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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Be careful how you treat your animals! Smiling Jack dolled himself up for the Homington Whitsun feast with a top hat, fancy clothes, and spurs, the latter of which he dug into the flanks of his long-suffering donkey, Ned. Jack had such a good time at the feast he had to be carried out and dumped atop Ned’s back. With a slap to his rump, Ned was off! The donkey almost knew the way home – but not quite. When Jack came to, he saw they were heading straight for the River Ebble. He pulled at Ned’s reins, crying, ‘whoa!’, but Ned wasn’t having it and bucked him off. Into the stream went Jack. And there was the Devil, awaiting him. How Jack prayed! When the Devil let him go, Jack and Ned fled, but Ned lost Jack in leaping over another brook! When the villagers found Jack the next morning he swore he’d never drink again – and he was always especially nice to Ned.
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!