Breeding ecology and behaviour of the Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, in Poyrazlar Lake, Turkey

Authors : Ali UZUN, Zehra AYYILDIZ, Faruk YILMAZ, Belgin UZUN, Mehmet SAĞIROĞLU

Pages : 55-60

Doi:10.3906/sag-1301-127

View : 17 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In this study, the breeding ecology and behaviour of the Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, was studied at Poyrazlar Lake, Turkey. The breeding period started in the first week of May. The incubation period lasted 14 days. As clutch size increased, the diameter of the nests became larger insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.65);. Diameters of nests containing different clutch sizes varied significantly from one another insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.01);. However, their height did not change insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.24);. There was no significant height difference between nests containing different clutch sizes insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P > 0.05);. As the nests became farther from the shore, the clutch size and the egg weight increased, because mature adults built their nests on the reeds in deeper areas insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.59, r = 0.73);. On the other hand, young breeders showed no location preference in their choice of nest site. The number of the nests showed a positive correlation with the height of reeds insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.80);. In all nests, 4 different behaviours insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Nest Empty, Sitting, Edge of Nest Waiting, Feeding Nestlings); were observed from the appearance of the first egg until the female left the nest. On average, a given female spent 38.11% of her time away from the nest, 51.84% of her time in incubation, 0.91% of her time around the nest, and 9.24% feeding her nestlings per day.
Keywords : Key words Great Reed Warbler, breeding, ecology, Poyrazlar Lake, Turkey