My tastes in photos of Sage Grouse have changed dramatically.
1/1000, f/9, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
For much of my bird photography career I was like most every other bird photographer when it came to the types of Sage Grouse photos I desired most – spectacular images of males displaying on a lek were at the very top of my list. After all, what could be more dramatic and entertaining than photos of those very large birds transforming their appearance into bizarre shapes and then acting silly (by human standards} in their attempt to attract females and pass their genes on to the next generation.
But my tastes began to change as I realized that quality photos of males displaying on a lek bordered on about 9¢ a dozen.
- As a test I did a Google Image Search on “sage grouse”. Of the first 100 photos that appeared 89 of them were of grouse on a lek and the vast majority of them were displaying males (a couple of the photos were difficult to categorize but I tried to assign them as accurately as possible.)
If you know the location of a lek and you’re willing to get up in the middle of the night to arrive on location in complete darkness and then suffer miserable cold for several hours while you’re photographing them (usually in your vehicle with your windows down and the engine and heater off) you’ll often be rewarded with oodles of high quality photos of displaying males.
Most bird photographers I know would gladly suffer those indignities in order to get photos like that, including me. And I have, multiple times. I have so many quality photos similar to the one above that most of them will never see the light of day, even though I like them a lot.
Too much of a good thing?
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
But nowadays I value photos like this one much more than I used to – a chance encounter with a male Sage Grouse in his typical habitat, not displaying and nowhere near an active lek. In my experience these types of encounters are rare.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Even when Sage Grouse are known to be in the area they’re so incredibly cryptic they can be impossible to spot. When they’re not on a lek they tend to be extremely shy and their instinct is to hunker down in the presence of a potential threat like a vehicle or a humanoid on foot pointing a long lens their way.
With these two grouse I experimented with selective focusing…
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
to interesting effect I think.
Can you imagine how hard it would be to even know these birds were there? If you look away for a second they can be impossible to relocate even when you know exactly where they are.
1/1250, f/9, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Don’t get me wrong. I love my photos of males displaying on a lek. In past years I’d have placed much less value on photos like this one.
But not any more. As I’ve said in the past, for me degree of difficulty matters
Ron
Yes, the display is a great shot. But your demonstration of sighting, is very impressive. I have almost stepped on them, totally unaware of their presence until they fly up in front of me, making my heart race. Good eye, Ron!
Welcome to my reality!👍
Of course degree of difficulty matters to you. A lot. Which will surprise less than one of your regular readers.
Thank you, as always, for this series, showing/capturing things which many of us will never see, and that very few of us could capture if we did.
Thank you, EC.
They are all wonderful photos. Our tastes changes as we grow and learn, I am getting far more particular at what I photograph and I have been doing it less time than you have.
I still want to capture sharp-tailed grouse, but I can’t find them.
April, I had a couple of chances to photograph Sharp-tailed Grouse on the island some years ago but neither one panned out. I think the attempt to reintroduce them to the island eventually failed because I haven’t seen any there for quite a while now.
I’ve had a lesson in how well Sage Grouse can hide this morning — I didn’t even notice the one in the foreground at first (3rd shot) and was wondering what the hell you were talking about in the comments. 😂
Thank you for today’s post. I’m so used to having a displaying male as my “reference shot” of these birds, that it was nice to be reminded how they spend most of their lives. They almost look like an entirely different species this way.
“They almost look like an entirely different species this way”
They certainly do, Marty. After seeing how they “normally” look it’s almost hard to imagine how they can contort their plumage into such bizarre overall body shapes while they’re displaying.
Ron, I am a seasonal avian field tech, mostly on sage grouse and ptarmigan (this summer I am working on spotted owls in Oregon). None of my bosses have ever asked me for a displaying grouse. They want photos as you have posted. Also, photos of birds on nests, flying, running anything but displaying. I do have more than enough photos of grouse hanging off of the “devil wire” or nearby dead.
I am paid to set in blinds at leks to count birds. So, I do have a few displaying photos. My lek photos/videos are mostly of fighting and mating grouses and hunkered down females. Photos of chicks under a Mom’s wing, flower eating, drinking, dust bathing or birds setting on top of sage grouse are most sought after. I almost got a photo of a Golden Eagle getting a sage grouse. No bonus for me.
My friends and family ask to see photos. The non-displaying grouse photos are the most looked at.
I worked in Wyoming the last 3 winters in Wyoming on grouse. Getting photos of grouse with just heads sticking out of their snow burrows was a challenge-little dark heads+sunny powder snow=tough. Wintering grouse in flocks up to 1000 are noisy birds, now bosses want photos and audio.
I like to aim for the non-standard wildlife photos such as you posted. jake
You’ve seen some incredible stuff, Jake. It goes without saying that I’m supremely jealous, even though you must have frozen your hiney off photographing grouse in Wyoming in winter. I can’t even imagine a flock of 1000 Sage Grouse!
Ron, yes one morning it was minus 15 when I got on the 4-wheeler for a telemetry day of grousing. 25 miles that day. most days the highs were at zero. Dressing correctly and paying attention to the cold is important. But then I worked in Antarctica for 12 seasons. One camp it was never warmer than minus 20 and was at 11,500 feet. I seem to enjoy the cold. Kept the camera in bag in a box outside when not using it. Put the battery in my pocket when not taking photos.
There are a few wintering flocks in the Pinedale are in the winter that are at 1000-1500. Most are at 50 to 100 in the winter. There are even caution grouse crossing sings there and in Colorado on some roads. Nice.
Maybe I’m not so jealous after all!
Riding a 4-wheeler in those temps in WY with the almost reliable winds to make things worse doesn’t sound like much fun. I think I’d rather have several root canals performed by a blind dentist who can’t find his Novocain.
Ron’s jealousy might have subsided. Mine has grown. My brief visit to Antarctica was a dream come true for me.
And seeing up to 1000 sage grouse would be icing on the cake.
Cold can be challenging (not least for the camera and battery) but dressing for it is possible. Dressing (or undressing) for the heat is a whole new equation.
EC, I worked on the lower Colorado River at Yuma one “spring” into late June. You know that it will be hot when at 4:30 am it is 85* and the sun is not up yet. 105* by noon, hotter later. Oh I prefer the cold, did not go back for the next season.
But then some mornings it was minus 40 and I had to get out my sleeping bags and tent to go to work on the ice, just hopin’ the winds were not above 10 knotts . Hmmm.
Once it gets to minus 40 a degree or two is only a number and doesn’t make any difference to how cold it feels.
We work on celcius here and once it gets to 40 (which is does too damn often) any increase there is just a number.
I am still jealous of your time in Antarctica though.
A frigid, suprisingly fragle last frontier.
I have to agree. Photos of displaying males are very impressive and wonderful to see, but they tell very little about the lives of these birds. A photo off-lek is indeed a challenge and I’ve yet to see a good photo of a female brooding her chicks, or a photo of any Sage Grouse that clearly shows what it eats. I’ve neer seen a photo of a flock of grouse, but I have read historical accounts of flocks numbering over 100 birds, something I would like to see. Even great photos on the lek tell very little about what is happening there. Very few males get all of the matings and younger males hang around these males hoping for a chance of their own. Females often select males based on his parasite load. When he inflates those air bladders and bare skin is exposed, she looks closely at this skin. If red spots are present, she usually turns away because red spots indicate places where lice have sucked blood. Clean skin indicates fewer parasites and a healthier mate. Fascinating birds and I’m glad to see more than just the grand display of males at a lek. Thanks.
Dan, I’ve seen flocks of perhaps 20 or so grouse in Montana but never flocks even approaching 100 birds.
Your info about female preferences and louse infection is fascinating. Thank you.
Looking for opportunities outside the “normal” can in some cases result in “winners”! The juxtaposition you created with the 4th image in my mind is one of those winners and is my favorite. I like that the foreground bird is in focus, compared to the previous image of the rear bird in the previous image seems much more natural and in photographic terms, “leads” the viewer into the image so creates more of a sense of depth. Perhaps just a slightly different angle of view, just a bit your left, would have created a bit more separation between the birds and perhaps would have improved the image a bit (just a thought). But the most rewarding aspect, compared to the typical shot of the grouse showing off his stuff, is the fact that you took a different approach and came up with a winner.
Thanks again Ron for making my coffee more enjoyable.
Any luck deciding on the new gear? I continue to be amazed with the Sony gear. Although a bunch of bucks, the 600 with a 2X (1200mm) is amazingly accurate and sharp compared to the results I got with my Canon gear trying the same stuff. Plus, with the high MP a7RIV you can go into a crop mode and have comparatively a bunch of pixels on your subject and therefore maintain quality. The a7RIV still however does not focus as well as the a9, but still pretty darned good.
Anyway, love the post and a good example of thinking out of the box!
Thanks, Frank. You may be right about the composition of that photo. If I remember correctly I have the room in that photo to do it too.
After much angst I think I’ve decided to forego the new camera, for the short term at least. Given our current situation I just don’t feel comfortable spending that much money on new gear. There’s just too much uncertainty.
While at a Sand-hill crane festival a few years ago, we saw a Sage Grouse in full display craved out of wood ❗️ I must have stared at it for 5 minutes. Every detail of this beautiful bird was there. That’s about as close as I’ve been to one 😁
Take Care All
Diana, it must have been a tremendous amount of tedious work to carve out all those feathers, especially the tail but others too. I can understand why you spent so long inspecting it.
Birds and words, Ron. With you they are both well thought out compositions. They are a pleasure to peruse, tell compelling stories, and are always informative.
And it’s telling of you that you included the female which is often, shall we say, less ostentatious, and therefore ignored by bird photographers. It’s important as Abigail Adams said “…to remember the ladies…”, for scientific and educational purposes as well as others.
“Birds and words, Ron. With you they are both well thought out compositions”
That means a lot to me, Lyle. Thank you.
Just lovely. My favorite is the one where you’re experimenting with focus and the sage seems literally a part of the grouse–they become one with their environment.
Falconers, those who fly gyrfalcons/gyrkins, peregrines and the like, prize catching sage grouse. I’m told they’re really tough birds to catch with a falcon. They’re skilled at evasive maneuvers and they can take a hit, rolling with the punch, and keep on flying. In other words, they’re like a Timex. They can take a licking and keep on ticking. 😉
Oddly, redtails (and other raptors) are similar in that respect. When there’s sufficient foliage, you can know exactly where the hawk is, look away, and though the hawk hasn’t moved, they’ve become invisible again. Been there, done that and even went on a wild hawk chase all over south Dallas as a result! When I returned to where I last saw Mariah, there she was. She hadn’t moved. I SWEAR she looked at me like I was a blathering idiot…and she had a point! 😉
Yup, some birds can certainly seem to disappear when they really haven’t gone anywhere.
Personally I wish all types of Sage Grouse hunting were banned. Their numbers have declined by something like 95% and they just can’t take the pressure.
It’s nice to see your photos of sage grouse in their more typical form, not displaying. I’ve only seen photos of displaying males before, which are fascinating. I’m still looking to capture my first image of a sage grouse in any form.
Thanks, Steve. I wish you luck in your quest. In recent years their numbers have declined dramatically and even so they’re still hunted so finding them can be a truly daunting task.
Very interesting Ron. I think everyone appreciates the beautiful photos that are taken by photographers including yourself who are willing to endure certain hardships to get them, but every photo I take is a chance encounter and those photos are so appreciated. I was originally attracted to your site because of your statement listing what you don’t do to get a photo.
I’m sure that many of the best bird photos we have seen in popular magazines have been set up or baited.
Just this week I was thrilled to get ten or more great photos of Yellow Warblers. Now nobody would be thrilled to get photos of such a common bird, but I have been trying for years. Each spring they come and then for the most part stay in our riparian woods high up in the cottonwood trees and are always so elusive. The other morning I caught two or three at 6 am high up but very much exposed while warming up in the early sunlight. To me that is what birding and bird photography is all about.
“To me that is what birding and bird photography is all about.”
I couldn’t agree more, Everett – personal challenges eventually conquered are hugely rewarding.
And you can count me in the camp of bird photographers who are thrilled to get quality photos of Yellow Warblers.
Most of their lives ARE spent away from displaying and the lek even if that is impressive. Always amazing to me how they and others can just “disappear” even when you know they are there! Some of the color patterns remind me of nighthawks……….. 😉 Glad you’re pursuing “the rest of their lives”….. 🙂
“Some of the color patterns remind me of nighthawks”
Excellent observation, Judy! I’d never thought of that but you’re absolutely right.
Interesting post. Those grouse just blend right in. I really like the last photo…those colors are beautiful. Finding the elusive is always a challenge! Seeking the hidden Ring Neck Pheasant hen is something I enjoy. She is so drab that you can look right at her and pass over her. Right now with the duck migration, the same can happen with the female of most species just blending into the vegetation…sometimes it’s the blink of an eye that gets them found.
Kathy, when I have chance encounters with Sage Grouse I’m nearly always amazed by how well such very large birds can hide. And by how difficult they are to relocate if you make the mistake of looking away, even for a second.