OSME - Breeding Striated Heron in Israel

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The first breeding record of Striated Heron Butorides striatus in Israel

REUVEN YOSEF, MARTIN RYDBERG-HEDAEN,
LYNETTE MITCHELL AND HENK SMIT

STRIATED HERON Butorides striatus is considered a rare non-breeding visitor to the northern Gulf of Eilat that occurs throughout the year (Shirihai 1996, Snow & Perrins 1998). Breeding has never been confirmed and only juveniles, considered to have dispersed from further south, reported. Breeding in the Middle East is considered limited to the coastal zone of the southern Persian Gulf, south Arabia and the Red Sea to 28°N (Porter et al. 1996).

Breeding details

On 15 April 2002, staff of the mariculture farms notified us of a breeding pair of unidentified herons on one of their floating platforms located almost 1 km offshore. We visited the site and identified the birds as Striated Herons. The pair had constructed a nest of twigs within an abandoned plastic fruit box attached to the southernmost floating pen. According to the staff, three eggs were laid in early March and all three hatched successfully in late March. The young were observed out of the nest by mid-April, but the fishery staff did not record precise dates.

Upon arrival, in the immediate vicinity of the nest, we found that two of the fledglings had drowned but observed the third juvenile on a causeway between the fish tanks. Both adults were present and were hunting fish. It appears that the two young drowned when attempting to fish in the sea and fell in. One of the carcasses was recovered (Plate 1).

Discussion

The observations are unique: not only is this the first confirmed nesting in Israel and further north than the previously suggested latitude for the species' breeding range (Eilat is at 29°33'N 34°57'E), but also that breeding was at least one month earlier than the reported April-September (Shirihai 1996, Snow & Perrins 1998). It appears the species is capable of breeding along the entire length of the Red Sea coast given suitable environmental conditions. Further range expansion can perhaps be expected in similar areas where food abundance, such as at fish farms, and suitable nesting sites are available to the Striated Heron.

REFERENCES

PORTER, R. F., CHRISTENSEN, S. AND SCHIERMACKER-HANSEN, P. (1996) Field guide to the birds of the Middle East. T. & A. D. Poyser, London.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
SNOW, D. W. AND PERRINS, C. M. (EDS.) (1998) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise edition. Oxford University Press.

Reuven Yosef, International Birding & Research Center in Eilat, P. O. Box 774, Eilat 88000, Israel
Martin Rydberg-Hedaen, Slogasvagen 31, 7194 Ludvika, Sweden.
Lynette Mitchell, Murray Lodge, Burtons Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks HP8 4BL, U. K
Henk Smit, Vlinderbalg 7, 9976 VL Lauwersoog, The Netherlands.

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	STRIATED HERON Butorides striatus is considered a rare non-breeding visitor to the northern Gulf of Eilat that occurs throughout the year (Shirihai 1996, Snow & Perrins 1998). Breeding has never been confirmed and only juveniles, considered to have dispersed from further south, reported. Breeding in the Middle East is considered limited to the coastal zone of the southern Persian Gulf, south Arabia and the Red Sea to 28°N (Porter et al. 1996).
Breeding details
	On 15 April 2002, staff of the mariculture farms notified us of a breeding pair of unidentified herons on one of their floating platforms located almost 1 km offshore. We visited the site and identified the birds as Striated Herons. The pair had constructed a nest of twigs within an abandoned plastic fruit box attached to the southernmost floating pen. According to the staff, three eggs were laid in early March and all three hatched successfully in late March. The young were observed out of the nest by mid-April, but the fishery staff did not record precise dates. Upon arrival, in the immediate vicinity of the nest, we found that two of the fledglings had drowned but observed the third juvenile on a causeway between the fish tanks. Both adults were present and were hunting fish. It appears that the two young drowned when attempting to fish in the sea and fell in. One of the carcasses was recovered (Plate 1).
Discussion
	The observations are unique: not only is this the first confirmed nesting in Israel and further north than the previously suggested latitude for the species' breeding range (Eilat is at 29°33'N 34°57'E), but also that breeding was at least one month earlier than the reported April-September (Shirihai 1996, Snow & Perrins 1998). It appears the species is capable of breeding along the entire length of the Red Sea coast given suitable environmental conditions. Further range expansion can perhaps be expected in similar areas where food abundance, such as at fish farms, and suitable nesting sites are available to the Striated Heron.
REFERENCES
	PORTER, R. F., CHRISTENSEN, S. AND SCHIERMACKER-HANSEN, P. (1996) Field guide to the birds of the Middle East. T. & A. D. Poyser, London. SHIRIHAI, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London. SNOW, D. W. AND PERRINS, C. M. (EDS.) (1998) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise edition. Oxford University Press. Reuven Yosef, International Birding & Research Center in Eilat, P. O. Box 774, Eilat 88000, Israel Martin Rydberg-Hedaen, Slogasvagen 31, 7194 Ludvika, Sweden. Lynette Mitchell, Murray Lodge, Burtons Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks HP8 4BL, U. K Henk Smit, Vlinderbalg 7, 9976 VL Lauwersoog, The Netherlands.