Population dynamics and nesting of three species of egret on Xiamen Dayu Island
厦门大屿岛三种鹭的种群动态和营巢

This paper deals with the population dynamics and nesting of Nycticorax nycticorax, Egretta garzetta and Ardeola bacchus in the Egret Naturel Reserve on Xiamen Dayu Island. The number of three egret species vary greatly with the season. May, June and July is the peak seasons. When the total birds reach about 5000 in each month. Especially, 5610 birds are sighted in May,and three species account for 50.8%, 32.0% and 17.2%, respectively. In April, most egrets begin to nest on the branchs of Acacia confusa, and nests come to 6000 during middle May and the beginning of June.The results show that the three species of egret are all resident and breeding birds of the Island.