[NatureNS] Ruffed Grouse Speculation

From: James Hirtle <jrhbirder@hotmail.com>
To: Naturens Naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 11:21:34 +0000
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Hi all:
=20
Every year I get multiple reports of ruffed grouse acting abnormally.  They=
 either follow people around or run to a person.  The latest report of this=
 comes from Dublin Shore where a ruffed grouse follows a lady around and ca=
n even be picked up.  It takes shelter in the window alcove of an abandoned=
 house in foul weather.  It will also chase after ATVs when they go by.  I =
can understand the ATV thing as it probably thinks that the engines are a m=
ale on territory beating on a log and is flying after them to try and chase=
 them off their territory.  In a lot of cases chain saws being used or othe=
r equipment results in the grouse following the people around.  This if I u=
nderstand correctly is also a territorial occurrence.  But what of those pe=
ople who are not operating machinery that a ruffed grouse takes a fancy too=
?  Is it a case like with chickens or some other bird species that when the=
 young grouse first hatched that the first thing seen was a human and that =
the bird imprinted on such?  Does imprinting occur with ruffed grouse?  Thi=
s is the only logical explanation that I can think off.  There are too many=
 reports of the behaviour of ruffed grouse following people around wherever=
 they go and I'm scratching my head over why this particular bird in Dublin=
 Shore allows itself to be picked up.  I look forward to comments on others=
 about this subject.  I know that it has been breached in the past=2C but I=
 do not think that imprinting fell into the line of responses. =20
=20
James R. Hirtle
Bridgewater=20
 		 	   		  =

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<body class=3D'hmmessage'><div dir=3D'ltr'><BR><font size=3D"4">Hi all:<BR>=
&nbsp=3B<BR>Every year I get multiple reports of ruffed grouse acting abnor=
mally.&nbsp=3B They either follow people around or run to a person.&nbsp=3B=
 The latest report of this comes from Dublin Shore where a ruffed grouse fo=
llows a lady around and can even be picked up.&nbsp=3B It takes shelter in =
the window alcove of an abandoned house in foul weather.&nbsp=3B It will al=
so chase after&nbsp=3BATVs when they go by.&nbsp=3B I can understand the AT=
V thing as it probably thinks that the engines are a male on territory beat=
ing on a log and is flying after them to try and chase them off their terri=
tory.&nbsp=3B In a lot of cases chain saws being used or other equipment re=
sults in the grouse following the people around.&nbsp=3B This if I understa=
nd correctly is also a territorial occurrence.&nbsp=3B But what of those pe=
ople who are not operating machinery that a ruffed grouse takes a fancy too=
?&nbsp=3B Is it a case like with chickens or some other bird species that w=
hen the young grouse first hatched that the first thing seen was a human an=
d that the bird imprinted on such?&nbsp=3B Does imprinting occur with ruffe=
d grouse?&nbsp=3B This is the only logical explanation that I can think off=
.&nbsp=3B There are too many reports of the behaviour of ruffed grouse foll=
owing people around wherever they go and I'm scratching my head over why th=
is particular bird in Dublin Shore allows itself to be picked up.&nbsp=3B I=
 look forward to comments on others about this subject.&nbsp=3B I know that=
 it has been breached in the past=2C but I do not think that imprinting fel=
l into the line of responses.&nbsp=3B <BR>&nbsp=3B<BR>James R. Hirtle<BR>Br=
idgewater&nbsp=3B<br id=3D"FontBreak"><BR></font> 		 	   		  </div></body>
</html>=

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