Abstract
We studied the nest characteristics, egg attributes, and hatching success of globally “Near-threatened” river lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii, in four habitat types in northern India during four consecutive breeding seasons (2016‒2019). Out of a total of 300 nests, most of them were found in medium-sized colonies (3‒4 nests), openly on sandy ground with shallow scrape (70%, n = 210) and others were lined with wood twigs and dry stems (30%, n = 90). The mean clutch size was 3.37 ± 0.86, although there was no significant difference in mean clutch size and egg size in different years and habitat types. Moreover, there was slight difference in clutch size and egg volume during the breeding season. The median incubation period was 28 days. Hatching was synchronous and completed one after the other within 24 h. Hatching success varied in different years and habitat types. Hatching success was high in 2018 at open unvegetated river bank compared to other habitats and years, as egg laying period and probability of egg survival were high. Moreover, hatching success rate significantly varied across the habitats and years. Results of generalized linear model analysis revealed that factors that affect daily predation rate were most closely related to habitat of nesting, distance to river bank, nearest nest location, and egg laying date. Egg failure occurred predominantly due to predation and farming activities. Furthermore, trampling, human disturbance, and egg non-viability were other factors responsible for egg loss.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Availability of data and material
Not applicable.
Code availability
Not applicable.
References
Ahmed S, Chowdhury SU, Sheldon R (2018) Surveys of river lapwings, Vanellus duvaucelii in Bangladesh and observations on their nesting ecology. Wader Study 125:90–96. https://doi.org/10.18194/ws.00117
Ali S, Ripley SD (1980) River lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii Lesson, 1826 In: Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Oxford University Press, New Delhi
Ali S (2002) The book of Indian birds, 13th edn. Bombay Natural History Society, Oxford University Press, Bombay
Baines D (1989) The effects of improvement of upland, marginal grasslands on the breeding success of lapwings Vanellus vanellus and other waders. Ibis 131:497–506. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1989.tb04786.x
Baines D (1990) The roles of predation, food and agricultural practice in determining the breeding success of the lapwing Vanellus vanellus on upland grasslands. J Anim Ecol 59:915–929. https://doi.org/10.2307/5022
Beintema AJ, Muskens GJDM (1987) Nesting success of birds in Dutch agricultural grasslands. J Appl Ecol 24:743–758. https://doi.org/10.2307/2403978
Berg A, Lindberg T, Kallebrink KG (1992) Hatching success of lapwings on farmland: differences between habitats and colonies of different sizes. J Animal Ecol 61:469–476. https://doi.org/10.2307/5337
Burger J (1985) Habitat selection in temperate marsh-nesting birds. In: Cody ML (ed) Habitat selection in birds. Academic Press, pp 253–281
Chalfoun AD, Martin TE (2007) Assessments of habitat preferences and quality depend on spatial scale and metrics of fitness. J Appl Ecol 44:983–992. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01352.x
Chalfoun AD, Schmidt KA (2012) Adaptive breeding habitat selection: Is it for the birds? Auk 129:589–599. https://doi.org/10.1525/auk.2012.129.4.589
Christians JK (2002) Avian egg size: variation within species and inflexibility within individuals. Biol Rev 77:1‒26. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1464793101005784
Claassen AH (2004) Abundance, distribution, and reproductive success of sandbar nesting birds below the Yali Falls hydro-power dam on the Sesan River, northeastern Cambodia. WWF/ Danida/ WCS/Birdlife International, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.26563.40488
Claassen AH, Sok K, Arnold TW (2017) Effectiveness of direct payments to increase the reproductive success of sandbar-nesting river birds in Cambodia. Bird Conserv Int 27:495–511.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270916000368
Cody ML (1985) Habitat selection in birds. Academic Press, New York
Colwell MA, Meyer JJ, Hardy MA, McAllister SE, Transou AN, Levalley RR, Dinsmore SJ (2011) Western snowy plovers Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus select nesting substrates that enhance crypsis and improve nest survival. Ibis 153:303–311. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2011.01100.x
Coulson JC (1963) Eggs size and shape in the kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and their use in estimation age of composition of population. Proc Zool Soc Lond 140:211–217. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1963.tb01861.x
Cuervo JJ (2004) Nest-site selection and characteristics in a mixed-species colony of avocets Recurvirostra avosetta and black-winged stilts Himantopus himantopus. Bird Study 51:20–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063650409461328
Cuthbert MF (1983) Predation of lapwing nests. Orkney Bird Report 1983:56
Desrochers A, Magrath RD (1993) Age-specific fecundity in European blackbirds (Turdus merula): individual and population trends. Auk 110:255–263. https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/110.2.25
Du B, Zhao QS, Liu CJ, Guan MM, Liu NF (2012) Giant babaxes mix brood reduction and brood survival strategies. J Ornithol 153:611–619. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0779
Duckworth JW, Timmins RJ, Evans TD (1998) The conservation status of the river lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii in southern Laos. Biol Conserv 84:215–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(97)00132-8
Elliot RD (1985) The effects of predation risk and group size on the anti-predator responses of nesting lapwings Vanellus vanellus. Behaviour 92:168–187. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853985X00433
Flint PL, Sedinger JS (1992) Reproductive implications of egg-size variation in the black brant. Auk 109:896–903. https://doi.org/10.2307/4088164
Galbraith H (1988a) Adaptation and constraint in the growth pattern of lapwing Vanellus vanellus chicks. J Zool Lond 215:537–548. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1988.tb02858.x
Galbraith H (1988b) Effects of agriculture on the breeding ecology of lapwings Vanellus vanellus. J Appl Ecol 25:487–503. https://doi.org/10.2307/2403839
Golawski A, Mroz E (2019) Differences in nest site characteristics and hatching success in white-winged tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) and black tern (Chlidonias niger). Hydrobiologia 828:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3791-9
Green RE, Hawell J, Johnson TH (1987) Identification of predators of wader eggs from egg remains. Bird Study 34:87–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063658709476940
Hart JD, Milsom TP, Baxter A, Kelly PF, Parkin WK (2002) The impact of livestock on lapwing Vanellus vanellus breeding densities and performance on coastal grazing marsh. Bird Study 49:67–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063650209461246
Hensler GL, Nichols JD (1981) The Mayfield method of estimating nesting success: a model, estimators and simulation results. Wilson Bull 93:42–53
Kis J, Liker A, Székely T (2000) Nest defence by lapwings: observations on natural behaviour and an experiment. Ardea 88:155–163
Kumar V, Mishra H, Kumar A (2021) Foraging behavior in river lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii (Lesson, 1826) (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae): differences in technique, prey and habitat. J Asia Pac Biodivers 14:33–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2020.09.011
Ma L, Zhang J, Liu J, Yang C, Liang W, Moller AP (2019) Adaptation or ecological trap? Altered nest-site selection by reed parrotbills after an extreme flood. Avian Res 10:2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0141-1
Martin TE (1998) Are microhabitat preferences of coexisting species under selection and adaptive? Ecology 79:656–670. https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(1998)079[0656:AMPOCS]2.0.CO;2
Mayfield H (1961) Nesting success calculated from exposure. Wilson Bull 73:255–261
Mayfield HF (1975) Suggestions for calculating nest success. Wilson Bull 87:456–466
Mishra H, Kumar V, Kumar A (2018) Population structure, behaviour and distribution patter of river lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii (Lesson, 1826). J Asia Pac Biodivers 11:422–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2018.06.001
Mishra H, Kumar V, Kumar A (2020) Factor influencing nesting success of the river lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii (Lesson, 1826). Avian Biol Res 13:35–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/1758155920921072
Murphy TM (1994) Breeding patterns of Eastern phoebes in Kansas: adaptive strategies or physiological constraint? Auk 111:617–633. https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/111.3.617
Nager RG, Zandt HS (1994) Variation in egg size in great tit. Ardea 82:315–328
Narushin VG (2005) Egg geometry calculation using the measurements of length and breadth. Poult Sci 84:482–484. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/84.3.482
Pearce-Higgins JW, Yalden DW (2003) Golden plover Pluvialis apricaria breeding success on a moor managed for shooting red grouse Lagopuslagopus. Bird Study 50:170–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063650309461309
Perrins CM (1966) Survival of young Manx shearwaters Puffinus puffinus in relation to their presumed date of hatching. Ibis 108:132–135. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1966.tb07259.x
Ruffino L, Salo P, Koivisto E, Banks PB, Korpimäki E (2014) Reproductive responses of birds to experimental food supplementation: a meta-analysis. Front Zool 11:80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-014-0080-y
Salek M, Smilauer P (2002) Predation on northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus nests: the effect of population density and spatial distribution of nests. Ardea 90:51–60
Sargeant AB, Sovada MA, Greenwood RJ (1998) Interpreting evidence of depredation of duck nests in the prairie pothole region. US Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Centre, Jamestown, ND and Ducks Unlimited, Memphis, TN pp. 72
Seymour AS, Harris S, Ralston C (2003) Factors influencing the nesting success of lapwings Vanellus vanellus and behaviour of red fox, Vulpes vulpes in lapwing nesting sites. Bird Study 50:39–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063650309461288
Shrubb M (1990) Effects of agricultural change on nesting lapwings Vanellus vanellus in England and Wales. Bird Study 37:115–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063659009477047
Slagsvold T (1989) Experiments on clutch size and nest size in passerine birds. Oecologia 80:297–302. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379030
Smith HG, Bruun M (1998) The effect of egg size and habitat on starling nestling growth and survival. Oecologia 115:59–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004420050491
Teunissen W, Schekkerman H, Willems F, Majoor F (2008) Identifying predators of eggs and chicks of lapwing Vanellus vanellus and black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa in the Netherlands and the importance of predation on wader reproductive output. Ibis 150:74–85. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2008.00861.x
Wiersma P, Kirwan GM (2016) River lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii. In: del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J, Christie DA, de Juana E (eds) Handbook of the birds of the world alive. Lynx Editions, Barcelona
Yamazaki M, Hamada Y, Ibuka T, Momii T, Kimura M (2001) Seasonal variations in the community structure of aquatic organisms in a paddy field under a long-term fertilizer trial. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 47:587–600. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2001.10408422
Zhao L, Li LX, Zhang XA (2002) Effects of hatching behavior on offspring quality in two species passerines. Zool Res 23:25–30
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their gratefulness to the Head, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, for providing facilities and administrative support. Vikas Kumar is thankful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, for Senior Research Fellowship [Ref. No. 21/06/2015(i) EU-V]. The authors are also thankful to Mr. Rishi Shakya, an undergraduate student who actively helped during the fieldwork, and to the local people of the study area who have given the secondary information about the nesting sites.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Vikas Kumar (conceptualization, performed field survey, data collection, statistical analysis, and writing), Himanshu Mishra (performed field survey, data collection, and interpretation), Prateek (data collection and interpretation), Ashish Kumar (conceptualization, interpretation, and planning research).
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Communicated by: Cristiano Azevedo
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kumar, V., Mishra, H., Prateek et al. Nest characteristics, egg attributes, and hatching success of river lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii. Ornithol. Res. 30, 118–129 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43388-022-00089-y
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43388-022-00089-y