I shot a drumming grouse

[mixxedbagg]

...with my camera. Last weekend I tracked down this ruffie who was still drumming in October! I only have a little digital point and shoot, but the video is OK. You have to turn it up all the way to hear the wingbeats because the camera doesn't pick up low freqs well. The original clip is much longer, but mostly the bird just sat there blinking in 3-4 minute shifts until a few seconds prior to the drumming when it would look all around for predators. This clip is 1 minute and the drumming starts about 18 seconds in.

I let him off with a warning. Lucky for him, it wasn't an area I regularly hunt.

[Matt Breuer]

Nice work! Something not many people get to see in the wild! Love when they drum on warm fall days, it lets you know there's hope!

[tacklejunkie]

I've heard the fall drumming is a territorial thing than a chick magnet thing. True?

[tybo]

Very cool. I have tried to get some pics myself but it's never worked out. I have also heard it's territorial. From what I heard it's to tell the dispersing males to stay away.

[mixxedbagg]

I think biologically it's a big gonad thing. Birds have gonads that shrink outside of the breeding season and swell at the appropriate time. (The shrinking during the off season reduces weight and enhances flight.) When they're swollen, they produce lots of hormones instructing birds to sing, drum, whatever. This guy must still have some lingering 'size' going on. I'd be surprised if this bird is thinking territory vs. chicks at this time.

Ever hear birds sing in the fall? They often sound weird, out of time, and off key from their normal tune...not enough hormones to get it out right.

[TruthWalleyes]

I've heard drumming hundreds of times, but never seen it...very cool, Thanks for sharing!

[tacklejunkie]

Maybe he thought you were trying to move in on his lady action, mixxed

[panthrcat]

I sat with one a few springs back,, for hours 'n hours!! I did get a few images of him.. he was the funniest thing to watch! he sat on a moss covered tree stump, and did his thing, then jumped off the stump to do a "walkabout" and then back to the stump to do the same thing over and over and over and over and over,, I was thrilled!!