Outdoors TheReview _ Wednesday, December 12, 1990 — A19 Not simple to reproduce chicken | = Male sharp-talled grouse on dancing ground The telephone on the corner of my desk jangled. “Yas”? “Ts this Cy Hampson, the bird man?” “Speaking.” : “Good. I read your column on the true prairie chicken, the pin- nated grouse.” “Yes: “Well, I enjoy hunting water- fowl and upland gamebirds in season. Why don’t they bring back that prairie chicken, re-introduce it to its former range?” 4 @& “Because it’s virtually impossi- ble to do that. There are real problems associated with such a task.” -“But you wrote that they were formerly common in Western Can- ada.” “Yes, they were.” “Well, we bring in ring-necked pheasants and Hungarians don’t we? Even Chukar partridges, I believe. What’s so special about prairie chickens?” “They re different.” “But couldn’t you bring in two or three pairs and start them up again?” “No, that’s one of the problems. Pinnated grouse, like our sharp- tails and sage grouse and the black grouse of Scotland, are what ere call lek grouse.’ “Lek grouse?” “Yes, all of the birds in a given area have a common ground or lek on which the males all display before the hens. This lek is often called a dancing ground. The hens come around during the mating season and watch the fellows strut their stuff.” “Like human gals at a wrestling match?” “The purpose is 3 difbem. The prairie chicken hens require a great deal of stimulation before they will mate. We say that they have a high mating threshold. The necessary stimulation is the result of all the fellows performing at the same time.” “Holy smokes! Maybe that’s why many of us enjoy big bands or symphonies or choruses more than small ones. They get to you!” “Could be. Anyway, if the hens are not so stimulated, they don’t mate. No fertile eggs, no reproduc- tion.” “I get you. So you would need to introduce a sizeable flock of these grouse into an area to be successful?” “Yes.” “Well, couldn’t we do that?” “But we don’t have any way of keeping them together as a wild flock. Once introduced, they just scatter or disperse.”’ “Ruffed grouse, pheasants, Huns and chukar partridges are not like that?” estimate of legal costs. [E] Real estate. [|] Family law, divorce and separation. [] Wills and estate matters. [4 Impaired driving. {4 Personal injury and insurance claims. [J Incorporations, business law and litigation. [|] Commercial fishing and marine law. e offer a complete range of legal services, both personal and corporate. Please enquire about a free initial interview and Henley a LAWYERS & NOTARIES PUBLIC Dale R. Henley Michael A. Walden Maureen A. Sullivan Sara E. Pope Henley & Walden 201-2377 Bevan Ave. Sidney, B.C. V8L 4M9 Telephone 656-7231 Fax 656-0937 Saturdays by appointment CY HAMPSON photo “No, a hen will just move into a male’s territory. Courtship and mating occur and we have a new brood. If habitat conditions are favorable, weather co-operative and predation not too severe, they are usually on their way.” “Didn't you say that pinnated grouse have other problems as well?” “Yes. Virtually all of their natu- tal habitat, the luxuriant grass- lands, have disappeared. They have no place to live and breed in Canada. This situation is not so different from the plight of redhead and canvasback ducks when the prairie potholes dry up during prolonged drought. Their numbers are greatly reduced.” TONY BEFORE HOLLYWOOD HAIR REPLACEMENT FOR MEN & WOMEN 4970 Blenkinsop Road SPECIALIZING IN CUSTOM MADE HAIR PIECES & HAIR WEAVING FOR MEN & WOMEN FREE CONSULTATION — PRIVATE, BOOTHS MEDICAL CASES « CHEMOTHERAPY * RADIO THERAPY. ¢ ACCIDENT & BURN VICTIMS ALOPECIA HAIRLOSS CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY) 698-8822 REPAIRING-TINING STYUNG BYA se 25 years experience ne ‘ TONY AFTER THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF CENTRAL SAANICH NOTICE.OF MEETING CANCELLATION The special meeting to conduct a Public Hearing into the Mayor's Objections to By-Law No.’s 973 and 991 and to further consider proposed Repeal By-Law No.’s 995 and 996 initially announced for 7:30 PM, Friday, December 14th, 1990, at the Brentwood Elementa- ty School and subsequently for 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 18th, 1990 at the Central Saanich Cultural Centre is CANCELLED. The Special meeting to conduct the said Public Hearing will be rescheduled early in the New Year and published through this newspaper. FOR George H. Sawada Municipal Clerk SERVICE & SELECTION THINK MAGLEODS > "THE HARDWARE STORE ¢| eS MSEE BRAD & LAURA _ 2488 Beacon Ave. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 656-8611 —— To All Our Advertisers With the holiday season quickly approaching, please be advised of the following Christmas deadlines: Display Advertising — Dec. 19 - 4 pm Classified Advertising — Dec. 21 - 3 pm Display Advertising — Dec. 21 - 4 pm Classified Advertising — Dec. 27 - 3 pm Please Note: Effective Jan. 1 Our New Address Will 9726 - 1st St. Be: (Next to the Carrington Wyatt) The Review