Activity budgets of waterfowl (Anatidae) on a waste-stabilisation pond

Abstract

This study investigated the activity budgets of eight species of waterfowl on a waste-stabilisation pond known to support a large waterfowl community. Most species examined were found to use the area extensively for feeding. Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus), Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis), Grey Teal (A. gibberifrons) and Chestnut Teal (A. castanea) fed most intensively at sunrise and sunset, and rested during the middle of the day. Hardhead (Aythya australis), a diving species, Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides) and Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) -large birds that were presumably able to reach the benthos from the water's surface -fed at relatively consistent levels throughout the day. Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) steadily increased the amount of time spent feeding from dawn to dusk. The diurnal activity budgets of these Australian species were similar to those observed for other species occupying similar ecological niches elsewhere. Imminent changes to sewage treatment operations may reduce the ability of this waste-stabilisation pond to support waterfowl populations. The monitoring of activity budgets after any such changes are implemented should be an effective means of detecting any effects, negative or positive.

REVIEW: Perspectives on wastewater treatment wetlands and waterbird conservation

“…The main action taken to meet this requirement was the installation of two activated sludge plants and, as a result, the treated water, which now supplies most of the WSP systems, is substantially lower in organic C and N than raw sewage whilst the concentration of P has remained largely unchanged (Hamilton 2002). An activity budget study monitored the diurnal activities of eight waterbird species over the two years preceding the treatment process change (Hamilton, Taylor & Hepworth 2002), and subsequent monitoring (Mustoe & Waugh 2006; Mustoe 2009) using the same protocol (Hepworth & Hamilton 2001), confirmed statistically significant ( P < 0·05) declines in the time spent feeding for all eight species (Mustoe & Waugh 2006; Mustoe 2009). Understanding the reasons for these declines would require food and bird condition data, which are not available.…”

Abundance and diurnal activity budget of sympatric Podicipedidae species at a Ramsar site in north-east Algeria

“…Patterns of daily activity and behaviour can vary widely between species, and activity budgets help us in understanding the life history and ecological adaptations of birds (Evers 1994;Hamilton, Taylor, and Hepworth 2002;Jónsson and Afton 2006). Resulting data can increase understanding of habitat use and niche separation among species because natural selection should favour individuals that best apportion their time among each activity, habitat and climatic condition (Titman 1981;Rave and Baldassarre 1989).…”

Waterbird use of farm dams in south-eastern Australia: abundance and influence of biophysical and landscape characteristics

“…Wastewater treatment wetlands (sewage ponds and stormwater treatment ponds) have been the subject of much study in terms of waterbird conservation, particularly in south-eastern Australia (e.g., Hamilton et al 2002Taylor 2004, 2005;Murray and Hamilton 2010), but next to nothing is known about the role of farm dams in this context. There have been a few investigations of other taxa-invertebrates (Geddes 1986;Burgin 2006, 2009;Lake et al 2010) and frogs (Hazell et al 2001)-but even these are highly localised in their geographical coverage, involving surveys of merely a handful of dams; and there are no published studies of waterbird abundance, richness, or community structure.…”