Part 8

Breeding schedule.--There is no information on breeding schedule in the State.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is 2 to 5 eggs (Davie, 1898).

Nests in Kansas are placed among those of Great Blue Herons.

=Black-crowned Night Heron=: Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli (Gmelin).--This is a locally common summer resident around marshes and riparian habitats. Characteristics of the occurrence of the species in time are given in Table 10.

Breeding schedule.--Eggs are laid in the period May 1 to August 10.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is about 4 eggs.

Nests are placed at medium elevations in riparian trees, in Kansas chiefly cottonwood, or in beds of emergent marsh vegetation.

=Yellow-crowned Night Heron=: Nyctanassa violacea violacea (Linnaeus).--This is a local summer resident in riparian habitats, chiefly in southeastern Kansas. Specimens taken in the breeding season and records of nesting come from Meade, Stafford, Doniphan, Douglas, Greenwood, Woodson, Labette, and Cherokee counties. Characteristics of occurrence in time in Kansas are shown in Table 10. Breeding schedule.--Eggs are laid in May and June.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is about 4 eggs.

Nests are placed in riparian trees.

=Least Bittern=: Ixobrychus exilis exilis (Gmelin).--This is a local summer resident in marshland. Characteristics of its occurrence in time are indicated in Table 10.

Breeding schedule.--Eleven records of breeding span the period May 21 to July 20; the modal date of egg-laying seems to be in the first week of June.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is about 4 eggs.

Nests are placed in dense emergent vegetation a few inches to a foot above the surface of the water.

=American Bittern=: Botaurus lentiginosus (Rackett).--This is a local summer resident in marshes and heavy grassland. The species occurs temporally according to characteristics as listed in Table 10.

Breeding schedule.--Eggs are laid in May and probably in June.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is 3 or 4 eggs.

Nests are placed on the ground in heavy cover.

=White-faced Ibis=: Plegadis chihi (Vieillot).--This is a local summer resident in marshland; actual records of breeding come only from Barton County (Nossaman, 1952:7; Zuvanich, 1963; M. Schwilling, personal communication, July, 1962). The species has been recorded in the State from April 17 to October 6.

Breeding schedule.--Twenty-five breeding records are for June and early July.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is about 4 eggs (3.9, 3-4; 24).

Nests are placed in emergent marsh vegetation near the surface of the water, in Barton County in extensive cattail beds harboring also Black-crowned Night Herons.

=Mallard=: Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Linnaeus.--This is a local summer resident around marshes. The time of greatest abundance is October to April, but most birds move north for breeding.

Breeding schedule.--Fifteen records of breeding span the period April 1 to June 10; the modal date of egg-laying is in the first ten days of May.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size varies widely; first clutches are of about 12 eggs. Brood sizes vary from 3 to 12 individuals in Kansas.

Nests are placed on the ground surface, in pasture grasses, marsh grasses, cattail, sedge, and smartweed.

=Pintail=: Anas acuta Linnaeus.--This is a local summer resident in marshland. The time of greatest abundance is from September to May, but most birds move north for breeding.

Breeding schedule.--Eleven records of breeding span the period April 21 to June 10; the peak of egg-laying seems to be in the period May 1 to 10.