Look at the grouse

Makwa · 07-01-2012, 04:24 PM

Yesterday, I was on the maintained trail that leads to the Allen herdpath when the most bizarre thing I've ever had happen to me while hiking occurred. Was just walking along when I inadvertently threatened some grouse off the side of the trail. They noisily took off from their hiding place and flew down the trail a few hundred yards. It startled me for a few seconds and I continued on down the trail. A few minutes later, it happened again. Startled me again but no damage done. Then the truly bizarre began to unfold. After the second flight of grouse flapped away I continued down the trail and looking ahead I saw something small moving toward me. One of the four-legged woodland animals you normally see while hiking? No. It was one of the grouse. At first I thought it was just walking down the trail but I then realized it was coming at me with a purpose. It was charging at me and making noise! Its fantail was up, breast puffed out, and it looked like its neck feathers were puffed up as well. I waved a trekking pole at it and it ducked into the underbrush to hide. It began calling out with what could best be described as a distress call and hid in the brush. I took a few more steps and again came too close to the grouse family. They took off and hurriedly flew away yet again. Then from behind me I hear the grouse who had ducked into the underbrush. I spin around to find it charging at me again. I walk faster. It's still charging at me. I start jogging down the trail. It's still coming. I'm certainly no grouse expert and don't know if I'll be pecked repeatedly or otherwise harmed. It chases me down the trail for a good 25 yards before I realized the ridiculousness of the whole scene. I'm 6 foot tall and running away from a bird that is maybe 12-15 inches tall. I stopped, turned around, took a few steps toward it while yelling and it gave up its dogged pursuit, running back into the woods for cover. Not quite sure what it is with me and being attacked by birds. I was bitten by a pelican in the Florida Keys this past February. Didn't want to add the ruffed grouse to the list as well.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/45436.html DEC ruffed grouse info page

Alpine1 · 07-01-2012, 05:02 PM

I'd guess the adults were defending little grouse chicks from what they perceived as an attack on their safety. I've seen adult grouse chase a moving mtn bike tire and actually peck it. Thank god it didn't go into the spokes

DackerDan · 07-01-2012, 05:55 PM

I thought what we saw on our Allen hike last weekend was a turkey but I think it was your grouse - it was making all sorts of noise at us and running about 3 feet to the side of the trial in the grass as we were hiking.

ScAtTeRbOnE · 07-01-2012, 06:14 PM

Entertaining report! I never underestimate forest creatures regardless of size, they are crafty buggers! I can see the DEC headline now: "The Allen trail is now closed for Ruffed Grouse nesting season."

BorealChick · 07-01-2012, 09:21 PM

As a bird expert of sorts I can tell you that you definitely came across a mother grouse and her chicks, as I've flushed a number of broods in the past week or two while out conducting bird research. I have to admit though that I've never encountered one quite that aggressive! Usually the female will make a lot of noise and puff up their feathers, and sometimes they'll hold their wing down to feign injury in an attempt to lure a predator away from the chicks. I've never had one chase me that far though, you must have looked very threatening! I've never heard of grouse actually pecking anyone, birds rarely come into contact with someone as I think they know that's a fight they can't win, though I'm sure it's possible. I've had Merlin, a hawk that nests in Adirondack pine woods, swoop down within a foot of my head, an act that is termed "dive-bombing" and is done by a number of species. It's extremely rare for such birds to actually attack, though, and I don't think I've ever heard of one winning.

That grouse must have been quite the sight, thanks for sharing!

abovethesink · 07-02-2012, 02:34 AM

Last year, when I was first discovering the high peaks, Allen took on a near mythical status in my mind for a short while for being consistently named the "hardest" of the high peaks. I read every trip report I could find on these forums during this brief phase and I can tell you that you are certainly not the first to be charged by grouse on this route. It is very strange and very amusing. I hope to meet this bird when I get around to hiking Allen.

john72158 · 07-02-2012, 05:44 AM

Did you pack bird seed instead of gorp for a snack?

LI_Hiker · 07-02-2012, 06:51 AM

What the peck is going on here!

I would have just flipped it the bird!

07-01-2012, 04:24 PM	#1
Makwa Consultant Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 280	Look at the grouse Yesterday, I was on the maintained trail that leads to the Allen herdpath when the most bizarre thing I've ever had happen to me while hiking occurred. Was just walking along when I inadvertently threatened some grouse off the side of the trail. They noisily took off from their hiding place and flew down the trail a few hundred yards. It startled me for a few seconds and I continued on down the trail. A few minutes later, it happened again. Startled me again but no damage done. Then the truly bizarre began to unfold. After the second flight of grouse flapped away I continued down the trail and looking ahead I saw something small moving toward me. One of the four-legged woodland animals you normally see while hiking? No. It was one of the grouse. At first I thought it was just walking down the trail but I then realized it was coming at me with a purpose. It was charging at me and making noise! Its fantail was up, breast puffed out, and it looked like its neck feathers were puffed up as well. I waved a trekking pole at it and it ducked into the underbrush to hide. It began calling out with what could best be described as a distress call and hid in the brush. I took a few more steps and again came too close to the grouse family. They took off and hurriedly flew away yet again. Then from behind me I hear the grouse who had ducked into the underbrush. I spin around to find it charging at me again. I walk faster. It's still charging at me. I start jogging down the trail. It's still coming. I'm certainly no grouse expert and don't know if I'll be pecked repeatedly or otherwise harmed. It chases me down the trail for a good 25 yards before I realized the ridiculousness of the whole scene. I'm 6 foot tall and running away from a bird that is maybe 12-15 inches tall. I stopped, turned around, took a few steps toward it while yelling and it gave up its dogged pursuit, running back into the woods for cover. Not quite sure what it is with me and being attacked by birds. I was bitten by a pelican in the Florida Keys this past February. Didn't want to add the ruffed grouse to the list as well. http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/45436.html DEC ruffed grouse info page __________________ 46/46

07-01-2012, 05:55 PM	#3
DackerDan Commander Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nisky, NY Posts: 1,310	I thought what we saw on our Allen hike last weekend was a turkey but I think it was your grouse - it was making all sorts of noise at us and running about 3 feet to the side of the trial in the grass as we were hiking. __________________ Enjoying the journey with my favorite hiking partner. Please visit ADKGurl's Blog: 46-High-Peaks

07-01-2012, 06:14 PM	#4
ScAtTeRbOnE Balsam Sniffer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Victory Mills, NY Posts: 655	Entertaining report! I never underestimate forest creatures regardless of size, they are crafty buggers! I can see the DEC headline now: "The Allen trail is now closed for Ruffed Grouse nesting season." __________________ ADK 46/46 4W CATS 39/39 8W ADK100 63/102 VT35 26/29 FT's 25/29 VT FT's 9/15 "We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us. Our flesh and bone tabernacle seems transparent as glass to the beauty about us, as if truly an inseparable part of it, thrilling with the air and trees, streams and rocks, in the waves of the sun, a part of all nature, neither old nor young, sick nor well, but immortal." John Muir from My First Summer in The Sierra

07-02-2012, 06:51 AM	#8
LI_Hiker Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Seaford, New York Posts: 58	What the peck is going on here! I would have just flipped it the bird! __________________ Leave No Trace! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXO1uY0MvmQ ThereAndBack http://www.hikesafe.com/ ADK Crash Course http://www.adk.org/trails/High_Peaks_Hike-Backpack.aspx

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07-01-2012, 05:02 PM	#2
Alpine1 Head of Household Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Old Forge, NY Posts: 724	I'd guess the adults were defending little grouse chicks from what they perceived as an attack on their safety. I've seen adult grouse chase a moving mtn bike tire and actually peck it. Thank god it didn't go into the spokes

07-01-2012, 09:21 PM	#5
BorealChick Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Keene Posts: 11	As a bird expert of sorts I can tell you that you definitely came across a mother grouse and her chicks, as I've flushed a number of broods in the past week or two while out conducting bird research. I have to admit though that I've never encountered one quite that aggressive! Usually the female will make a lot of noise and puff up their feathers, and sometimes they'll hold their wing down to feign injury in an attempt to lure a predator away from the chicks. I've never had one chase me that far though, you must have looked very threatening! I've never heard of grouse actually pecking anyone, birds rarely come into contact with someone as I think they know that's a fight they can't win, though I'm sure it's possible. I've had Merlin, a hawk that nests in Adirondack pine woods, swoop down within a foot of my head, an act that is termed "dive-bombing" and is done by a number of species. It's extremely rare for such birds to actually attack, though, and I don't think I've ever heard of one winning. That grouse must have been quite the sight, thanks for sharing!

07-02-2012, 02:34 AM	#6
abovethesink Consultant Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lake Placid Posts: 189	Last year, when I was first discovering the high peaks, Allen took on a near mythical status in my mind for a short while for being consistently named the "hardest" of the high peaks. I read every trip report I could find on these forums during this brief phase and I can tell you that you are certainly not the first to be charged by grouse on this route. It is very strange and very amusing. I hope to meet this bird when I get around to hiking Allen.

07-02-2012, 05:44 AM	#7
john72158 Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 20	Did you pack bird seed instead of gorp for a snack?

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