Wintering Diurnal Behavior of the Aquatic Bird: The Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata (Anatidae) at Lac Ayata (El-Méghair, Algerian Sahara)

Et Al., Megrerouche

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2025.448208

Wintering Diurnal Behavior of the Aquatic Bird: The Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata (Anatidae) at Lac Ayata (El-Méghair, Algerian Sahara)

Author

Megrerouche et al.

10.21608/ejabf.2025.448208

Abstract

An eco-ethological study on the northern shovelers (Spatula clypeata) was conducted from September 2022 to April 2023. The results indicate that this zooplanktivorous species functions as a quintessential wintering species in the study water body. The highest recorded count was approximately 375 individuals, observed in the first half of December 2022. In contrast, the lowest numbers occurred in the first half of September, marking the onset of the wintering season, when only six individuals formed the initial early group to occupy the wetland. Analysis of diurnal activity patterns showed that feeding behavior dominated, accounting for 46% of the total activity budget. Feeding occurred 52% of the time at the water surface, 31% through dabbling (body tilting into the water), and 17% by diving. This activity was primarily observed in December, January, and March, toward the end of the wintering season. Feeding was followed by sleeping (27%), swimming (17%), preening (7%), and display, antagonistic, and flight behaviors, each representing roughly 1% of the activity budget. These findings emphasize the ecological importance of Lac Ayata as a diurnal feeding area for this Anatidae species. Furthermore, multivariate statistical analysis using Correspondence Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed that the wintering season can be subdivided into four interdependent sub-periods.

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