Field notes on the breeding biology of the Dotterel Charadrius morinellus in arctic Norway

Abstract

From 2002 to 2010 twenty-four Dotterel nests were observed on Varangerfjell plateaus near Batsfjord. Females definitely took part in incubation in 18 cases. However, shared incubation could not be ruled out for the remaining 6 nests. One female defended the chicks against her own partner before they left the nest. Another lone female was seen leading 3 chicks for 5 days in a very small section of the study area, to our knowledge the only case of a female with chicks outside the nest ever recorded. Several nests were found less than 100 m apart. One bird laid eggs in the same nest in 2 consecutive years. These findings complement previously published observations and hypotheses.