Joann Merritt's Essays
Midnats Chicken Out
April, 1996
The order of chicken for MIDNATS on April 6, 1996 was canceled. The snow and rain were great for the country but not for driving on ranch roads. Canceling the trip seemed the prudent thing to do.
On Monday morning preceding the scheduled trip, Don and I happily went with John and Martha Adams to scout for Prairie Chickens. We heard the chickens but could not find their lek. While Don and John were digging out of the sand (one of several times) Martha and I walked to a windmill where there was an overflowing metal water tank as well as a dirt tank. So many Lark Buntings were singing they sounded like a horde of Red-winged Blackbirds coming in to roost at Midkiff Bog.
Best of all was seeing and hearing longspurs. Big flocks circled the area, briefly touching the water for a fly-by drink and then sometimes lining the edge of the dirt tank to quench their thirst. While admiring the breeding plumage of a male Chestnut-collared Longspur I realized that he wears about the same colors that the House Sparrow does. However, the Longspur definitely makes a fashion statement by pulling his outfit together with more flair. His collar adds a jaunty touch.
The Adams returned on Tuesday to search the west side of the road where the chickens were found last year but could not find any. But on Thursday the four of us found a lek where eight males were displaying, cackling and booming for one disinterested female. We watched until nearby cattle spied our truck. Assuming we had their feed they came through the lek causing the chickens to fly away.
Upon returning to Midland we polled the MIDNATS to find out who planned to make the Saturday field trip. John needed this information so he could provide adequate sand worthy transportation to the lek. Ten people were disappointed when the trip was canceled. No, make that nine people because I wasn’t disappointed - it was the best field trip I nearly went on.
It’s the MIDNATS good fortune to have the Adams share their ranch with us, and they also made three early morning trips that week to ensure MIDNATS would see the Prairie Chickens. Just saying “Thank you” seems inadequate but we THANK YOU!