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A lot of people don’t know that Disco is alive and well in Yellowstone National Park. It is so popular in fact that it is nearly the only music you can hear playing when you’re out in the bush. I found this scene as I was stumbling through the  Willows along the Madison river one fall evening by following sounds that were strangely familiar. Against all probability it was the sound of Disco.

For these grouse Saturday Night Fever happens every night all summer long. Donna Summers, the Bee Gees, KC and The Sunshine Band, they’re gods to this dancing ornithological chorus line and these dancing fanatics can always be found at their favorite hot spots like, The Lek, and Drummers, and the infamous but packed, Spandex, dancing their feathery legs off all night long.

I caught up with this John Travolta look-a-like while he was flashing his under feathers to the hit “I’m too sexy for my Feathers” and I can tell you the females standing around the forest floor were riveted to his every move. Some were even throwing some of their Tertiaries at him, not  to mention the keys to the branches they were staying at that night.

And cool, they  don’t come any cooler than this guy. He never cracked a smile or broke a sweat during the entire performance. The glistening egg that slowly rotated and hung above the dance area highlighted everyone with brilliant flashes of light and you could hear the deep drumming of the male onlookers keeping time with the music. The flock was in a frenzy. It made you want to be a grouse.

Even though musical styles have changed for us and Disco has faded far into the distant past, its amazing, not to mention unbelievable, to know that it is still popular somewhere. It was getting pretty dark as I took this photo and even though the disco egg was reflecting light everywhere I couldn’t take the chance of breaking up this party by using flash. I backed away carefully and left them to their glittering, sparkling, whirling, enjoyment. I could hear the sound of the deep base notes all the way back to my car. Soon the sounds of “Stayin’ Alive” slowly began fading away as I left. The Bee Gees will live forever, somewhere, and if these grouse have anything to do with it that somewhere will be Yellowstone National Park. Keep on Dancin’.