Reproductive features and behavoir of Podilymbus Podiceps (Aves: Podicipedidae) in two wetlands of Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

The wetland Santa María del Lago and La Florida, Bogotá (Colombia), were selected to study the reproduction and behavior of Podilymbus podiceps, during September of 1998 to June of 2000. Observations were accomplished in striping and fix stations in both localities studied. We evidence that Podilymbus podiceps establishes temporary monogamous sexual links during approximately four months. In 15 couples (13 in Santa María del Lago, 2 in La Florida) we observed the reproductive cycle phases: couple training, courting, coitus, and the cooperative participation of the male and the female on nests elaboration and egg hatching. The nests were elaborated with the aquatic vegetation present in the wetland and mud. The nest contains consists of 1 - 6 eggs, which due to the temperature and elaborating material varied their coloration. Furthermore, we document the parental care and the period of sucklings emancipation in the wetland Santa María del Lago, where we showed that the reproduction was successful since August 1999 towards the end of the study, apparently influenced by the rainfall and aquatic vegetation growth. In the wetland La Florida nesting was not viable, and the two nests registered in this place during the of study, were not successful.

Keywords

• Podilymbus
• Podicipedidae
• Humedales
• Reproducción
• Comportamiento