Banded stilt breeding at Lake Barlee, Western Australia

Abstract

A recently abandoned breeding colony of the Banded Stilt discovered at Lake Barlee, Western Australia, in September 1980, contained 179,000 nests and 255,000 addled eggs and dead chicks. Density of nests was as high as 18/m². Available data suggest that Banded Stilt colonies continue to be active for long periods while environmental conditions are favourable and that new nests are constructed in areas abandoned by running juveniles, hence the high density of nests.