Diurnal and nocturnal behaviour of ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca at Lac des Oiseaux, northeast Algeria

• Autores: Moussa Houhamdi, Boudjéma Samraoui
• Localización: Ardeola, ISSN 0570-7358, Vol. 55, Nº. 1, 2008, págs. 59-69
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo (pdf)
• Resumen

  • Aims: There have been few studies on the behaviour and ecological requirements of the ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca in the Mediterranean region. In order to fill this gap, the diurnal activities of the species were monitored over a period of four years. In addition, data were collected on its nocturnal behaviour during the wintering season 1999-2000.

    Location: Lac des Oiseaux, northeast Algeria.

    Results and Discussion: Results indicated sleeping as the main diurnal activity whereas feeding dominated during the night. Diurnal feeding, peaking at the start of the wintering period, exhibited a marked seasonal decline, mirrored by an increase in sleeping and swimming. Nocturnal feeding and sleeping were inversely correlated and they displayed, respectively, a progressive increase and decrease between October and March. Feeding peaked in the middle of the night when sleeping reached its lowest values. Flight was most prominent around dawn.