Breeding biology of the European Blackbird Turdus merula in orange orchards

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• 作者：Ali Zeraoula^a ; ^b ; Taqiyeddine Bensouilah^a ; ^b ; ^{bensouilah.taqi@yahoo.fr" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Hafid Brahmia^a ; ^b ; Zihad Bouslama^a ; Moussa Houhamdi^b ; Ahmed Kerfouf^c
• 关键词：Turdus merula ; Clutch size ; Nest placement ; Breeding success ; Farmland ; Algeria
• 刊名：Journal of King Saud University - Science
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：October 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：28
• 期：4
• 页码：300-307
• 全文大小：585 K

文摘

During two successive years (2013–2014), we studied the breeding ecology of the European Blackbird Turdus merula in Guelma province, north-east of Algeria. The study was carried out in orange orchards of the region. We investigated nest placement in the orange trees and determined the factors of reproductive failure at this study area. Nests were placed at low height (mean ± SD = 1.42 ± 0.04 m) and located near the trunk (mean ± SD = 0.61 ± 0.04 m). The breeding season occurred between mid-May and mid-June and the peak of egg laying took place during the first half of May. The mean clutch size was 2.96 ± 0.05, density of breeding pairs was 0.83 ± 0.30 p/ha. The breeding success reported in the present study was higher than that recorded in other studies. Predation was the leading cause of nest failure of the population under investigation. The present study shows that the orange orchards appear to be the preferred breeding area for Blackbird population.