The effect of nest site on the nesting success of the Coot Fulica atra

Abstract

The nesting success of Coots (Fulica atra) breeding at lakes and small inland water bod-ies in the Mazurian Lakeland, Poland, was estimated in 2008 and 2009. Mean nesting suc-cess, indicated by hatching, was 75%; it was highest at lakes in the vicinity of built-up areas (86%), moderate at small inland water bodies (69%) and lowest at lakes far from hu-man settlements (44%). Nesting success improved with decreasing distance to open wa-ter. Our results suggest that small inland water bodies and built-up areas along lake banks may serve as Coot refuges, acting as safeguards against predation, especially by the American Mink.