Breeding Ecology of the Pied Avocet, Recurvirosrta avosetta (Charadriiformes, Recurvirostridae), in Tiffech Lake (Souk Ahras, Northeastern Algeria)

Abstract

The Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta Linnaeus, 1758) is a sedentary species in Northeastern Algeria, although numbers present increase during spring and summer. Nesting occurs on the dikes and lakes placed at the different pools of the saltpans. In this study, the breeding ecology of the Pied Avocet was studied during the 2017 breeding season in Tiffech lake wetland (868 m in elevation), Northeastern Algeria. The Pied Avocets arrived, at Tiffech Lake in early February and usually spent a few days in flocks before dispersing to set up territories. Egg-laying occurred from 11 April to 21 June, with two distinct peaks (last 15 days of April and May) and incubation period was 27.0 days. The present study indicates the expanded, breeding season. Clutch and egg size of this high-elevation population was comparable to lowland counterparts. Hatching success was 85.77 % and mean net productivity was 0.63 chicks per nest. Entire nest failure from human predation and sheep grazing was responsible for most egg losses.