Nest-site selection and hatching success at a mixed-species colony of Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus and Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica. (1st August 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barati, Ahmad; Etezadifar, Farzaneh; Esfandabad, Bahman Shams
• Is Part Of: Avian biology research. Volume 5:Number 3(2012)
• Page Start: 142
• Page End: 146
• Publication Date: 2012-08-01
• Subjects: Ornithology -- Research -- Periodicals; 598.05
• DOI: 10.3184/175815512X13443576947101
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-1559

Abstract

Nest-site characteristics and hatching success were studied at a mixed-species colony of Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus and Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica in AghGol wetland, Hamedan Province, Iran during the 2008 breeding season. Species-specific preferences and a possible correlation between hatching success and nest location were analysed. Black-winged stilts select significantly closer points to the water edge than random points while the distance to the water edge did not vary between preferred and non-preferred locations for Gull-billed Terns. Plant density was significantly higher in Gull-billed Terns than Black-winged Stilt nest-sites, which also preferred areas of lower plant density. Hatched Gull-billed Tern nests had significantly higher plant density around the nest than failed nests. Overall, hatching success of Gull-billed Tern was higher than that of Black-winged Stilt; mainly because of disturbances resulting from a decrease in the water level.