The thumpers

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Thump, THUMP, thump, thump, thump.

Any farm person who has lived on the Prairie parkland near bush will be familiar with the drumming of a male grouse on a hollow log. Freely translated, the string of thumps are the bird’s way of saying:

“Here I am, you gorgeous chick. Come and get me.”

The sound carries a substantial distance. As an advertising person would say, the grouse gets good coverage of the target audience.Those who watch birds in their mating processes tell me that if there is an interested female in the neighborhood she will walk shyly by. Grouses don’t have handkerchiefs to drop, but the pair have their own method of getting acquainted.

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Not long ago I was in my backyard plodding along behind the lawn mower when I heard: thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.

Some young buck was speeding by in his Mazda with the stereo turned up and the windows open.

The young man’s objective likely was the same as that of the grouse:

“Here I am, you gorgeous chicks. Come and get me.”

Again, any interested female within half a mile should have been able to get the message. If she’s interested in meeting with a fellow with wheels and surround sound, I’m sure she’ll figure out a way to be in the right place at the right time.

I hope in the interests of propagation of the species that after sitting in his car in the midst of that overwhelming sound the young man will be able to hear the soft answer from the gorgeous young chick, should she choose to make one.