KROON GHJ DE (2006) Nest success of the Water Rail Rallusaquaticus in the Netherlands.. LIMOSA 79 (1): 13-18.

During five breeding seasons (March-July 1989, 1993-1995 and 1998), nest survival and hatching probability of eggs of the Water Rail were studied in three nature reserves in riverine marshes in the Province of Zuid-Holland in The Netherlands. Nest success was calculated according to Mayfield (1975). We systematically searched for a nest at locations where rails were calling. If necessary, calls were played back using a cassette player. Thirty-seven nests were found in total and observed for a total of 460 nest days. Thirty of these nests were successful. The daily survival probability was 0.985 (SD 0.006, 95% confidence limits 0.972- 0.994). Given an incubation period of 21 days, the survival probability of a completed clutch is thus 0.728 (0.55-0.88). From a total of 243 eggs surviving to the hatching day (excluding 39 eggs from seven nests that were lost), 232 chicks hatched (95.5%). 11 eggs did not hatch because they were not fertilized (3) or the embryos died prematurely (8). Thus, the probability that an egg hatched successfully in this study was 0.695. The nestling period was not studied because chicks leave the nest in case of alarm. Rallus aquaticus

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