Caspian Tern Sterna Caspia Research Articles

Breeding Population of Birds on Banifaror Island in the Persian Gulf

This research was conducted in Banifaror Island (26o06'51N 54o26'43E), in Persian Gulf from August 2009 to August 2012. The aim of this study is to provide a complete picture of the Present population of the breeding water birds in Banifaror. Total count method was used to obtain the census of the nests and breeding population of water birds. Forty one species of water birds were identified in this island, of which six species were breeder. Breeding population of Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus was dominant. The maximum population of this species was 32340 pairs in 2009. Other breeder species were Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis, Swift Tern Sterna bergii, Caspian Tern Sterna caspia, Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis, and a small colony of White cheeked Tern Sterna repressa. The island has been suggested for to be classified as sensitive habitat for breeding water birds. This is the first record of the status of the breeding population of water birds on Banifaror Island.

English

The research was conducted in Ghabre Nakhoda, Nedelghar, Dara and Boneh islands in Khore Mosa Ramsar site in the Persian Gulf from May to December 2003 and 2012. Total count method was used to obtain the census of the nests and breeding population of waterbirds on the Islands. Thirty three (34) species of waterbirds were identified, of which eight species were breeders. The maximum breeding population of Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis, Swift Tern sterna bergii, Caspian Tern Sterna caspia, Bridled Terns sterna anaethetus, Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis and Crab Plover Dromas ardeola were 2551, 124, 120, 1310, 23 and 10500 pairs, respectively. Only two pairs of Little Egret Egretta garzetta had been bred in 2003 in the Ghabre Nakhoda. The islands have been identified as an "important bird area" (as a part of Shadeghan marsh) by Birdlife International proposed for protection as a part of the wildlife refuge of Shadeghan and suggested for to be classified as sensitive habitat for breeding seabirds. Key words: Breeding species, nest number, species diversity, Persian Gulf.

Birds Observation and Nest Count of Crab Plover <i>Dromas ardeola</i>, Western Reef Heron <i>Egretta gularis</i> and four Tern species on Ghaber Nakhoda Island (Persian Gulf) in 2003 and 2012

This research was conducted in Ghabre Nakhoda Island (30°20′26″ N 48°55′53″ E) in Khore mosa Creek from May 2003 to December 2003 and May 2012 to December 2012. The area of the island is about 3 hectare. The aim of this study is to provide a complete picture of the Present population of the colonial breeding waterbirds in Ghabre Nakhoda island in Khore Mosa Creek. Total count method was used to obtain the census of the nests and breeding population. Thirty tow species of waterbirds were identified in the island, of which eight species were breeder. Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis was dominant and indicates. The maximum breeder population of this species was 2500 pairs in 2003. Other breeder species were Crab Plover Dromas ardeola , Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis , Swift Tern Sterna bergii , Caspian Tern Sterna caspia , Bridled Terns Sterna anaethetus , Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis , and a small colony of White cheeked Tern Sterna repressa . The island has been identified as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife international proposed for protection as a part of the Shadeghan wildlife refuge and suggested for to be classified as sensitive habitat for breeding waterbirds. The main plant communities of the island are Atriplex sp, Stipa sp, Suaeda sp. and Halostachys sp..

Census and Phenology of Breeding Waterbirds on the Islands of Khan, Tahmadon, Om-Al-Gorm and Nakhiloo in the Persian Gulf, Iran

There are 4 islands Khan, Tahmadon, Om-Al-Gorm and Nakhiloo in the Mond Protected in Boshehr province in the Persian Gulf. This research was conducted in these islands from March 2008 to September 2012. Thirty four species of birds were identified in these Islands. Nine species were breeders. Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus was dominant and indicates. The maximum population of this species was 29,461 pairs in 2006 in Nakhiloo. The Maximum breeding population of Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis was 11,783 pairs in 2012 in Nakhiloo, and Swift Tern Sterna bergii was estimated at 2,500 pairs in 2008. We estimated 92 pairs of Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis and 2,825 pairs of Crab Plover Dromas ardeola in 2005 in Om-Al-Gorm. The other breeders were Caspian Tern Sterna caspia , Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica , White-cheecked Tern Sterna repressa and Saunders’s Tern Sterna saunders . These four islands are the most important and sensitive habitat for breeding terns species Sterna sp, Crab Plover Dromas ardeola and Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis in the Persian Gulf. The islands have been identified as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International proposed for protection as a part of the Mond Protected Area, now part of National Marine Park of Dayer, and suggested for to be classified as sensitive habitat for breeding seabirds.

Breeding of Large, Water-Associated, Colonially Nesting Birds of the North-Eastern Region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Little has been documented on large (>250 g), water-associated birds in the north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, that nest colonially and rely on suitable sites for breeding. The purpose of this study was to highlight these species and the importance of nesting sites for their effective conservation management. From 1920–2010, there were 622 records of 27 of these species breeding at more than 48 sites. Five sites accounted for 65% of these breeding events, four at Lake St Lucia, highlighting its importance for bird conservation. Several sites were abandoned. However, two new sites have established more recently (Nsumo Pan, Mkhuze Game Reserve; Nyamithi Pan, Ndumo Game Reserve) that are important in terms of number of individuals as well as variety of species. Some species (Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens, Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus, Caspian Tern Sterna caspia, Great-white Pelican P. onocrotalus and African Spoonbill Platalea alba) have bred regularly but have used only a few sites, mainly at Lake St Lucia. Two species (Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus and Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca) have bred once only on Lane Island (1961) and in trees at the mouth of the Hluhluwe River (before 1964) respectively. Two colonial sites hosted 10-12 species while others (n = 8) only two. Twenty-one sites were used by only one species. Two species (Pink-backed Pelican and Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis) nest nowhere else in South Africa on a regular basis. Recommendations for the ongoing monitoring and conservation of these colonially-nesting birds in the region, particularly in terms of securing these sites, are made.

BREEDING NOMADISM IN SOUTHERN AFRICAN SEABIRDS-CONSTRAINTS, CAUSES AND CONSERVATION

Summary Crawford, R.J.M., Dyer, B.M. & Brooke, R.K. 1994. Breeding nomadism in southern African seabirds-constraints, causes and conservation. Ostrich 65:231-246. Fourteen species of seabirds representing three orders and five families breed in southern Africa. Nomadism in the breeding populations of 13 of these seabirds is examined. African Penguins Spheniscus demersus, Cape Gannets Morus capensis. Bank Cormorants Phalacrocorax neglectus, Whitebreasted Cormorants P. carbo and White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus show strong fidelity to specific localities. Caspian Terns Sterna caspia change breeding localities at a low frequency; Cape Cormorants P. capensis, Hartlaub's Gulls Larus hartlaubii and Swift S. bergii and Roseate S. dougallii Terns at a higher frequency. At some localities, Bank Cormorants remain at the same breeding sites for extended periods, whereas Crowned Cormorants P. coronatus, Whitebreasted Cormorants, Kelp Gulls L. dominicanus, Hartlaub's Gulls, Damara Terns S. balaenarum, Swift Terns ...

DISTRIBUTION, POPULATION SIZE AND CONSERVATION OF THE CASPIAN TERN STERNA CASPIA IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Summary Cooper, J., Brooke, R.K., Cyrus, D.P., Martin, A.P., Taylor, R.H. & Williams, A.J. 1992. Distribution, population size and conservation of the Caspian Tern Sterna caspia in southern Africa. Ostrich 63: 58–67. The Caspian Tern Sterna caspia occurs along the whole southern African coastline and on large river systems and water bodies away from the coast. A total of 28 definite breeding localities has been recorded in southern Africa. Breeding has occurred recently at at least 14 coastal localities between Swakopmund, Namibia, and Lake St Lucia, Natal, South Africa. Inland breeding has been recorded in recent years at Sua Pan, Botswana and Kalkfonteindam, Orange Free State, South Africa. Based on censuses conducted between 1980 and 1991, the southern African breeding population is estimated to be of the order of 500 pairs, 91% of which breed coastally and 89% breed on islands. Up to 290 pairs (58%) bred at Lake St Lucia. Seventyone per cent of the 1980–1991 breeding population falls within eight natu...