The ruffed grouse is natures best at the art of camouflage.  The birds walk briskly throughout the forest and are nearly undetectable, except when that male is on the hunt, drumming away and making noise.  I had the pleasure to enjoy seeing a grouse displaying his tail full out and it was this encounter that I have tried to recreate.  It is a scene that I have enjoyed from many, many years ago.  I have tried to recreate it as best I could remember, and I do recall hearing the drumming and then seeing him on a full display on his drumming log.  I watched for a minute or so, and seen the other two birds walked in on the drummer.  It was a thrill, over so quickly as all three exploded from their different places and all at once when they discovered me watching.  I can still hear all the thunder and noise as they left the drumming log.  I have spent a lot of fall days walking through the woods in my pursuit of this bird, but really mostly just getting out to enjoy the woods. It always seems to me that the most I ever get to see of him is the sound of thunder as he explodes out of the underbrush and just disappears.  Oh well, it was fun, and then again there is always another day to try and track him down.  I hope that those of you who elect to own this Limited Edition Giclee Archival Reproduction, from my original oil, enjoy it as much as I did in creating it.  As always, I will conclude with my statement; “May They Always Fly!”