EDIA – Global Bird Monitoring Program of the Alqueva Dam (EFMA) Secondary Irrigation Network, block B: Reproductive Parameters of diurnal raptors and colonial aquatic species [2021]

The dataset contains records of the reproductive parameters (number of eggs, non-fledgling and fledgling chicks) of several species of diurnal raptors and aquatic birds nesting in colonies in the block D of the Secondary Irrigation Network of the Alqueva Dam (irrigation blocks of Alvarrão, Brinches, Brinches-Enxoé, Caliços-Machado, Caliços-Moura, Orada-Amoreira, Pias and Serpa), as promoted by EDIA, S.A. Data were collected in 2-3 consecutive visits in a non-systematic way, during the breeding season, in the spring of 2021.

All ruined buildings in the Block area, included those previously known as breeding platforms were searched for, as well as other suitable breeding sites for the target species (eg., trees, cereral fields). A total of 13 nests of nine species were found, including five of diurnal raptors (three of Circus pygagus, two of Falco tinnunculus, one of Milvus migrans) and seven in a mixed colony of aquatic species (one each of Ardea cinerea, A. purpurea, Bubulcus ibis, Egretta garzetta, Ciconia ciconia and Nycticorax nycticorax).