The colony of Grey Herons Ardea cinerea in the Domänental near Kiel until 2023

Authors

  • Rolf K. Berndt Author
  • Gabriele Berndt Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21248/corax.v26.55

Abstract

The colony in the Domänental is the only one in Schleswig-Holstein that is regularly surveyed. We have reported on population, breeding success, behavior and off-season presence several times since 2011 (Berndt & Berndt 2020, 2021, 2023). We usually only spent about two hours in the Domänental during our controlls every ten days or so, which is why we miss some behavior. Outside periods of frost, several Grey Herons are present in the Domänental all year round. From the beginning of January, many nests may already be occupied, and if the winter weather is mild, the first clutches of eggs are produced at the end of the month. To our knowledge, this is the only colony in Schleswig-Holstein with such an early start to breeding. Unlike previously, in 2023 10 to 12 young birds remained on the nests well beyond the time of their fledging until around the end of July, where they were still fed. This species exhibits very flexible behavior, which has probably helped it to survive periods of hunting and changing landscapes.

References

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Published

2024-12-15

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How to Cite

Berndt, R.K. and Berndt, G. (2024) “The colony of Grey Herons Ardea cinerea in the Domänental near Kiel until 2023”, CORAX, 26(1), pp. 33–39. doi:10.21248/corax.v26.55.