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Menouar Saheb

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (1): 117-124

    Salah Telailia, Menouar Saheb, Lamia Boutabia, Mourad-Abdelkrim Bensouilah & Moussa Houhamdi
    Breeding biology of Eleonora’s Falcon, Falco eleonorae Gené, 1839 (Accipitriformes Falconidae), in Northeast Algeria at Sérigina Island

    ABSTRACT
    The Eleonora’s Falcon, Falco eleonorae Gené, 1839 (Accipitriformes Falconidae), is a long migrant and a seabird of conservation concern. After discovering the Sérigina colony in Northeast Algeria, data on laying period, reproductive success, and nestling growth were collected. A total of 18 nests were located and surveyed during the breeding season of 2006. The species started to lay eggs in late July and the majority of nests contained 3 eggs. There was no variation in the mean eggs volume and weight between different clutches. The mean clutch size was 2.39 ± 0.78 eggs and the hatching success was 53.5%. Productivity per nest was 0.39 ± 0.40 chick, lower than previous published works. Inclement weather and avian predation was thought to be the main sources of chicks’ mortality. Nestling growth for both body mass and wing span fitted a linear fashion during the first 25 days in nestling life. The accelerated chick growth suggested food availability and high parental provisioning. Finally, we think that Algerian’s coast could support other large colonies that should be discovered, surveyed, and conserved.