Breeding success of the Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus at La Serena (Badajoz, Spain).

Full article

Published:

Volume 44(2), December 1997. Pages 199-206.

Language:

Spanish

Original title:

Éxito reproductivo del Alcaraván Burhinus oedicnemus en La Serena (Badajoz, España).

Keywords:

breeding season, breeding success, Burhinus oedicnemus, food availability, mortality at nest, productivity, replacement clutches, Stone Curlew.

Abstract:

From 1988 to 1992 we have followed 60 breeding attempts of Stone Curlews. Laying took place from early April to early July. Laying phenology followed closely the seasonal change in the availability of potential prey, namely Orthoptera and Coleoptera. Hatching success among early-laid clutches was very low (3.8%) due to high predation rates. This resulted in a bimodal distribution of the laying dates, with a second peak in June. Among clutches laid after mid-May hatching succes rose to 58.5%, what may be explained by a lower predation pressure possibly related to a general increase in food availability for predators. Average productivity, calculated by means of the Mayfield method, was 0.66-0.88 fledged chicks per pair. Most chicks were raised once the period of maximum prey availability was over, as a side-effect of the high predation rates experienced by early clutches.