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.
Menu
Clack! Clack! The Ooser’s jaw snaps! Have you been bad? If so, the Ooser and the Rough Music might come out for you, villagers banging drums – or just pots and pans – outside your window. Out you must come for a skimmity ride – you or, if you’re lucky, an effigy of you – carried through the village to be mocked and shamed. The Ooser or Wurse was meant to frighten people, but now he’s part of a happier festival. He goes up to the Trendle above Cerne Abbas, as one of the morris dancers who dance the summer in, and then comes down to the pub afterwards, as dancing is thirsty work!
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!