Abstract
We studied sex differences in collision mortality in adult Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) at a wind farm in the direct vicinity of a breeding site in Zeebrugge, Belgium in 2005-2007. In total, 64 fatalities were collected and sexed, of which 64% were males. Uneven sex ratio among these birds was most pronounced during the period of incubation and early chick feeding (15 May-15 June), when 78% of the 28mortalities were male. During prelaying and feeding of young, the sex ratio of mortalities did not differ from equality. We argue that sex-biased collision mortality in Common Terns does not result from morphological differences between the sexes, but rather reflects differences in foraging frequency between males and females during egg-laying and incubation.
Original language | English |
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Journal | The Condor: an international journal of avian biology |
Volume | 110 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 154-157 |
Number of pages | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Thematic list
- Policy
- Natura 2000 and conservation objectives
- Conservation
- Wind energy
- Environment
- Birds
EWI Biomedical sciences
- B280-animal-ecology