This afternoon while on my way from the Ithaca Airport with an empty taxi to pick up a customer on Lower Creek Road I of course went via Warren, Cherry, Snyder, Mohawk, Etna and Pinckney Roads rather than NYS-13. On the westernmost block of Etna Road I saw a RUFFED GROUSE cross the road and enter the brushy woods. Thinking it had not gone far I stopped and indeed saw a displaying male with fanned tail turned sideways as Wild Turkeys do, showing me which direction to look to find a crouching female. She crept close to him and seemed interested, but then moved away a few feet. The male persisted, turning such that I could also see his wide raised black ruff, which he shook repeatedly by giving his head a rapid twist. Again I saw a/the female creeping near. If I hadn't continued on my way to pick up my fare I suspect I would have seen them mating. This was the first time I've seen the male's display or the female's creeping movement.
--Dave Nutter
