We get to see the sky dance in our yard each Spring (Yes, migrating woodcock travel through North Missouri is good numbers). Back when I was more nimble I'd put on camouflage and each time the 'cock went up, I'd crawl closer to the dance spot. On several occasions I was able to see the strutting male about a yard away. It's a special, special thing. Leopold's prose is more like poetry, and I've never read a better description of the sky dance than in his Sand County Almanac. Thanks for posting this and reminding us of this special bird...and the father of modern conservation.
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"Doubtless the good Lord could have made a better game bird than bobwhite, and better country to hunt him in...but equally doubtless, he never did." -- Guy de la Valdene (from A Handful of Feathers )
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
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