Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix nest-site habitats and fidelity to breeding areas in northern England.

Abstract

Capsule Female Black Grouse demonstrated fidelity to breeding areas, selecting nest-sites in taller, more dense vegetation, with nest success related to concealment.
Aim To investigate the fidelity to breeding areas and nesting habitat preferences of female Black Grouse.
Methods Nest habitat data were collected from radio-tagged females and related to measures from random sites and in relation to nest success. To explore fidelity to breeding areas, distances between consecutive nests were assessed.
Results Females preferred to select nest-sites in tall rushes, which provided greater vertical cover and concealment. Successful nests were in vegetation with greater concealment than those that failed. Females exhibited fidelity to their breeding areas whether successful or not, nesting on average within 225 m of the previous year's nest.
Conclusion The availability of tall nesting cover is important to breeding Black Grouse even in areas with low densities of generalist predators.