Breeding activities and success of Pleske's Ground Jay Podoces pleskei in Touran Biosphere Reserve, Semnan Province, Iran

The breeding biology of Pleske's Ground Jay Podoces pleskei was studied on theMehrano Plain (in Touran Biosphere Reserve, Iran) from February to May in 2007 and2008. Nest sites were located mainly in the top centre of dense vegetation, such as thorny bushes of Atraphaxis spinosa, Ephedra intermedia and Zygophyllum eurypterum. The cupshaped nests in Atraphaxis bushes and dome-shaped nests in other species shrubs like Ephedra and Zygophyllum were built from thin branches and twigs that help protect nestlings against direct radiation from the sun. Clutch sizes varied from three to six eggs (4.1±0.6 mean ± SD) laid at the end of February. Hatching occurred within 17.5±1.5, mid- March. The probabilities of survival were: egg's during the incubation period 0.436, chicks during hatching period 0.86 and nestlings 0.963. The overall breeding success from the beginning of the incubation period until fledging was 0.36. The maximum mortality rate was calculated during the incubation period. Predators, such as Eastern Desert Monitor Varanus griseus caspius were important threats affecting egg survival. Reducing the rate of such threats during the incubation period through an effective management action plan would increase the breeding success rate of Pleske’s Ground Jay.