Zbigniew Kasprzykowski, Artur Goławski
Ornis Polonica 2014, 55: 257–263
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2014.4.2
Abstract: Reproductive parameters of twelve broods of Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris and nine broods of Grey Heron Ardea cinerea were studied in 2007–2009 on the fish ponds complex near Siedlce (eastern Poland). Most of the Bittern nests were situated in reedbeds, whereas Grey Herons located their nests mainly in cattails. The nests of the Grey Heron were bigger and situated in a larger distance from a fishpond dyke and open water compared to the Bittern. In spite of similarities in clutch size and the number of hatchlings, broods of Bittern had lower number of fledglings and lower breeding success. The rates of bill growth were similar in both species, but Bittern nestlings showed quicker tarsus growth.
Keywords: : Ardeidae, nest site, nestling growth, reproductive parameters
