SHORT NOTES
Flight behavior and feeding areas of a large flock of Baikal Teals (Anas formosa) at Lake Shinji (Japan) during winter
2023 Volume 72 Issue 2 Pages 223-233
Details
2023 Volume 72 Issue 2 Pages 223-233
Records of Baikal Teal (Anas formosa) flocks involving tens of thousands of individuals are rare in Japan, thus little research has been done to determine where and how these large flocks spend their time. In February 2020, more than 20,000 Baikal Teals were found at Lake Shinji in Japan. The aim of this study was to observe and assess their flight behavior and feeding area during winter. Flocks were seen to fly from the lake twice a day, in the morning and in the early evening. Continuous investigation of their destination revealed that they landed on a wooded hillside near the middle reaches of the Hii River. Some of the woodlands included acorn-bearing Oak trees (Quercus spp.). Images from a camera trap placed in the woodland indicated that Baikal Teals were feeding on these acorns.
