Ground Nesting by Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks on Islands in Mexico
- 1 July 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by JSTOR in The Journal of Wildlife Management
- Vol. 53 (3) , 707-713
- https://doi.org/10.2307/3809201
Abstract
We found 496 ground nests of black-bellied whistling ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis) on 3 small (4.3-15.8 ha) islands in Laguna laNacha, Tamaulipas, Mexico, in July and August 1987. Overall nest density was 15.7/ha and nest success was 28.3-41.7%. We could not follow all nests to completion, but all observed nest loss (58.4%) was due to desertion, and 41.8% of nests were dump-nests. Pricklypear cactus (Opuntia spp.) was the most preferred nest cover. Causes of island ground nests probably reflected selection of a nesting environment free from mammalian nest predators and flexibility in nesting behavior by blackbellied whistling ducks.This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
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