The First Record of Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) Nesting in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia with a Description of Nest Attendance Behavior

Abstract

This study recorded the first nesting attempt of the Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) in Al-Fanateer Island, located about 1.5 km east of Jubail Industrial City, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. A trail camera was used to record and describe the nest attendance behavior of this species over 24 h. The results showed that the egg was incubated more than 80% in each two-hour period except for the periods (00:00 - 01:59 h; 02:00 - 03:59 h and 20:00 - 21:59 h) when it was incubated 56.67 %, 29.17 % and 45.00 % respectively. The incubating parent spent more time sitting on the egg rather than standing on the nest in each two-hour period except for the periods (02:00 - 03:59 h and 20:00 - 21:59 h) when the parent never sat on the egg during the period (02:00 - 03:59 h) and sat for only 16.67 % during the period (20:00 - 21:59 h). Moreover, the incubating adult seemed to avoid facing the sun which may be considered a behavioral mechanism to protect the egg from direct sunlight.