HI All:
I was out birding this afternoon on Bainbridge Island, checking out a
pheasant strong hold when I noticed 2 cocks facing off. The area that I
watch pheasants at least 3 maybe 4 males. Biologists have a habit of
given territory holders a name usually a letter in the Greek alphabet so
let me say these birds were alpha and beta. Gamma stays in a territory to
the north from where I was observing(is there a delta male?).Alpha holds
the territory closest to the road while Beta holds a territory near a
house in a field of reed-canary grass and Scot's broom. I first spotted
Beta eating some grass when Alpha called and made his way towards Beta.
Beta called back. The 2 birds slowly approached each other and then the
face-off began. First they would stare at each other then they would lower
their heads and then raise their tail feathers. This stand-off continued
for awhile with the 2 slowly walking along the border of their territories
until one of birds (couldn't tell which one due to the height of the
grass)leaped into the air and landed probably on its rival. After awhile
the two reappeared continuing the face-off. Then Beta kicked a tuff of
grass at Alpha. Slowly they walked away from each other, occasionally
calling and ruffling their feathers. The whole show lasted about half an
hour. Also had a pair of Brewer's Blackbirds in the area which are hard to
find on Bainbridge Island.
Sincerely

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Is., WA
ipaulsen at linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us
"Rallidae all the way"