Black Grouse Lek!
This morning I spent some time in a hide next to my wildlife photography colleague Johan Hammar who has invited me to join him to photograph Black Grouse in southern Sweden. Male black grouse display and compete for the females in a bizarre arena dance on a bog in the taiga forests of Scandinavia. A superb show, only to be seen by those who get up early. In order to be there in time, we went out already yesterday evening and spent the night in our two small tent hides at the lek. To sleep in a small, wet tent with degrees below zero must be one of the toughest things to do in April in Sweden. But we survived and were able to witness the most beautiful black grouse display you can imagine. Rimfrost on the ground, early morning frontlight sun and completely windstill. Perfect conditions!
The display started long before sunrise and the male dancers were fiercely defending their small spots in the arena. Their bubbling and pishing sounds fit well into the deserted landscape of the forest wetlands far off civilization. Every now and then, a hen landed close to the arena, to inspect the male dancers. Now is the season when the dancers have to show what they are good for. And the reward is high: The best performer can mate with almost all females in the area. Each female will then fly away and will raise the chicks on her on. And the father will never knowingly meet his offspring. Anyway, the winner takes it all.
Photograph and film by Felix Heintzenberg