{"id":122328,"date":"2024-03-02T04:45:50","date_gmt":"2024-03-02T11:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=122328"},"modified":"2025-05-08T08:55:54","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T13:55:54","slug":"dawn-light-on-a-male-greater-sage-grouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/02\/dawn-light-on-a-male-greater-sage-grouse\/","title":{"rendered":"Dawn Light On A Male Greater Sage-Grouse"},"content":{"rendered":"

If I could, I would wish that everyone, at least once in their lifetime, could visit a Greater Sage-Grouse lek while these fascinating birds are displaying.<\/p>\n

\"DawnDawn light on a male Greater Sage-Grouse \u2013 Nikon D810, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, I wouldn’t want the grouse disturbed, but I think the courtship displays that happen on these leks might help more people see why<\/em> we need to protect them and protect nature.<\/p>\n

Greater Sage-Grouse perform one of the most amazing, mesmerizing mating displays of birds in North America.<\/p>\n

The elaborate courtship displays of the Greater Sage-Grouse begin before first light. I could hear the pops and whistles<\/span><\/a> that are created when the males inflate the yellow air sacs in their necks before there was enough light to photograph.<\/p>\n

Watching the male Greater Sage-Grouse<\/span><\/a> spar, dance, kick, twirl, nip, and shove each other was fascinating. There were times when I was near this lek that I needed to remind myself to take photos and not just watch the grouse displaying.<\/p>\n

These birds are at risk. Oil and gas exploration in the sagebrush sea has disturbed them and their breeding cycles. They are completely dependent on sagebrush for food, to raise their young, and for protection.<\/p>\n

We need to help the grouse survive, which is why I wish that just once in a lifetime, people could experience the wonder of Greater Sage-Grouse on their leks. Even if it is only to watch a movie about these birds instead of being there physically.<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, I know that these birds are a national treasure.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Greater Sage-Grouse photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

Greater Sage-Grouse Lek Photography Guidelines<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Anyone wishing to see this yearly ritual should arrive on the lek well before daybreak so as to not disturb the grouse.<\/p>\n

Stay in your vehicle! Do not exit your vehicle to get closer or get a better shot.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

If the grouse are disturbed and fly away they won\u2019t be back again that day and no mating will occur.<\/p>\n

You also need to be prepared to stay until the last bird finishes his display and leaves the lek for the sake of these birds. They face enough hurdles nowadays as it is. Please don’t be one of those hurdles.<\/p>\n

Talk softly, don\u2019t turn on your engine to get warm if you are in a vehicle. Pee before you get there. Dress warmly. Turn down the volume on your cell phone or set it to vibrate.<\/p>\n

Additionally, on nights with a full moon it might be best to stay away from the leks because the grouse can and do display all night long. Don\u2019t use flash. Or electronic playback of calls.<\/p>\n

Always put the well being of the birds before the photos.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If I could, I would wish that everyone, at least once in their lifetime, could visit a Greater Sage-Grouse lek while these fascinating birds are displaying.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":143471,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,2319,26,2486],"tags":[4004,5522,2320,2158,1030,4556,3492,3476,4062,4348,2660,165,401],"class_list":["post-122328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-greater-sage-grouse","category-utah","category-wayne-county","tag-adult","tag-breeding-display","tag-centrocercus-urophasianus","tag-courtship-display","tag-dawn","tag-greater-sage-grouse","tag-grouse","tag-lek","tag-male","tag-mating-display","tag-sagebrush-steppe","tag-spring","tag-upland-game-birds"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Greater-Sage-Grouse-on-lek-mia-mcpherson-9516.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-vP2","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":51282,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/03\/18\/before-dawn-breaks-the-courtship-displays-begin-on-greater-sage-grouse-leks\/","url_meta":{"origin":122328,"position":0},"title":"Before Dawn Breaks The Courtship Displays Begin On Greater Sage-Grouse Leks","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Each year across the western states Greater Sage-Grouse begin to fly into leks on the sagebrush steppe during late winter and early spring to perform their fascinating courtship displays well before the first sign of dawn.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Greater Sage-Grouse on a high sagebrush steppe, Wayne County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/greater-sage-grouse-lek-male-mia-mcpherson-1408.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/greater-sage-grouse-lek-male-mia-mcpherson-1408.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/greater-sage-grouse-mia-mcpherson-8172.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/greater-sage-grouse-mia-mcpherson-8172.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/greater-sage-grouse-mia-mcpherson-8172.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/greater-sage-grouse-mia-mcpherson-8172.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":111244,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/03\/16\/mating-greater-sage-grouse\/","url_meta":{"origin":122328,"position":3},"title":"Mating Greater Sage-Grouse On A Wild Windswept Lek","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"During the breeding season, male Greater Sage-Grouse gather in communal display areas known as leks to perform an elaborate courtship ritual.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mating Greater Sage-Grouse on a lek, Wayne County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/greater-sage-grouse-lek-mia-mcpherson-6620.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/greater-sage-grouse-lek-mia-mcpherson-6620.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/greater-sage-grouse-lek-mia-mcpherson-6620.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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