Black grouse: a population hanging in the balance following the fire in the Hautes Fagnes

The fire, which has already ravaged nearly 3,000 hectares in the Hautes Fagnes, is endangering numerous animal and plant species and serves as a reminder of just how vulnerable capercaillies are. For this iconic bird, which was already on the brink of extinction in Belgium a few years ago, the future looks particularly uncertain.

Less than ten years ago, the black grouse had virtually disappeared from Belgium. In 2017, a conservation program was launched by the University of Liège (Prof. Pascal Poncin) and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Bebirds, Didier Vangeluwe). That year, only two males and one female were recorded in the nature reserve. The 2011 fire in the Fagnes had already severely impacted the population, which numbered about forty individuals before the flames swept through.

Conducted for nearly 10 years, the conservation program had helped strengthen the remaining population through several transfers to the Hautes Fagnes of wild black grouse living in Sweden’s temperate boreal forests. In April 2026, the last mission of this kind resulted in the transfer of 25 females and 10 males, adding to the roughly 20 individuals already recorded in the area. This mission involved nearly twenty researchers, field staff, volunteers, and agents from the Department of Nature and Forests.

Five GPS trackers remain silent

However, the fire that began on August 14, 2026, in the Fagnes has dealt another blow to an already extremely fragile population. Johann Delcourt, a project manager in the Behavioral Biology Department, paints a concerning picture.“Of the 12 black grouse fitted with GPS transmitters, two were in the area affected by the fire and managed to escape. We were able to track their movements, and they are still alive. Five other birds were not within the fire’s perimeter and continue to move about normally. As for the remaining five birds, we have not yet received a signal from their GPS transmitters, so we have no news of them at this time.If we extrapolate these figures to the entire population of the Fagnes, we can estimate that at least half have survived.”

Black grouse retain the ability to fly in the summer despite partial molting, and the young born in the spring were already large enough to fly as well. Some were therefore able to escape the flames. The area unaffected by the fire still contains zones conducive to their survival. “The remaining areas are small patches on the outskirts, close to the zone predominantly occupied by the population. Although within the region, the northeastern Fagnes and the Sourbrodt-Elsenborn area may also be hospitable to these birds, ” continues Johann Delcourt. “If they limit themselves to the outlying areas of the Fagnes de la Baraque Michel, there is still enough space for these individuals, but there is cause for concern because these areas are more heavily frequented by hikers and closer to numerous forest edges, exposing them to increased risks of predation. Another problem next spring: raising chicks—which are not yet vegetarian during their first weeks of life—will not be possible in the burned areas due to a lack of small invertebrates to feed them. However, in recent years we have already documented nesting in the areas that were spared. In the longer term, the return of vegetation could also lead to a change in vegetation structure, which in turn could influence the evolution of the black grouse population.”

In light of this situation, the conservation efforts initiated by Pascal Poncin, First Vice-Rector and Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, are taking on a new dimension. For the ULiège teams, the task now is to precisely measure the consequences of the fire and assess the population’s ability to recover under conditions that have become extremely challenging.

 Learn more about the Hautes Fagnes research station