The yearly black grouse excursion at Evenstad

Last week, we had our annual excursion to the black grouse lek as part of the Wildlife Ecology course at Campus Evenstad.

Black grouse males gathering on a moor before showing off for the females

Black grouse males are gathering before the show-off! (Photo: Martin Mayer)

By Martin Mayer, Maren Roang Hofseth
Published Apr. 9, 2025 4:15 PM

Two nights on a moor in tents

A total of 24 students from various countries (plus one Norwegian) participated, spending two nights in groups of 12 to minimize disturbance. We observed at least 18 male black grouse displaying on their lek, situated on a large open moor surrounded by boreal forest.

Each spring, these birds gather here to perform and mate with visiting females. The males are dedicated, displaying daily from about 5 a.m. to about 9 a.m., from March through May. The females choose based on the males' performances, though the exact criteria for their decisions remain unclear.

 

Students at their pitch on a moor.
Our students had great luck with the weather this year! (Photo: Martin Mayer)

Get to know Norway's wildlife

The Wildlife Ecology course aims to equip our students with knowledge about Norway's diverse wildlife species and their ecological roles. This excursion, along with others such as snow tracking to identify animal tracks and signs, provides them with valuable examples of Norway's wildlife in its natural habitat.