

man that gets me all fired up for bird season

[Water Wolf]

Thanks guys.

I heard him again last Thursday, so I walked over and found him drumming on the same log.
Both times he was drumming was after a rain.
Eather that is his preferred temp and time of day or I can just hear him better with the humidity in the air.

WW

[reubenpa]

awesome pics man never seen one in action but heard them many times


on a side note my boss two years ago lives in the woods..  and early in the morning two mornings in a row he thought his four wheeler was being stolen.......   he even went out to check one time....  at a company meeting he mentioned it and I kinda immitated the grouses drumming and he said yuup thats it...  I had a good laugh over that one.  and they had a good laugh at my imitation lol

[Water Wolf]

Yeah, a drumming ruffed does sound like an ATV running.
I could see why he would check.

WW

[RLWagner]

Grouse will use the same drumming ground for decades as long as the habitat does not change much. They like moss covered humps and logs big time. I must have flushed a coup[le dozen this past weekend between Hale and Glennie. I hope they are beginning to rebound. They go in cycles that follow the Canadian Hare population numbers. When the birds of prey wipe out the Canadian Hares, the Birds of prey come down into Michigan and feast on Grouse. When our Grouse are depleated, the Hare population has usually rebounded, and back up north to Canada the Birds of prey go. The cycle is about ten years or so.