Sains Malaysiana 42(10)(2013): 1425–1430

First Record of Mixed-species Heron Colony: Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) Breeding at Famagusta Freshwater Lake in Cyprus

(Rekod Pertama bagi Koloni Heron Spesies Bercampur: Bangau Lembu (Bubulcus ibis), Heron Squako (Ardeola ralloides) dan Bangau Kecil (Egretta garzetta) Membiak di Tasik Air Tawar Famagusta di Cyprus

I.  Charalambidou*

Iris Charalambidou, Department of Life and Health Sciences, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Nicosia, Cyprus

S. Gucel

Institute of Earth, Ocean, Atmosphere and Environmental Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus

Received: 10 March 2013/Accepted: 12 May 2013

ABSTRACT

This study constitutes the first record of a mixed-species heron colony and of a breeding population of Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) in Cyprus. The colony, located at Famagusta Freshwater Lake, was surveyed from March to June 2007. The survey were terminated after 25 June when it was not possible to boat to the colony due to decreasing water levels. The total number of active nests, i.e. containing eggs and/or hatchlings, was 135 for Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis); 38 for Squacco Heron and 4 for Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). Cattle Egrets started nest building and egg laying at the beginning of March and hatching started by the end of March. Egg-laying and hatching continued throughout June, possibly due to second broods. Mean clutch size was 3.5±0.8 eggs (range 1-5; n=135). Mean hatching success was 2.9±1 hatched egg per nest (range = 1-5; n=54) and mean breeding success was 2.8±1 chick per nest (range = 0-5; n=36) for chicks surviving up to 15 days after hatching. Squacco Herons started nest building and egg laying by the end of May and hatching started by mid June. Egg-laying and hatching continued throughout June and probably in July and August. As surveys were terminated in June, it was not possible to collect sufficient data on the breeding chronology of this species. Mean clutch size was 3.1 ± 0.8 egg (range 2-4; n=38), which was lower than European estimates. A multitude of activities at and around Famagusta Freshwater Lake pose potential threats to the conservation of the colony resulting in an urgent need for management of the wetland.

Keywords: Breeding success; Cattle Egret; clutch size; Famagusta Freshwater Lake; hatching success; Squacco Heron

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini merupakan rekod pertama bagi koloni heron spesies bercampur dan bagi suatu populasi membiak heron squako (Ardeola ralloides) di Cyprus. Koloni ini terletak di Tasik Air Tawar Famagusta, telah ditinjau dari Mac hingga Jun 2007. Adalah tidak mungkin untuk meninjau selepas 25 Jun kerana paras air berada di bawah koloni. Jumlah bilangan sarang aktif iaitu yang mengandungi telur dan/atau anak ialah 135 bagi bangau lembu (Bubulcus ibis); 38 bagi heron squako dan 4 bagi bangau kecil (Egretta garzetta). Bangau lembu mula membuat sarang dan bertelur pada awal Mac dan anak mulai menetas pada akhir Mac. Bertelur dan menetas berlangsung sepanjang Jun, mungkin disebabkan oleh setarang kedua. Min saiz tarangi adalah 3.5±0.8 telur (julat 1-5; n=135). Min kejayaan menetas ialah 2.9±1, telur tetas per sarang (julat = 1-5; n=54) dan min kejayaan membiak ialah 2.8±1 anak per sarang (julat = 0-5; n=36) bagi anak yang mandiri sehingga 15 hari selepas menetas. Heron squako mula membuat sarang dan bertelur di akhir Mei dan menetas pada pertengahan Jun. Bertelur dan menetas terus sepanjang Jun dan mungkin berterusan ke Julai dan Ogos. Oleh kerana tinjauan berakhir pada bulan Jun, tidak mungkin untuk mengutip data yang cukup mengenai kronologi pembiakan bagi spesies ini. Min saiz setarang ialah 3.1 ± 0.8 telur (julat 2-4; n=38), yang lebih rendah daripada anggaran Eropah. Banyak kegiatan berlaku di tasik dan sekeliling Tasik Air Tawar Famagusta telah memberi potensi ancaman kepada pemuliharaan koloni bagi menghasilkan keperluan mendadak bagi pengurusan tanah bencah.

Kata kunci: Bangau lembu; heron squako; kejayaan menetas; kejayaan membiak; saiz tarang; Tasik Air Tawar Famagusta

REFERENCES

AEWA. 2008. Agreement on the Conservation of African- Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. Agreement Text and Annexes. UNEP/AEWA Secretariat, Bonn, Germany.

Ayas, Z. 2008. Nest site characteristics and nest densities of Ardeids (Night Heron: Nycticorax nycticorax, Grey Heron: Ardea cinerea, and Little Egret: Egretta garzetta) in the Nallihan Bird Sanctuary (Sariyar Reservoir, Ankara, Turkey). Turkish Journal of Zoology 32(2): 167.

Barbraud, C., Kayser, Y., Cohez, D., Gauthier-Clerc, M. & Hafner, H. 2004. Detection probability of nests of Squacco Herons in southern France. Journal of Field Ornithology 75(2): 172-175.

BirdLife International. 2004. Birds in Europe: Population Estimates, Trends and Conservation Status. BirdLife International, (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 12), Cambridge, UK.

Burger, J. 1981. The effect of human activity on birds at a coastal bay. Biological Conservation 21(3): 231-241.

Carter, M.F., Hunter, W.C., Pashley, D.N. & Rosenberg, K.V. 2000. Setting conservation priorities for landbirds in the United States: The partners in flight approach. Auk 117: 541-548.

Charalambidou, I., Gücel, S., Kassinis, N., Turkseven, N., Fuller, W., Kuyucu, A. & Yorgancı, H. 2008. Waterbirds in Cyprus 2007/08. University of Nicosia, BioDer, Game Fund, UNDP-ACT. Nicosia, Cyprus.

Delord, K., Kayser, Y., Barbraud, C. & Hafner, H. 2003. Variability in breeding parameters of the Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides. Bird Study 50: 300-305.

Dragonetti, M. & Giovacchini, P. 2009. Aspects of breeding biology of Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis in a Grosseto province colony (Tuscany, central Italy). Avocetta 33: 199-204.

Erwin, R.M. 1996. The relevance of the Mediterranean Region to colonial waterbird conservation. Colonial Waterbirds19: 1-11.

Fasola, M. & Alieri, R. 1992. Nest site characteristics in relation to body size in herons in Italy. Colonial Waterbirds15: 185-192.

Fasola, M. & Barbieri, F. 2008. Factors affecting the distribution of heronries in northern Italy. International Journal of Avain Science 120(4): 537-540.

Fasola, M. & Hafner, H. 1997. Long-term monitoring and conservation of herons in France and Italy. Colonial Waterbirds20: 298-305.

Fasola, M., Rubolini, D., Merli, E., Boncompagni, E. & Bressan, U. 2010. Long-term trends of heron and egret populations in Italy, and the effects of climate, human-induced mortality, and habitat on population dynamics. Population Ecology 52(1): 59-72.

Flint, P.R. & Stewart, P.F. 1992. The Birds of Cyprus: An Annotated Checklist. 2nd ed.  British Ornithologists Union, Zoological Museum, Tring, Herts HP23 6AP, UK.

Gucel, S. 2006. Management and Assessment of the Ecology of Cyprus’ Wetlands. Outline recommendations for wetland management in Cyprus. Report, UNDP-ACT 47401-06-001.

Gucel, S., Charalambidou, I., Kassinis, N., Turkseven, N., Fuller, W., Kuyucu, A. & Yorganci, H. 2012. Waterbirds in Cyprus 2009/10. BA/UES-CCEIA/ CGF/, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Hafner, H. 1977. Contribution à l’étude écologique de quatre espècesd’Ardéidés (Egretta garzetta, Ardeola ralloides, Ardeola ibis, Nycticorax nycticorax) pendant leur nidification en Camargue. PhD Thesis, University of Toulouse, France (Unpublished).

Hafner, H., Bennetts, R.E. & Kayser, Y. 2001. Changes in clutch size, brood size and numbers of nesting Squacco Herons (Ardeola ralloides) over a 32-year period in the Camargue, South France. International Journal of Avain Science 143: 11-16.

Hafner, H. & Didner, E. 1997. A Squacco Heron. BWP Update 1: 166-174.

Hemingway, J. 1987. An African Bird Makes its Move Around the World. Smithsonian: pp. 60-69.

Kassinis, N., Gücel, S., Charalambidou, I., Turkseven, N., Fuller, W., Kuyucu, A. & Yorgancı, H. 2010. Waterbirds in Cyprus 2008/09. University of Nicosia, BioDer, Game Fund, UNDP-ACT. Nicosia, Cyprus.

Kassinis, N., Gücel, S., Charalambidou, I., Turkseven, N., Fuller, W., Kuyucu, A. & Yorgancı, H. 2012. Waterbirds in Cyprus 2010/11. BA/UES-CCEIA/ CGF/, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Kazantzidis, S. & Goutner, V. 2008. Abundance and habitat use by herons (Ardeidae) in the Axios Delta, northern Greece. Journal of Biological Research 10: 129-138.

Kushlan, J.A. & Hafner, H. 2000. Heron Conservation. London: Academic Press.

Ma, Z.J., Cai, Y.T., Li, B. & Chen, J.K. 2010. Managing wetland habitats for waterbirds: An international perspective. Wetlands 30(1): 15-27.

Maddock, M. & Geering, D. 1993. Cattle Egret migration in south-eastern Australia and New Zealand: An update. Notornis 40: 109-122.

Parejo, D. & Sánchez-Guzmán, J.M. 1999. Effects of agricultural development on colonial ardeid populations in southwestern Spain. Waterbirds 22: 302-306.

Parejo, D., Sánchez-Guzmán, J.M. & Avilés, J.M. 2010. Breeding biology of the Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis in southwest Spain. Bird Study 48(3): 367-372.

Prosper, J. & Hafner, H. 1996. Breeding aspects of the colonial Ardeidae in the Albufera de Valencia, Spain: Population changes, phenology, and reproductive success of the three most abundant species. Colonial Waterbirds 19: 98-107.

Richardson, C. 2005. Cyprus Bird Report 2004. BirdLife Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Richardson, C. 2006. Cyprus Bird Report 2005. BirdLife Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Richardson, C. 2007. Cyprus Bird Report 2006. BirdLife Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Richardson, C. 2008. Cyprus Bird Report 2007. BirdLife Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Roth, T. 2008. Outward (autumn) bird migration at the Southeastern Peninsula and Cape Greco, Cyprus: The phenologies of regular migrants. Sandgrouse 30(1): 77.

Si Bachir, A., Hafner, H., Tourenq, J.N. & Doumandji, S. 2000. Structure de l’habitat et biologie de reproduction du héron garde-boeuf, Bubulcus ibis, dans une colonie de la vallée de la Soummam (Petite Kabylie, Algérie). Revue d’écologie (Terre Vie) 55: 33-43.

Sterbetz, I. 1960-1961. The Squacco Heron in the Sasér Bird Sanctuary. Aquila 67-68: 39-70.

Thompson, W.L. 2002. Towards reliable bird surveys: Accounting for individuals present but not detected. Auk 119: 18-25.

Tourenq, C., Bennetts, R.E., Sadoul, N., Mesleard, F., Kayser, Y. & Hafner, H. 2000. Long-term population and colony patterns of four species of tree-nesting herons in the Camargue, South France. Waterbirds 23: 236-245.

Voisin, C. 1991. The Herons of Europe. Poyser, London: T. & A.D.

Whaley, D.J. & Dawes, J.C. 2005. Heron breeding records in Cyprus 2003-2004. Sandgrouse 27: 160-161.

*Corresponding author; email: charalambidou.i@unic.ac.cy