Abstract
Walking through a North American wood one day, I was startled by a commotion. Ahead of me, a brown bird stated squawking and acting as if its wing was broken. At the same time, several little brown 'puffballs' scattered in all directions. A mother ruffed grouse had interpreted my presence as a threat and immediately tried to distract me from her chicks by making me think that she was hurt. Meanwhile, her babies had vanished. I waited, motionless, a few more minutes, before the mother's faint 'pluck' call summoned the chicks back to the safety of her protection.