Video: Sharp-Tailed Grouse Lek in Spring Snow

This is the time of year when lesser and greater prairie chickens, sharp-tails and sage grouse gather on their booming grounds, called leks, to strut and drum and preen. It is a wondrous thing to watch. If you’ve never had the opportunity to see a prairie grouse lek in person, this video (a hat tip to Upland Journal for the find) from Montana videographer Dawson Dunning just might be the next-best thing.

Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek in Snow (HD) from Dawson Dunning on Vimeo.

I’ve spent my fair share of time huddled in a blind trying to capture lesser prairie chickens on film, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen the action portrayed as artistically as that. Watch the video and then go spend a little time on the website of the North American Grouse Partnership to learn a more about what you can do to help our prairie grouse species and ensure we never lose the opportunity to watch something so magical.