Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Siegfried W.R. (1971) Feeding activity of the Cattle Egret. ARDEA 59 (1-2): 38-46
The paper reports some observations on hunting methods, and frequency of feeding activity and foraging efficiency of the Cattle Egret Ardeola ibis. The normal and commonest method of hunting involves the bird in a steady walk, interspersed with stabs, and runs and stabs at prey. Cattle Egrets generally slackened their feeding efforts in the middle of the day. Proportionally more effort was spent on feeding in late summer (the driest time in the dry season) than in any other time in the year. Foraging appeared most efficient (in terms of increased rate of prey capture) in early summer and least efficient in late summer. Adult Cattle Egrets appeared to be more efficient than juveniles in capturing prey.


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