The breeding success of the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) was studied in relation to nest site selection. Average nest abundance for the Cattle Egret was 0.045 ± 0.041 (95% CI) nests.m-3 of canopy volume, and 0.026 ± 0.019 (95% CI) nests-1 volume3 of canopy volume for the Little Egret. Total estimated population size was 882 nesting pairs (Cattle Egrets = 550; Little Egrets = 332). Cattle Egrets occupied higher trees for nesting than Little Egrets. Both species nested above the middle of the nesting trees. The clutch size of Cattle Egrets averaged 3.03 eggs whereas mean clutch size of Little Egrets was 3.22 eggs. A higher hatching success in the Cattle Egret than in the Little Egret suggested a relationship between nest selection and hatching success.
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1 December 2003
Nest Site Selection and Breeding Success by Cattle Egret and Little Egret in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Waterbirds
Vol. 26 • No. 4
December 2003
Vol. 26 • No. 4
December 2003
chick survival
clutch size
colony size
hatching success
incubation period
nest densities
nest site selection