Preliminary Survey of the Breeding Biology of the Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio in Anzali wetland, Southwest Caspian Sea

The Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio is a resident waterbird in Iran. It has a very small population in Anzali wetland which is one of the main breeding areas of this species in Gilan Province. The present study was conducted to study the breeding biology and ecology of the Purple Swamphen in Anzali wetland during the breeding seasons of 2011 and 2012 In this study, nine nests, including four active nests with 16 eggs, were\ found and studied in Jahadbekandeh Ab-bandan, 236 ha, in the central section of Anzali wetland. The nests had shallow cups constructed within reed clusters. The average maximum and minimum diameters of the nestcups were 44.7 and 34.9 cm, respectively, and the average external height of the nest-cups was 28.2 cm (N=9). The clutch size was 3 to 5 (N=4). The average length and width of the eggs were 52.2 and 40.7 mm (N=16), respectively. Eight of 16 eggs were successfully hatched.