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.