Wen't for a run on the Old Toll Road in Montreat, NC this morning and had a
Ruffed Grouse do it's broken wing routine in front of me. Figuring it's
babies were near by I looked over the bank and saw eight tennis ball sized
chicks. What really surprised me was that 3 or 4 of them actually flew away
from me. I didn't realize they could fly before reaching adulthood. A
short way further down the trail I came across a Black & White Warbler doing
the broken wing routine on the ground. I didn't look for the nest. I
didn't want to over stress it that much. All in all it was a pretty good
run. Picked up my first Peewee and Canada Warbler of the year.
Stu Gibeau
Black Mountain, NC