We have four species of galliformes - chicken-like "game birds" - in my area: the ubiquitous Sharp-tailed Grouse, the endangered-in-Canada Greater Sage Grouse, the Ring-necked Pheasant seen yesterday, and today's offering, the Grey or Hungarian Partridge.
A few years ago, I shot a magazine story for my writer friend Judith on falconry in Saskatchewan. It was fascinating to see peregrine and prairie falcons up close, and to marvel at their speed and mastery of the air. Not so pleasant was seeing one kill a couple of partridges, disparagingly referred to by the falconers as "Huns." I'm just not a hunter; I get no pleasure from killing anything. I wondered if the falcon handler would eat them or if he was just in it for the fun.
As for the partridges, in hand, dead, they are much smaller than they look when scurrying along the ground. This one has just paused from scurrying, like an old-time windup toy that has run down and needs rewinding. Cool air, warm light, and a nice snow-covered prairie stretching away to infinity, or so it seemed that day. Photographed from the rolling red Toyota blind.
It's a Corolla, by the way, and it sits low - which is one reason I like it so much. Last summer I saw a photographer standing in the back of his pickup truck, tripod fully extended so that he was at least ten feet above the ground, shooting down at some prairie dogs. Well... that isn't going to work. I try to keep a low profile out there, whether I'm in the car or on foot. Tomorrow, the first of two shots made on foot.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2025 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Loading contexts...
