"Gregariousness" behavior of little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (Pallas, 1764) at Morocco
Abstract
This study aims to identify the "gregariousness" behavior of the little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis at Morocco from 2013 to 2014 in the hilly reservoir of Hassar dam in the province of Mohammedia at Morocco. The number of species varied to a great extent between January 2013 and August 2014. The population in 2013 was affected by high mortality probably due to intoxication after the release of highly polluted wastewater from the city of Mediouna, the village of Sidi Hejjaj and other villages present in the upstream of the dam reservoir.
We recorded 1492 individuals in January 2013 (the highest density of the species in Morocco) and the number fell sharply after then, and start increasing in May 2014 to reach 577 individuals in August 2014.
The population living in an area not exceeding to 1 km2 manifest gregariousness behavior consistent with the groups that can reach 180 individuals at some instances. During breeding, the species showed no gregarious behavior and are seen only as pairs. These singles are usually remote and hounded by couples.
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