Sharp-tailed Grouse III, Continued

     Watching and photographing Sharp-tailed Grouse and Prairie Chickens is one of the greatest experiences I have had as a birder and bird photographer.  Whether you are a birder, a bird photographer, or you just loves nature this spectacle should not be missed.   So, how can you see this fantastic event for yourself?  I recommend two locations, Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands near Halsey, Nebraska and Calamus Outfitters about seven miles north of Burwell, Nebraska.

Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek at Bessy Ranger District.  Public blind on left, personal photography blinds brought to sight by my friend and I.  Photo blinds need to be set-up at least a day prior to use.  Contact the National Forest and Grasslands headquarters to select a let of your choosing.

     There are numerous locations in Nebraska to see and photograph Sharp-tailed Grouse and Prairie Chickens, but I can’t imagine a better place for photography than Bessey Ranger District in the Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands.  There are about 30 different grouse and chicken leks in the grasslands and all are available for viewing or photography.   

     The national forest is just west of Halsey, but amenities in Halsey are quite sparse.  Halsey is very small, there is one hotel, and one bar/restaurant.  There is no gas station, and no source for groceries, so be sure you fill-up with gas and groceries before you arrive.  Halsey is quite isolated, but if you want to photography Sharp-tailed Grouse and Prairie Chickens this is perhaps the best place to get close to the birds.  I had grouse only a few feet from the blind. 

  Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus:  Bessey Ranger District,

Nebraska National Forest and Grassland near Halsey, Nebraska 

    Only two leks in the Bessey Ranger District have viewing blinds, one Sharp-tailed and one Prairie Chicken lek.  The current public blinds are excellent for viewing birds, but are totally unsuitable for photography.  Photographers need to bring their own portable blinds. It is important to set-up the blind the day before the shoot.  It would be virtually impossible to set-up a blind in the darkness and be prepared to shoot the same morning.  Whether Viewing bird or photographing birds you must be in the blinds at least forty-five minutes before sunrise.  This is essential.  If birds are on the lek before you are in the blind, they will be frighten off when you arrive.  The blinds are right on the lek. 

     Once in the blind a flashlight is essential (preferably one with a red filter) to get gear set-up for the big event.  Also bring a small folding chair.  You may be in the blind for 3 to 4 hours, that’s a long time to stand around.  Also bring water and a snack, once in the blind you will need to stay until the all the birds fly from the lek.  Keep in mind that Nebraska can be down right COLD during the lek season.  This year the lows reached down to around 42F, last years temperatures were between 10-20 F.  Dress warm, layers work great, just have lots of layers, headgear and gloves.

 Greater Prairie Chickens, Tympanuchus cupido:

Calamus Ranch, Calmaus Outfitters near Burwell, Nebraska

     If you are not interested in photography, and just want to view the dance of the Sharp-tailed and Prairie Chickens, I suggest Calamus Outfitters near Burwell.  They have the perfect set-up.  You meet at 6:00 AM, soon after that the groups are bussed to a viewing blind for the morning festivities.  The blinds themselves are old school busses.  The bus seats have been removed and replaced with chairs.  Windows on the side of the bus that faces the lek have been removed as well.  The distance of the birds vary, but some birds may come as close as 75 feet, perfect for viewing.

Greater Prairie Chickens, Tympanuchus cupido:

Calamus Ranch, Calmaus Outfitters near Burwell, Nebraska

    The best time to see grouse and chickens on their leks is between mid March and mid April, so there is still time this year if you have that urge to see these birds preform their age old ritual.  Below I have listed contact information for both locations that will be useful in your travels.  I have also included known motels and eateries in both areas mentioned. 

Contacts: Bessey Ranger District

Sharp-tailed Grouse and Prairie Chicken Viewing and Photography Information:

Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands area

http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/nebraska/home

Motel:

Halsey Frontier Inn


503 Highway 2


Halsey, NE 69142

Phone: (308)533-2240


FAX: (308)533-2323

info@halseyfrontierinn.com

Campground:

Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands

Bessey Recreation Complex

http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/nebraska/home

Reservations: http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/bessey-recreation-complex/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74135

Eateries:

Double T Bar

103 Main St, Halsey, NE 69142

(308) 533-2208

Contacts: Burwell, Nebraska

Burwell Area/Garfield County Visitors Bureau

www.visitBurwell.org 

Sharp-tailed Grouse and Prairie Chicken Viewing Information:

Calamus Outfitters

http://www.calamusoutfitters.com

Motels:

Calamus Lodge             Rodeo Inn                            Pump & Pantry

46358 828^th Rd             50 NE 11 St.                        517 1^st Ave.

Burwell, NE                   Burwell, NE                          Burwell, NE

(308) 346-4331             www.rodeoinnmotel.com    pumpandpantry.com

Campgrounds:

Burwell City Park        Calamus Lodge      Calamus State Recreation Area        

North 7^th Avenue         46358 828^th Rd      42285 York Point Rd           

(308) 346-4509            (308) 346-4331      (308) 346-5666

D & C Calamus West                                 Kamp Kaleo on the River            

45538 Hwy 96                                            46872 Willow Sps Rd  

(308) 214-0013                                          (308) 346-5083

                   

Willow Springs RV Park and cg                91 Pines Campgrounds               

46854 willow Sps Rd                                 Hwy 91  (6 miles west of Burwell)

(308) 750-1364                                          (308) 214-0198

Eateries:

Sandstone Grill

Pizza Palace

Northside Bar & Grill

Barb’s Café

Stockman’s Lounge

The Hub

Verda’s Café

Legion Club
Subway

Pic of the Day

Greater Prairie Chickens (fighting): Tympanuchus cupido:  
Switzer Ranch; Calamus, Nebraska

     Another shot of Greater Prairie Chickens taken on the Switzer Ranch near Calamus, Nebraska.  To find out how you can view dancing Prairie Chickens contact Calamus Outfitters, LLC at (308) 346-4697 or on line at: www.calamusoutfitters.com.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1600 sec. @ f4

Pic of the Day

Greater Prairie-Chickens, Tympanucuhus cupido; Calamus, Nebraska

     This week I was in Central Nebraska to view and photograph the great congregation of migrating Greater Sandhill Cranes.  For almost a month the cranes stage on the Platte River, and feed in the surrounding grain feels before continuing northward.  The spectacle was amazing, thousands upon thousands of cranes concentrated along the Platte.  But that is for another post.

     I also had an opportunity to visit the ranch of Bruce and Sue Ann Switzer of Calamus, Nebraska.  Bruce and Sue Ann are conservation ranchers, managing their ranch for both livestock and wildlife.  Their ranch contains about 30 active Greater Prairie-Chicken leks, and I was fortunate enough to be in a blind this past Wednesday to photograph the courtship ritual of these beautiful birds. 

     I cannot adequately describe the experience of watching these birds on their leks.  They were amazing!  Males confronted each other, rapidly stomping their feet on the ground, and filling the golden air sacs on their necks with air to boom a deep oo-loo-woo sound.  The National Geographic guide to the birds describes the booming as a sound created by “blowing across the top of an empty bottle,” a description that is very accurate. 

     At the height of the confrontation, a pair of males would jump into the air with feet and claws toward each other.   But the spat was brief as the birds fluttered back to the earth.  All of this activity started before sunrise and lasted until the sun was an hour above the horizon.  With little warning the birds one by one flew from the lek to feed among the prairie grass.  The next morning the birds returned to the lek, and began their dance all over, with the hopes of attracting a hen.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, Exposure 1/2500 @ f4