Biologist Pavel Glazkov explains that male black grouse continue to gather at lekking sites even after hens have hatched chicks to provide opportunities for females who may need to re-clutch due to predation. This unusual behavior, observed in the Priozersky district of the Leningrad region, sees male black grouse maintaining their territories and performing courtship rituals well into late spring.

The black grouse lekking sites, which can host up to 50 males, are traditional gathering places used for decades. Since the end of winter, the males with their bright eyebrows, arrive at the swamp every morning, and by April, each male defends a territory of about ten by ten meters, hoping to attract a mate.

Although hens begin incubating eggs in early May, the males continue to visit the lekking sites every morning, engaging in displays even without the presence of females. By the end of May, the hens already have chicks, but the males still murmur and guard their territories.

Glazkov clarifies that this seemingly pointless behavior serves a crucial purpose. If a clutch of eggs is destroyed or chicks are eaten by a predator, the hen will return to the lekking site to find a mate for a second clutch. Thus, the continued presence of males at the lekking site until mid-June is not in vain, ensuring the availability of suitable partners for re-nesting.