Wildlife cameras effectively survey black grouse Lyrurus tetrix leks

Abstract

Within the fields of behavioral ecology, population ecology and wildlife management, Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix is of special interest, as it is a promiscuous, polygamous and lekking game species. In 2011 and 2012 we surveyed six leks in Eastern Norway with wildlife cameras. Here, we show how wildlife cameras can ease data sampling on leks and give us good data on numbers and temporal patterns of visits. Wildlife cameras allow continuous sampling of large amounts of data for long time periods but may underestimate actual visit percent. Our results show that Black Grouse males visit leks most of the year. The fact that we may underestimate actual visit percent means that leks could be even more important than our data suggest.