Protecting the Black Grouse, iconic species from the High Fens

The Black Grouse was on the verge of disappearing from our country, falling victim to hunting and habitat destruction. The population in the High Fens is the last in Belgium, but its numbers have fallen too low to survive without our help (in 2015, only 2 males and 1 female were counted!). Since 2017, breeding stock imported from Sweden (where they are abundant) has been released each year in the High Fens to bolster the population. And these efforts are paying off! Among them, in 2023, we observed 2 successful nesting events and at least 11 chicks born! Very good news for the species! This project is carried out by ULiège, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, and the Department of Nature and Forests of the Walloon Region.