Hello Tweets;
This morning in the mixed forest I happened across a Ruffed Grouse lek.
During a lifetime of wildlife observation I have never before heard the
sound I am about to describe. Yes I have heard the drumming sound many
times and have even seen an adult male display. But the sound I heard
this morning was incredible. There were two males on roosts pishing at
each other. OK now take a big breath and try making the pishing sound,
starting out softly, then forcing the air between your teeth just as
loudly as you possibly can. This approximates the sound these birds
were making. If you didn't know better you would guess they weighed
about at least one-hundred pounds each! So our 'drummer' turns out to
be more of a one bird band making clucks, pishes and booms. I only saw
one female grouse so she was getting allot of attention.

Just one other note- on January 30th I observed millions of ladybugs at
the bases of many shrubs.
Joy Stickney-Markgraf