Wisconsin's Prairie Chickens
Booming
"In
the April dawn, when the morning air is crisp and the sky lightness to a cool
pink, open fields on Buena Vista Marsh come alive with wild voices and the
sounds of stomping feet. It is the annual mating ritual of the greater
prairie chicken, an activity known as "booming." This primitive ceremony
pits bird against bird as male chickens stake out territory to attract hens for
mating. The performance takes its name from the distinctive sound made by
the male chicken, a deep and resonant three-noted 'whoo, whoo, whoooooo'
accompanied by whoops and cackles that signal territorial possession. The
loud booming call and ritualistic fighting of the birds as they jump, flutter
and square off against each other is punctuated by the sounds of prairie chicken
feet beating double time in a performance that inspired the species' scientific
name,
Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus, or 'drummer of love'."
--This
information is courtesy of the WDNR EEK! Website at
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/bird/prairiechicken.htm.
Viewing
Observation blinds
at Wisconsin's prairie chicken management sites offer researchers and hardy bird
watchers the chance to witness the booming ritual. April is the ideal
time, and visitors can make arrangements through the University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point by calling the
Viewing Coordinator at (715)346-3259.
