23 April 2025: Grouse Lek Extravaganza with She Flew Birding Excursions.
Day 5: Dusky grouse lek, Sharp-tailed grouse lek, Walden Reservoir, Arapaho NWR, to Walden
In the present day along with seeing two species of leks we’ll encounter pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), the quickest land animal in North America and the second quickest land animal on Earth. I hope to see them run!
In Pennsylvania we’re fairly conversant in white-tailed deer so let’s examine the 2.
Pronghorns are the identical shoulder peak as white-tailed deer however they weigh lots much less. When fleeing hazard each present white rumps/tails, however in the case of operating pronghorns are actually actually quick. This desk reveals the largest variations between the 2.
| Traits | Pronghorn | examine to deer | White-tailed Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velocity | 55-60 mph in 0.5 mi 35 mph for 4 miles |
TWICE as quick | 30 mph in brief bursts |
| Common weight of male | 60-70 kilos | HALF the load | 140 kilos |
| Top of soar | will get caught at fences | CANNOT soar | 7-8 toes excessive from a standstill |
55-60 miles per hour sustained for half a mile!
However they will’t soar, so fences shut them in. That’s why they’re operating on the highway beneath. (The narrator mistakenly calls them deer.)
Why do pronghorn run so quick? This 10 minute video is a Deep Dive into paleolithic historical past and the predator that lived in North America that prompted them to run. When you don’t have 10 minutes, watch the primary half.
p.s. And by the best way, their closest family are giraffes and okapi, not antelopes.
