Category: Ciconiiformes

Booming activity of male Bitterns Botaurus stellaris in relation to reproductive cycle and harem size

Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) Science Article 1 abstract The relationship between vocalization rate and nesting parameters in the polygynous Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris was studied in a breeding population of eastern Poland. There was a difference between individuals in mean length of boom train and males with high booming rate had longer boom trains. No […]

Factors Influencing Great Blue Heron Nesting Productivityon the Pacific Coast of Canada from 1998 to 1999

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Science Article 12 abstract Surveys were conducted at 35 Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) colonies in urban and rural landscapes of south-coastal British Columbia, Canada, to investigate low nesting productivity during 1998 and 1999 compared to a decade ago. Nesting failure was common (59% of 1,247 nests) and widespread (in […]

‘PRACTICE’ FORAGING BY A SUB-ADULT GREAT BLUE HERON

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Science Article 13 abstract ‘Play’, including ‘practice’ aggression and foraging, has been reported in at least 14orders of birds (Fagen 1981), and is thus a widespread, if relatively rare, behavior amongbirds. I report here on observations of practice foraging behavior (considered a categoryof play) by a sub-adult Great Blue Heron […]

REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF GREAT BLUE HERONS(ARDIA HERODIAS) NESTING IN SWANSON CREEK, MARYLANDDURING THE CHALK POINT OIL SPILL

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Science Article 6 abstract On April 7, 2000, approximately 126,000 gallons of a mixture of #2 and #6 fuel oil were released froma break in a pipeline providing fuel to the Chalk Point Generating Station. The pipeline is owned by thePotomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) and operated by Support Terminal […]

DIRECTIONS AND TIMING OF GREAT BLUE HERON FORAGING FLIGHTS FROM A CALIFORNIA COLONY:IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL FACILITATION OF FOOD FINDING

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Science Article 4 abstract Patterns of foraging trips of several species of colonially nesting birdshave been examined recently for evidence that colonies serve as ‘informationcentres’ to assist the members in finding food (Krebs 1974, Hooglandand Sherman 1976, Snapp 1976, Custer and Osborn 1978, Erwin1978). According to this hypothesis colonial nesting […]

Microverontreinigingen in lepelaarkuikens uit het Zwanenwater

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) Science Article 1 abstract De broedkolonies van de lepelaar (Platalea leucorodia) behoren tot de meest noordelijke in het verspreidingsgebied van de soort. Sinds het begin van de zestiger jaren heeft de soort sterk onder druk gestaan, met een dramatisch dieptepunt van minder dan 200 broedparen eind jaren zestig. Naast verstoring, habitatverlies, […]

Dispersal and migration in Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) Science Article 2 abstract Sightings of Eurasian Spoonbills marked at the Odiel marshes, SW. Spain, were analysed to determine the extent of philopatry, sites of dispersal and the temporal and spatial patterns of migration in this population. Odiel Spoonbills winter in the Senegal delta (2500 km south of the Odiel). However, […]

NATURALLY OCCURRING SECONDARY NUTRITIONAL HYPERPARATHYROIDISM IN CATTLE EGRETS (BUBULCUS IBIS) FROM CENTRAL TEXAS

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) Science Article 4 abstract Naturally occurring secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism is described in the nestlings of two colonies of cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) from Central Texas (Bryan and San Antonio, Texas, USA). Nestlings from a third colony (Waco, Texas, USA) were collected in a subsequent year for comparison. Birds from the first […]

BEHAVIOR OF WHISTLING AND CAPPED HERONS IN THE SEASONAL SAVANNAS OF VENEZUELA AND ARGENTINA

Capped Heron (Pilherodius pileatus) Science Article 1 abstract Behavior, habitat use, and foraging of the Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix)a nd Capped Heron (Pilherodiusp ileatus)w ere studied in Venezuela and Argentina. Both foraged primarily alone or in pairs, but Whistling Herons also fed and roosted socially. Whistling Herons nested solitarily, maintained post-fledging associations with young, and […]