Wildlife

Wild Black Grouse Lek Welfare

Black grouse have declined dramatically across the UK uplands, with welfare tied to heather moorland, insect-rich habitats for chicks, and protection of lek display sites from disturbance.

Key Facts

UK black grouse populations declined 72% between 1970 and 2020 from around 25,000 to 5,000
Males gather at traditional lek sites in spring for dawn display watched by females
Disturbance at lek sites from walkers and dogs causes display abandonment
Habitat management including heather burning and tree removal supports black grouse recovery
RSPB black grouse recovery projects have achieved local population increases

Welfare Considerations

Black grouse lek disturbance causes breeding failure at these critical display sites. Visitor management and habitat restoration are the primary welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Stay on paths away from lek sites during March-May when dawn displays occur
Support RSPB black grouse recovery projects through donations
Record black grouse sightings through monitoring schemes to track population trends
Advocate for heather moorland management that supports black grouse habitat requirements