Behaviour of young Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula and its relationship to growth and survival to reproductive age

• Published in: Ibis
• Main Author: Pienkowski, Michael W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1984
• Subjects: Arctic; Greenland; Mestersvig; Charadrius hiaticula; Ringed Plover
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919x.1984.tb07994.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1474-919X.1984.tb07994.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1984.tb07994.x

The behaviour, growth and survival of Ringed Plover chicks were studied in 1974 at Mestersvig, northeast Greenland, and from 1973 to 1976 at Lindisfarne, northeast England. Post‐fledging survival, dispersal and recruitment were also investigated for the Lindisfarne population. Growth rates were similar in both study areas, and to those reported from other sites. A diurnal rhythm in feeding activity was more evident in the Arctic than at temperate latitudes, despite continuous daylight in the former area. This was correlated with low nocturnal temperatures and prey availability. It is concluded that food supply did not limit growth or chick survival in either study area. Brooding decreased progressively during the pre‐fledging period; the relationship of brooding period to age, environmental conditions and area was investigated. The adaptations of feeding and brooding behaviour for arctic and temperate breeding Ringed Plovers are discussed. Survival from hatching to fledging varied between 40% and 60% in different areas and years, and at least 59% of birds survived from fledging to about one year old. Minimum survival from one to two years old was only 57%. but year‐to‐year survival of older birds was higher, that of breeding adults being at least so?;. Most birds returned to the breeding area and attempted to breed when one year old. The extent of dispersal from Lindisfarne and the wintering areas of the Lindisfarne‐breeding birds are investigated.