Spangled Bittern

The spangled bittern ( Botaurus stellaris ) is a wader of the family of the ardéidés (Héron S, brush).

Present in Europe and Asia, he saw in the wetlands with a paludous vegetation very dense. In winter, it migrates more to the south, where water does not freeze.

Etymology

The Latin term for bittern, Botaurus , refers to the bull. The other part of its scientific name, stellaris in Latin, means star in reference to its plumage.

Aspect

It is large and large héron massive, brown heat striated with brown darker, very similar to the American bittern ( Botaurus lentiginosa ). Its length varies from 69 to 81 cm and its scale from 100 to 130 cm.

It is very mimetic and difficult to observe in its habitat, the Roselière S. One can in general see it in flight on short distances. The silhouette is then typical resembling a mixture of large owl and héron. Its presence is especially confirmed by the listening of its very powerful field (audible up to 5 km) and resembling a " foghorn ". The song gets along especially night.

Habitat

The spangled Bittern lives the mediums densément vegetalized with surfaces out of not very deep interstitial water and with weak variation of level. It is in particular in the marshes, marshes, large ponds, banks of lakes and large roselières.

Food

It nourishes fish, Amphibien S and invertebrates, but sometimes it can drive out birds or small mammals.

Behavior

The spangled bittern is dissimulated in the common reeds roselières of the wetlands. Usually solitary, it evolves/moves furtively in the search of Amphibians and fish to nourish itself. If it feels that it was seen, it becomes motionless and points its nozzle to the top so as to mixing with the surrounding reeds. It is most active at dawn and the twilight.

Distribution

The spangled Bittern is a typically European species distributing itself of Spain to Russia. European manpower is estimated between 20.000 and 43.000 males singers including 10.000 to 30.000 for Russia.

In France, the current population is estimated between 300 and 400 males singers divided on three zones: the Mediterranean coastline, the Loire-atlantique and departments of the north and the North-East of France.

Conservation

Its population is in strong regression in all Europe because of the disappearance of the wetlands. Many the traditional zones of Nidification S were drained or, the density of the paludous vegetation strongly decreased. In certain places, the Chasse is another danger to the species. In all Europe remain between 1000 and 2000 couples.

At the European level, the species is regarded as " Vulnerable ". The European population would have undergone a decline of 20% between 1970 and 1990.

In France, the species is regarded as " Vulnerable " also. The French population was estimated at 500 couples in 1968. Between 1968 and 1983 the population underwent a strong decline from approximately 40% with 320 estimated couples. This report does of them one of the species most threatened of France.

See too

departmental Park of Courneuve

Taxinomic references

External bonds

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