Posted by Rohn B. McKee on January 25, 2009 at 4:45 PM
I'm seeking know how information from Avian photographers who have successfully photographed spring mating drumming of the male Ruff Grouse. How did you do it? Any examples of photographs?
I had saved this article from years ago. http://www.vividlight.com/articles/2605.htm
Posted by David Taylor on January 26, 2009 at 1:51 AM
Got a great story for you about this - hope it helps.
I now live in Alaska, but I grew up and started my photography in the midwest - Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the U.P.. I was photographing a sunset (that never happened) in Door County, Wisconsin at Cave Point Park. On my way back to my car, I heard a grouse drumming in the woods a ways back from the parking lot. I had never had any luck before approaching the birds, but I figured "what the H E double hockey sticks". I walked back with just my camera, 300 2.8 lens, and tripod. Looked around for about 1/2 an hour, and finally sat down on a log to listen. Turns out I had already passed where the grouse was drumming from, to one side. I saw him through the woods about 50-75 yards, so I spent another 15 minutes approaching him slowly, never directly, and photographing every couple of yards - never thinking that I would get any closer:) I got to 40 yards, stopped shot, moved closer - 30, 20, 10 yards. The key for me was to look like a complete idiot (kind of glad no one else was there to see me:)), I kept making chewing/lip smacking noises and brushing up against brush and branches, never looking at the grouse and always walking in a zigzag towards the bird, but never directly towards him. I really think he thought I was a really weird two-legged deer, and felt no fear in my presence. It sounds funny, but I made plenty of soft noises to let him know I was there. I got within 5-6 feet, probably could have gotten closer, but I had to back up some because I wasn't able to get him in the frame completely and my lens wouldn't focus that close. I spent over 45 minutes standing right next to him, clucking and fake-chewing the whole time, smiling and chuckling to myself after every photograph. The best part was, every few minutes, sometimes more often, he'd go through a complete drumming routine right in front of me... no blind hiding me, no fear - just awe & respect from me. The whole time, he just stood on top of a great moss-covered drumming fallen tree.
I ended up making a large pano "series" from the images. Gave my father (a game bird lover) a "segmented" pano with 5 separate photos from one sequence of the grouse drumming, the last photo in the pano the grouse is facing left, head turned right at the camera as if to say "Did you get that?"
Since moving to Alaska, I've stood (and photographed) 18 inches from a 700 lb brown bear on the Katmai Coast (along with many other brown bear close encounters), feet from Dall sheep (both rams, ewes and their lambs), 1400+ lb moose, caribou, black bear, I've been hit by wings of Bald Eagles coming in for landings just inches away, and had wolves and fox walk just feet from my tripod, not to mention many ptarmigan from just feet away (that I approached the same way as the grouse). But the grouse still holds a special place in my photographic heart and memories, it was my first "eye to eye" experience with a wild animal and my camera. There's something special about photographing (or just witnessing) the beauty of a wild animal on their terms, from up close. With no blind between you and the animal (if possible), it's a completely different, and much more raw experience. If you want to see more of my "up close work", check out my "Blog" link below.
Tech notes, didn't use a flash on the grouse - didn't want to startle him and risk flushing him. This was still in mid-May, so there weren't a lot of leaves on the tree, and it was a bright but overcast day - so there was plenty of light. It was my first trip out with my first digital camera too - a 10D, shot most of the shots at ISO 400, 1/30", at around f5.6. The photos, looking back, aren't nearly as impressive as my memories... but that's ok, and I wouldn't change anything about the experience. Best of luck to you in your excursions, keep at it and take your time - it's amazing the proximity they will allow. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions.
Posted by Ken Hupila on January 26, 2009 at 5:45 PM
That's a great story, Dave. I've lived in northern Minnesota most of my life and one thing I've learned about ruffies is that no two ever act the same. A year ago my Dad had one that would fly out of the woods and land on his shoulder and peck at his ear any time he walked a particular trail. Your technique is one I've used and have heard others describe - don't try to sneak up on them, and don't maintain eye contact. I've watched them drum, but not with camera in hand. Maybe this year! Good luck Rohn!
Discussion
3 repliesI now live in Alaska, but I grew up and started my photography in the midwest - Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the U.P.. I was photographing a sunset (that never happened) in Door County, Wisconsin at Cave Point Park. On my way back to my car, I heard a grouse drumming in the woods a ways back from the parking lot. I had never had any luck before approaching the birds, but I figured "what the H E double hockey sticks". I walked back with just my camera, 300 2.8 lens, and tripod. Looked around for about 1/2 an hour, and finally sat down on a log to listen. Turns out I had already passed where the grouse was drumming from, to one side. I saw him through the woods about 50-75 yards, so I spent another 15 minutes approaching him slowly, never directly, and photographing every couple of yards - never thinking that I would get any closer:) I got to 40 yards, stopped shot, moved closer - 30, 20, 10 yards. The key for me was to look like a complete idiot (kind of glad no one else was there to see me:)), I kept making chewing/lip smacking noises and brushing up against brush and branches, never looking at the grouse and always walking in a zigzag towards the bird, but never directly towards him. I really think he thought I was a really weird two-legged deer, and felt no fear in my presence. It sounds funny, but I made plenty of soft noises to let him know I was there. I got within 5-6 feet, probably could have gotten closer, but I had to back up some because I wasn't able to get him in the frame completely and my lens wouldn't focus that close. I spent over 45 minutes standing right next to him, clucking and fake-chewing the whole time, smiling and chuckling to myself after every photograph. The best part was, every few minutes, sometimes more often, he'd go through a complete drumming routine right in front of me... no blind hiding me, no fear - just awe & respect from me. The whole time, he just stood on top of a great moss-covered drumming fallen tree.
I ended up making a large pano "series" from the images. Gave my father (a game bird lover) a "segmented" pano with 5 separate photos from one sequence of the grouse drumming, the last photo in the pano the grouse is facing left, head turned right at the camera as if to say "Did you get that?"
Since moving to Alaska, I've stood (and photographed) 18 inches from a 700 lb brown bear on the Katmai Coast (along with many other brown bear close encounters), feet from Dall sheep (both rams, ewes and their lambs), 1400+ lb moose, caribou, black bear, I've been hit by wings of Bald Eagles coming in for landings just inches away, and had wolves and fox walk just feet from my tripod, not to mention many ptarmigan from just feet away (that I approached the same way as the grouse). But the grouse still holds a special place in my photographic heart and memories, it was my first "eye to eye" experience with a wild animal and my camera. There's something special about photographing (or just witnessing) the beauty of a wild animal on their terms, from up close. With no blind between you and the animal (if possible), it's a completely different, and much more raw experience. If you want to see more of my "up close work", check out my "Blog" link below.
Tech notes, didn't use a flash on the grouse - didn't want to startle him and risk flushing him. This was still in mid-May, so there weren't a lot of leaves on the tree, and it was a bright but overcast day - so there was plenty of light. It was my first trip out with my first digital camera too - a 10D, shot most of the shots at ISO 400, 1/30", at around f5.6. The photos, looking back, aren't nearly as impressive as my memories... but that's ok, and I wouldn't change anything about the experience. Best of luck to you in your excursions, keep at it and take your time - it's amazing the proximity they will allow. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions.