Mating display starts in the dark
Video and text: Mats Kangur
Translation: Liis
It is one hour before sunrise in the black grouse display. But the display started already in the dark, when there were still two hours to the sunrise. Two cocks are active in the lek, the other three sit under the pine trees around the display field, tsss-tsssing and cooing. The hens didn’t come down to the ground this time. One sat waiting in the top of the pine, surveying the suitors.
The calls of meadow pipits can be heard in the background. Quite soon the every-morning "hawk hour” is here – a pause in the display that may last one to one and a half hours. All becomes quiet. Usually the cocks leave and the display arena is left empty. But sometimes they stay on the arena to nibble cranberries or to doze. Earlier, when black grouse were hunted, the various parts and order of their display were better known. It was very important not to leave the grouse hunting hut when the "hawk hour” started, or during it. Soon the ssss sounds again and the display goes on ...
Tags: 
