Breeding biology of the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) in southwestern Spain

Abstract

The breeding biology of the Little Egret was studied during two seasons in three inland mixed heronries in the south west of Spain in relation to nest height and density. In addition, we compared the reproductive parameters with those found by other authors in the western Palearctic. The reproductive success did not differ between years whereas the median laying date did. Although comparison between our population and others is difficult because of differences in methodology, we observed that the less productive and earlier breeding Little Egrets in the Palearctic were in Extremadura. Neither nest height nor the total number of nests nor the number of Little Egret nests influenced the reproduction, pointing towards the non-existence of density-dependent effects on the reproduction of this species in Extremadura.