Nestlings Behavior And Growth Of Great Bustard In Captivity

Scan sampling and Focal sampling methods were utilized to determine the behavior mode, daily rhythm and behavior trends of the nestlings of Great Bustard;Each growth indicator were measured to obtain the growing curves and equations;Correlation analysis was taken between the behavior and growth indicators of young Great Bustard to understand the relation between them.Whether artificial incubation was successful largely depends on raising management, including temperature, moisture, forage nutrient composition and disease prevention and cure, etc. In the first 3 days, for young Great Bustard resting and standing behavior increased, while crouching and singing behavior decreased, which was similar with sub-adult Great Bustard without total pattern. The behavior of Great Bustard was mainly constituted by resting(51.7%) , standing (16.1%) and walking (18.8%) behavior, also preening (3.2%) and winging (6.1%) behavior. During the growth of young Great Bustard, resting behavior kept a high percentage, foraging and preening behavior increased with the decreasing of singing and crouching behavior. There are classic correlations between foraging, walking, watching, preening and resting behavior, also crouching, winging and singing behavior.The growth of each growth indicator showed the form of "S", and belonged to Logistic equation. The growth of each organ was slow and stable within 100 days, and ceased to 3 month. The growth of tarsus, gape and the third toe was in the former period, and body weight in later period. Great significance (p<0.05) can not be found between each growth indicator of male and female birds except the third toe. Orders can be found for the growth of nestlings plumage, the sequence of Primaries was from inner to outer, while Secondaries was middle first and sides later;For Rectrices, the sheath falling was middle oriental, that is sides first and middle latter.Otherwise, the growth of each indicator influenced behavior greatly: great significance can be found between behavior and growth indicators (p<0.01). The results revealed that walking behavior correlated with the growth of body length (p<0.01), feeding behavior correlated with the increase of body weight, body length, wing length;on the other hand, crouching behavior correlated with body weight, tail length and wing length (p<0.05). The diverse behavior was based on the growth of many growth indicators.Circumstance limited the growth of young Great Bustard greatly, so quite, safe and proper environment should be provided for them to guarantee the survival rate of artificial incubation.