Re: [BULK] [canberrabirds] Lake Ginninderra- Moorhen colony [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

["martin butterfield" <>]

Bruce's message stirred me to check HANZAB.  The second sentence under 'Breeding" (V2, p605) reads "Breed cooperatively, in groups of up to 7, apparently unrelated; up to three adults and sometimes older siblings, care for young."  The following page notes that the size of the group does not affect productivity and the loss of eggs is higher in groups with two females than in those with one female.  

The key source appears to be work published in Aust. Wildl. Res. by S T Garnett from studies in Canberra in the late 1970s.

Martin

On Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 9:01 AM, Esme Barker and Bruce Ramsay <> wrote:

Hi Benj,

Re the communal raising of chicks by Dusky Moorhens - yes, it happens, apparently commonly.

 

This year, for the first time that I have observed since I started keeping an eye on Pt Hut Pond, the Moorhens have bred. 3 weeks ago 6 chicks were hatched. They are being tended by 3 adults - all of whoem seem to be involved in shepherding the chicks around and feeding them.

 

Barry Taylor in "Rails - A guide to the Rails, Crakes, Gallinules and Coots of the World" has this to say - "This species is simultaneously promiscuous, forming breeding groups of 2-7 apparently unrelated birds;  ...All group members defend the territory, build nests, incubate, and care for young; older siblings sometimes help to care for the young."

 

Taylor acknowledges HANZAB as his major source of information - so I imagine the above is excerpted from there. I don't have HANZAB to check - its a bit pricey for an amateur like me!

 

Regards,

Bruce