Breeding ecology of the Little Bittern<i>Ixobrychus minutus</i>in northeast Algeria

Abstract

Capsule This is the first study of the reproductive ecology of the Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus in North Africa. During the study period, clutch size exhibited a sharp drop concurrent with a steady human encroachment and 30% habitat loss. Aim To investigate the status, nest-site selection, breeding parameters, chick development and chick diet of Little Bittern in Algeria, under deteriorating habitat conditions Methods Data were collected during surveys of all major Algerian wetlands (2002–08) and monitoring of breeding at Boussedra, a freshwater marsh in northeast Algeria, during the years 2005 and 2008. Results Egg-laying spanned the period of 10 May to 30 June with one recorded case of a double brood in early July (n = 30). The mean clutch size in 2005 was 6.2 ± 0.4 sd eggs per nest (n = 6 clutches), which was significantly higher than that of 2008, which amounted to 4.3 ± 0.5 sd eggs per nest (n = 6 clutches), and this decline was associated with increased disturbance and loss of habitat. Overall, clutches suffered from a low rate of predation (17.6%) and displayed a high hatching rate (85.7%). Conclusion Breeding parameters of the Little Bittern in North Africa are similar to elsewhere in Europe.