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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Amos was a tight-fisted and grumpy old blacksmith. He particularly
hated children. One day St Peter came to his door and granted him three wishes.
To St Peter’s shock, Amos asked for bad ones. To stop the kids from mucking
about in his shop, he asked that whoever picked up his hammer wouldn’t be able
to put it down; whoever sat in his chair wouldn’t be able to get out; and
whoever tried to pick his prizes would get swallowed and pricked all over! Well,
it happened that the Devil was after Amos for his bad ways. He sent a junior
devil to capture him. Amos suggested he pick up his hammer – and the devil was
stuck fast! To get away he had to promise not to take Amos’s soul. Second devil
sat in Amos’s chair and had to make the same promise. Third time, the Devil
went himself, and guess what? He was invited to pick a rose – and ouch! Those
thorns do hurt! Amos’s soul was safe. But, after those bad wishes, would he ever
get into heaven?
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!