Sleeping on a tightrope: White-breasted Cormorants Phalacrocorax lucidus and African Darters Anhinga rufa roosting on transmission lines

Karis Daniel,Les G Underhill,Itxaso Quintana

doi:10.15641/bo.993

Abstract

Though recent research has explored the negative impact of human infrastructure on large waterbirds, few studies have examined behavioural byproducts such as roosting or nesting on transmission wires. Here, we document our observation of a joint roost of White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus and African Darter Anhinga rufa on transmission lines in the Western Cape, South Africa. We highlight current gaps in understanding communal roosting, joint roosts between species, and roosting on infrastructure, and provide recommendations for future directions of study.

Highlights

Sleeping on a tightrope: White-breasted Cormo-White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus and African Darter Anhinga rufa are large waterbird species, both widespread across subrants Phalacrocorax lucidus and African Darters Saharan Africa and considered Least Concern by the IUCN (IUCN2020)
Though recent research has explored the negative impact of human Cormorant P. brasilianus) as “capable of perching on cables”, this statement is made without referioural byproducts such as roosting or nesting on transmission wires. ences
On both 26 and 29 June we travelled along minor roads to the west of as to why the birds chose to roost on transmission wires instead of on the N7, the national road from Cape Town to Namibia

Summary

Introduction

Sleeping on a tightrope: White-breasted Cormo-White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus and African Darter Anhinga rufa are large waterbird species, both widespread across subrants Phalacrocorax lucidus and African Darters Saharan Africa and considered Least Concern by the IUCN (IUCN2020). White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus and African Darter Anhinga rufa are large waterbird species, both widespread across subrants Phalacrocorax lucidus and African Darters Saharan Africa and considered Least Concern by the IUCN African Darter is locally common in freshwater bodies and wet-. Both species are nomadic in response to changing water quality and levels and are somewhat gregarious at breeding and roosting sites, of-. Donostia, San Sebastián 20018, Spain, and Biodiversity and Development Institute, Gunners Park, Gunners Circle, Epping, South Africa (Chittenden et al 2016; Sinclair et al 2011). University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa, structures such as trees, bushes or large reedbeds has been previousand Biodiversity and Development Institute, Gunners Park, Gunners ly reported as common (Chittenden et al 2016)

Results

Discussion

Conclusion