Colony Site Selection of Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) During the Breeding Period at Multiple Spatial Scales

ABSTRACT The colony site selection of birds reflects their adaptability to the ecological environment. As one of the most common and widely distributed heron species, the gray heron ( Ardea cinerea ) serves as an interesting study case for ornithologists. Researchers often study their colony site selection characteristics to understand how they adapt to different ecological environments and how these adaptation strategies affect their survival and reproduction. However, the majority of research has focused solely on studying the gray heron in a single region at scales. To maintain the model's generalization ability and ensure accurate predictions of gray heron colony preferences, we avoided using excessively similar landscapes within a single landscape mode. This study utilizes geographic information systems (GIS) and random forest (RM) models to examine the colony site selection during the breeding period of gray herons across various regions and spatial scales, providing insights into their adaptability and the environmental factors influencing their colony site selection. By conducting research across most regions of China, we gain valuable insights into gray heron adaptability and colony strategies across various environments. The results indicate that potentially suitable foraging habitats are the primary determinant of gray heron colony site selection. When habitat requirements are met, gray heron exhibit a degree of flexibility in colony site choice, highlighting their adaptive behaviors and potentially offering new insights into their widespread distribution. By employing this approach, our findings offer new insights into wildlife conservation, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping conservation strategies. Additionally, the methods used in this study may be applicable to other bird species and colony groups, providing valuable insights into habitat preferences across diverse ecological contexts.