Feeding Site Selection of Purple Swamphen in Winter

From November 2006 to February 2007, the characteristics of the feeding sites of Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) in winter were studied in Guangdong Haifeng Avian Natural Reserve, by sampling methods. The results showed that there was obvious selectivity of the vegetation in the feeding sites during winter, and Scirpus tabernaemontani was the preferred flora. We found that the main selection factors at the feeding sites in winter using the principal component analysis of 18 factors at 62 feeding sites, were the density of herbage, the height of herbage, the canopy of herbage, the shrub species, the water quality and the water level. In addition, we found that the main selection factors at the feeding sites using the Step DA between feeding sites and control samples plots, were the height of hay, the abundance of animal foods, the distance to the road, the herbage species, the distance to the byway and the distance to the water’s edge. The veracity to distinguish was 78.1%. Purple Swamphen preferred to feed in areas that had more Scirpus tabernaemontani or Phragmites communis, special water levels or water quality and medium interference from humans. Thus, restoration and protection of the extant feeding sites in winter are important for the conservation of Purple Swamphen.