Breeding ecology of the northern shoveller (Spatula clypeata) in Tiffech Lake (Souk Ahras, Northeastern Algeria)

The breeding behavior of Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) was studied from January 2019 to March 2021 in Tiffech lake, an artificial wetland, in Souk Ahras Province, Northeastern Algeria. On this ecosystem, egg-laying occurred from earlier January to mid-March. In this study, there was a positive correlation between the egg-laying period and the number of active nests. The mean incubation period was 36.0 days. Clutches started later in the season and had a shorter incubation duration than early clutches. Hatching success amounted to 79.2% (n= 52 nests) and hatching success from eggs 37.6. In this study we measured water depth to control differences in habitats availability for the species, we speculate that differences in food abundance, water depth, and behavioral strategies during the breeding season collectively influence the selection of breeding habitat.