The Dance Of The Sage Grouse

Each spring, at dawn, the sagebrushes of Western North America play host to a bird that produces a rather unusual sound. The male greater sage-grouse are trying to attract a mate. He impresses the lady sage-grouse by filling bulbous yellow sacs with air, and thrusting his head, all whilst shaking his gorgeous tail feathers. Found in 11 states, it’s a rare sight that people travel miles to witness, observing quietly so they don’t disturb this decadent dance. But the greater sage-grouse is under threat. In recent years, its habitat has been fragmented. And the wild population has dropped by 90-95% to an estimated 500,000. It is thought that oil and gas development, conversion of sagebrush to agricultural land, and climate change are all factors in the species’ decline. And it’s feared that further loss of habitat and manmade disruption could spell doom for this North American icon. Subscribe to Getty Images TV on YouTube: Like @ge