Breeding Success of Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata in Central New South Wales

Abstract

Nests of Malleefowl were located during the nest building stage in August and September in three successive years (1981 - 1983). Nests were excavated at fortnightly intervals from just after the start of egg laying (in mid-October) until they were abandoned (in Feb.-Apr.), to determine the number and fate of eggs laid. A total of 530 eggs was studied in 34 nests; the mean clutch size was 15.6, range 3-33 w~th interquartile range 11-19 eggs. Of all eggs laid, 46.4% resulted in chicks that left the nest. In the last two years of the study there was a drought year followed by an exceptionally wet year. The extremes in rainfall were reflected in the number of eggs laid and their fate. Possible reasons for this are discussed.