You won’t catch me using camera settings like these very often.
1/640, f/5.6, ISO 3200, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This is an older photo of a male Greater Sage Grouse strutting his stuff on a lek in Wayne County, Utah. It was taken long before sunrise so my ISO was cranked up into territory my camera hadn’t seen before and hasn’t seen since. Even so my shutter speed was barely adequate for the situation.
I like many things about the photo taken in such challenging conditions but what really jumps out at me is the almost perfect symmetry of the bird. About the only asymmetry I notice is the tip of the middle tail feather that isn’t quite centered behind his head because he was facing ever so slightly to my left. Another plus is the catch light in his right eye. There was just enough light in the eastern horizon to provide it.
Yes, there’s some noticeable noise in the background but with my older 7D Mark II at ISO 3200 I don’t think it’s bad at all. Because sharpening increases noise I sharpened the bird selectively rather than globally in order to avoid additional noise in the background. I could have applied noise reduction to the background but I chose not to.
Sage Grouse should be performing on leks very soon if they aren’t already. If you have an opportunity to see their performances, don’t miss it. I predict it will be one of the more memorable experiences of your life.
Ron
Note: If you’d like to vicariously experience Sage Grouse performing on a lek I suggest you visit this Audubon link and watch the video at the top of the screen. This lek and its setting look so much like the lek where my photo was taken I’d almost be tempted to say they’re one and the same (they’re not). The only thing missing is the sounds of the performing males.
BotW says: “Successfully mating males show some signs of becoming disinterested during a morning”. Can’t imagine why.😉
I remember previous photos and commenting that you might never have been so cold while photographing them. But you got some fantastic shots in return.
I also remember the Cornell video links. Short but very informative.
Good memory, Lyle. Yup, I don’t remember being colder while photographing birds than I was with these grouse – partly because I was there for so long.
He’s quite the studly gentleman — hopefully, no lice here!
I don’t see any red spots…
Such a amazing ceremonial looking costume! Reminds me of the Masai with a few extra spears! And lacking the color …
Yes, I see what you mean about the Masai.
Beautiful and … odd … all in one bird. It’s a wonderful image, and much as the eye is drawn to the fantastical chest and variety of feathers, I just can’t get over those big, stocky, fuzzy-looking legs. I gather they may be used to ward off competitors?
(There’s an Explore.org webcam on a lek in Bend, OR that appears to be operational only during mating season, March to May. I’m going to keep an eye on that!)
“I gather they may be used to ward off competitors?”
I’m not sure, Chris. I do know that when the males fight their wings are their weapons of choice.
Wow. Just wow. And other expressions of inarticulate wonder.
I do hope you get to see their dance again this year….
Mind you those ‘stats’ are impressive from the opposite direction. I don’t think that speed even allows for a ‘thank you ma’m.’
Ha, good point in your last sentence, EC.
These wonderful birds make for great photos. They have a very complex mating system. Males only display and mate with as many females as they can; there is no pair-bonding. The most experienced males display in the center of the lek and get most of the matings with females passing by younger birds. You might guess that the male with the best ornamentation and best dance would be the winner but it’s only the start of the selection process. Once attracted the female goes from male to male before selecting. At this point, display becomes less important. She is now looking at those inflated air sacs on his breast. If it’s clean she may take him. If that skin has tiny red spots, she ignores him and looks to another male. Those red spots are small blood spots and indicate he has lice. She assessing his health and is looking for a male free of lice. He will be a more vigorous and better male to mate with. (And who wants a lousy mate. – Sorry. I couldn’t resist the bad pun.) She goes off to her nest site and he returns to the lek to try to attract another female.
Clever, clever females. Yet again they put our species to shame. Thanks dan.
Dan, interesting about the lice and how she spots the evidence of them.
Fascinating Dan. And as EC says, puts our species to shame! We (collectively) sure pick some lousy losers with multiple lice spots 😉
Just WOW! What a gorgeous image! Sage grouse are impressive critters, especially their dancing on the leks. But I gotta admit it gives me a chuckle. The things males do 😉
It breaks my heart that we humans (oil/energy companies) have so little respect for them!
For some reason, I’m a HUGE fan of symmetry. I seem to need more of it in my life than the usual human.
“The things males do”
Now that could be expounded on for a very long time… 🙂
Beautiful photo….I can definitely let my mind wander to Liberace as Karen suggested. He certainly sports a variety of ornaments and it just makes me wonder what the female finds so attracting. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder here. The video Terri noted is interesting also…impressive statistics there.
On a different note, The New York Times had a most interesting article yesterday in their ‘World Through a Lens’ series you may find interesting entitled ‘On Horseback Among Eagle Hunters and Herders of the Mongolian Altai’. It covers and showcases the Golden Eagle used as a hunting partner. Quite impressive to see that beautiful bird on the arm of a twelve year old and how these birds are treated as family.
Thanks, Kathy. I saw a link to that Times article on Facebook this morning.
Beautiful! Looks like it could be a character from a Doctor Who show.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thanks, Kaye.
Thanks to Teri and to you for a great combo–after hearing about the
“performance” ( in both senses ) of that male in the video, it was definitely
“Truth in advertising”—even if their matings are a case of wham -bam-thank-
you-ma’am—-37 consecutive encounters in as many minutes? WOW, what
a guy !
That performance gets your attention doesn’t it Kris.
You shall not pass!!!! That’s the movie quote that struck me when I saw this guy. It really is a spectacular pose.
Those spiky-sharp tail feathers do look a little intimidating don’t they Arwen.
That’s a beautiful image! You’re right that the ISO 3200 noise doesn’t look bad at all. But I recently purchased Topaz DeNoise AI and it’s incredible at reducing noise without losing detail. I run it as a Lightroom plug-in. I tried Topaz DeNoise years ago and it was just ok. But their new AI version is simply amazing.
Thanks, David. With my f/4 lens and the good light I’m usually shooting in I rarely have a significant noise problem unless I crop too much.
Beautiful shot despite the light challenges. 😍 Amazing display they put on….. The symmetry is not real common in nature in my experience….
Thank you, Judy.
A dream bird to me, Ron, and your photo is just amazing. This species, along with the Prairie Chickens, are on my wish list as a birder and as a photographer. When the borders Canada-USA reopen, it is my intention to visit the central and western United States. There are too many discoveries to be made over there. Have a great day!
I hope you can make it down here soon, Laval. My last experience crossing that border wasn’t a good one so I haven’t been back to Canada since (thanks to incredibly and unnecessarily rude American border agents – the Canadian agents were both efficient and pleasant).
Ron – That looks like a creature from a Sci-fi movie. Beautiful bird and one that I have never seen. Back in Pennsylvania where I grew up we had the Ruffed Grouse that I think was the state bird, but I have yet to see a Sage Grouse. I checked our local bird list and grouse are not even shown.
You are right about the symmetry being almost perfect. I really like this photo.
Thanks, Everett. Sage Grouse are very dependent on sage habitat so that’s probably why they’re not shown on your local bird list.
He reminds me of Liberace. Wonderful photograph!
Thanks, Karen. I’ll have to look for a candelabra hiding somewhere in the photo…
Here’s a great video about their mating and sounds . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEWipTvxRxc
That’s a good one. Thanks for providing the link, Terri. Wow, 37 times with 37 different females in 37 minutes. Now that’s an impressive performance!
Excellent! Thx for sharing…..😀