dcr
Deceased Member
Registered: February 2004
Posts: 1,317
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While walking thru the woods yesterday I was startled by a ruffed grouse (partridge) erupting from the ground nearly at my feet. For the bird to wait so long to fly away almost surely meant that she had a nest she was protecting. I soon found it, partially covered by leaves, in the little hollow in the ground where she had placed it. 5 eggs, like small hen's eggs, were nestled in a rough nest lined with leaves - partridge usually lay 7-14 eggs, one per day, which they don't start to incubate until all are ready, so this bird is probably still laying. A partridge's life span is said to average less than 2 years, so the species has to be prolific at reproduction.
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Winnipesaukee Forum
