What the heck is a lek?
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
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We’re now upping the game with our Hardy’s Wessex videos on YouTube! They began as humble offerings from any available staff during lockdown…now we have a celebrity contribution!
Actor, producer and screenwriter, Julian Fellowes, best known for creating Downton Abbey, has recorded an extract for us. It’s filmed by the weir on the River Frome, West Stafford, and he reads from Hardy’s short story, The Waiting Supper. Some major scenes from the story are set by the weir.
You can watch it here – along with all our other Hardy’s Wessex videos.
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
The great bustard has a dignified slow walk but tends to run when disturbed, rather than fly.
The hen-bird on display at The Salisbury Museum was one of the last great bustards to be eaten in the town!