Breeding ecology of Kentish Plovers Charadrius alexandrinus in rocky and sandy habitats of north-west Morocco (North Africa)

Abstract

On the north-west coast of Morocco, egg laying by Kentish Plovers Charadrius alexandrinus occurred from late March to early June, with peaks in early April and mid May. Nests in rocky habitat were significantly closer to each other than were those in sandy habitat. Higher human disturbance was evident in sandy habitat, whereas tidal flooding had an important impact on nests in rocky habitat. The Moroccan Kentish Plover population has similar breeding parameters and faces comparable threats to those known from populations on the northern border of the Mediterranean Sea and at other localities in southern Europe.