ANNUAL VARIATION IN SURVIVAL AND BREEDING PROBABILITY IN GREATER FLAMINGOS

Annual local survival of adult Greater Flamingos, Phoenicopterus ruber roseus, breeding at their natal colony in the Camargue (southern Fran ce), was studied using ringed birds observed at the colony from 1983 t o 1991. Survival and probability of resighting were estimated separate ly, using capture-recapture models. Because all the birds we observed were nesting, differences in probability of resighting reflect differe nces in probability of breeding. Winter severity significantly affecte d survival. Annual local survival was 93% during normal years, but in 1984-1985, following a severe cold spell, survival fell to 76%. Sex an d age (range 4 to 14 yr old) had no significant effect on survival. Re sighting rates varied between 11% and 88% during the study period. The re were significant additive effects of year, sex, and age on resighti ng rates. The probability of resighting increased with age in both mal es and females, reflecting the progressive access to regular reproduct ive status in this population. However, males had a higher probability of being resighted than females, probably due to their higher rates o f mate switching and renesting following breeding failure.