This week’s edition of Birds of the Bow Valley features the ruffed grouse, which is a species more often heard than seen. Males are known for their low-frequency “drumming” during displays. These sounds are made with wing beats that speed up near the end, and seem to emanate from the depths of the forest. The birds – whose plumage is similar in both sexes – are difficult to see due to their excellent camouflage, as shown in this image from Bow Valley Provincial Park.
Michael W. (Mike) Potter is a professional photographer specializing in birds. He is a former park interpreter in Banff National Park, and the author and photographer of eight books on hiking and natural history in the Canadian Rockies, distributed by Canmore-based Alpine Book Peddlers. Potter’s website is michaelwpotter.ca, which includes a link to his bird photographs on Flickr.
