The Young Ones

 

 

    It is June, the time for young grouse to climb out of their eggshells. It actually started at the beginning of the month and maybe even in late May in some places. 
    We spotted our first brood the second week of the month. Momma grouse slinked across the road, so we stopped to watch. When she safely crossed, she called the young one. Not much bigger than bumble bees they crossed the road as singles or in pairs, eleven all total.
    A few days later I spotted another brood crossing on our own road. On the approach of my truck they all stopped in the street. The hen had two near her and three more stood frozen near the tall grass along the side of the road. I waited and waited and finally crept closer with the truck. Mom herded the crew back where they came from.
    A day or two later we spotted a hen beside the road. On our approach she flew into the woods accompanied by four or five young the size of quail.
    Not long after that I spotted another cluster with their mother, all much smaller, about the size of sparrows.
    So it is obvious they don’t all hatch at the same time, but they do grow so fast that they reach near adult size in little time. According to the Ruffed Grouse Society, baby grouse are able to walk as soon as they hatch and take off following their mother. About a week after they are born they can fly like little bumble bees.