Behavior and Phenology of Wigeon Anas penelope in the Garaet of Hadj-Tahar (Skikda, Northeast of Algeria)

Abstract

Algerian Numidia (north-east of Algeria) is composed of about twenty fresh water bodies, the majority of which are marshy and landlocked in forest areas, some (Lake Tonga, Garaet Hadj-Tahar...) enjoying legal protection (Ramsar site). They present a luxuriant richness in aquatic grassland and attract a much diversified aquatic avifauna composed mainly of the Anatidae (dabbling ducks and diving ducks), the Ardeidae, the Podicipedidae, the Scolopacidae and the Charadriidae. Wigeon Anas penelope is a dabbling duck very little studied in North Africa. Its ecology, its spatio-temporal distribution, and its dynamics are still poorly documented throughout this region of the Mediterranean basin. In this work we studied the ecology of this species in hydrosystems of the North-East of Algeria, or we noted that Garaet Hadj-Tahar hosted during the wintering season (2011/2012) more than 550 individuals. This species occupies the deepest sites of the stady site. We also noted that sleeping (35%) and swimming (38 %) are the dominant activities, feeding (6%) and preening (20 %) are also observed with low rates and flying is very low (1%).