A Partridge in a Pear Tree, OR: A Close Encounter of the Love Sick Bird Kind

For those readers out there who have heard the Christmas song: "The Twelfth Day of Christmas" where they say "and a partridge in a pear tree...." and wondered what the heck they were talking about, this is the blog post for you today.

We were out on our usual jaunt in the woods looking for photos and my husband puts on the brakes of the truck and says two words I LOVE to hear: Look~! Partridge!

Here is what we saw:

A beautiful male partridge, otherwise known as a ruffed grouse.

So of course, I grab the camera and get out and get a little closer, using the zoom and get this nice photo of him. I was surprised at this point that he didn't fly away:

So, I decided to try to get a little closer. As I start to approach, I hear him making clucking noises at me. So.....of course:

I clucked back.

Evidently, this turned him on.

(After all, I was wearing red):

Did you see that puffed up neck? It is part of their danger AND mating signals.





Since he couldn't decide if I turned him on (or if I meant danger), he fanned out his tail, and headed into the side grass as I approached. (Maybe he thought he could lure me to a private spot!):

Where he immediately proceeded to continue to look proud, dance a little circle and puff up his neck some more. Must have still been looking for love:

Did it work? He asked.

Because I am trying my hardest to puff up my neck and its starting to hurt!:

Here is a (somewhat blurry) closeup of his efforts.

Yikes!:

I decided I better stop coo-ing and clucking at him, before he hurt himself.

He kept peeking out at me and talking.

So, I waited until he went deeper into the woods and then followed him in.

He kept cooing, and clucking.

I kept answering back.

He kept peeking at me through the grass.

I kept laughing.

We finally had to go.

This will be my last memories of him:

Until fall , that is.

Because they are game birds for hunting here.

Did I mention they taste like chicken?????