In small openings, free of most woody vegetation and within young forest stands, the male of the species establishes a 'singing ground? that it defends from other males. During the first and last hours of daylight for about 30-60 minutes, the male vocalizes a series of nasal ?peents? while on the ground. Then, without warning, it flies high into the air in an ever-narrowing spiral to heights of 100-300 feet as a twittering sound is made by the passing of air through its primary feathers. Reaching the apex of its ascent, the bird begins gliding to the ground vocalizing a soft, liquid warble before landing quietly near the spot where its flight originated. This is the 'sky dance? that Aldo Leopold so eloquently wrote about in his book, A Sand County Almanac.

For almost 10 years, the Staff at Minnesota Valley NWR has led small groups to 'singing grounds? on units of the refuge and adjacent Minnesota Department of Natural Resources lands. In 2004, three programs were scheduled and the demand was so great that a fourth was added to accommodate the incredible public interest of this annual event.

Cold weather on the evening of April 10 didn?t dissuade anyone from showing up and five flights were seen by 17 bundled-up participants. On April 17 a male performed 9-10 'sky dances? to an awed audience beneath clear skies on a warm evening. During the added program on April 21, 12 participants viewed 10 flights under cloudy skies and a crescent moon. Our final program was reserved for the Minnesota River Valley Chapter of the Audubon Society on the night of April 24. For the spring of 2004 more than 40 people were on hand to watch the incredible flights of the elusive timber doodle.

Participants were surprised that this courtship ritual could occur much less be witnessed with urbanization surrounding the Black Dog Preserve Unit of Minnesota Valley NWR. The chorus of ?peents? and musical warbles heard in the night air affirmed the continued presence of singing males across the landscape.