We have data! For the first time this year, we’ve managed to see males displaying on a lek. Dan and I headed for Chugwater Lek this morning, and finally had some luck. We initially saw 2 males, and a third came into view by the time we had parked and trudged up the hill overlooking the lek. Certainly not the number we hope to see in a week or two, but at least reassuring that the birds haven’t all of a sudden decided to forsake their traditional display grounds.
One of the three males was banded- our best guess was a white band on the right leg, which would make it Male 316, a bird that we caught as an adult last year at Chugwater.
Gail, Erin, and Mary paid our first morning visit to Monument Lek. They made it down with an ATV and our 2-seater UTV, and did not see any birds. However, we are still seeing quite a few from the HAC- they are in the area, just not yet in the mood for love.
Some cold and dreary weather moved in while we were at the lek and has stuck around all day. We could get some more snow today and tomorrow.