First breeding by captive-bred houbara bustards introduced in central Saudi Arabia

Following introductions in 1993 and 1994, a population of 35 houbara bustards was established in the Mahazat as-Sayd protected area, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. First breeding was recorded in spring 1995 following a period of heavy rainfall. Two clutches of one and two eggs, respectively, and one brood of three 2-week-old chicks were located. All eggs were infertile, possibly due to a low density of breeding males or inexperience of the females. One nest was abandoned and the single infertile egg in the other nest was exchanged with a fertile one. The breeding females were aged 25 months, 24 months, and 12 months (the fertile one) at egg-laying. The fertile nest was constructed on the border of the home range of the breeding male whereas other nests were constructed outside of the range of any potential breeding male. The adult male likely to be the father of one brood was never observed with 'its' family. Once the chicks were older than 30 days, satellite mature and immature males were occasionally observed with broods. Chicks flew at 38-42 days of age but stayed with the mother until at least 3.5 months of age. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.