Birds and birding 2013-2020 at Macaneta, Southern Mozambique

The Macaneta area lies in the Incomati River estuary in northern Maputo Bay, Maputo Province, southern Mozambique. The 56 km2 area of study was selected based on access from tracks and follows no formal boundaries. The site comprises a 10 km stretch of ocean beach, coastal dunes with patchy thicket forest, and low lying wet grasslands inland to the Incomati River. The wetlands have complex hydrology offering diverse salinity and temporal conditions. The peninsula of Praia de Macaneta is also included in the study site but with few data. Improved access to the site in Oct 2016 enabled over 200 field ornithological visits Oct 2016-Oct 2020 and the sightings are analysed and reported herein. A total of 295 species was recorded including eight Globally Threatened birds (three Endangered, five Near-threatened) and Internationally Important numbers of White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and Whiskered Terns Chlidonias hybrida were found. Three new birds for Mozambique were discovered; Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata (first for Africa), White-rumped Sandpiper C. fuscicollis and Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiate. An annotated checklist of selected species is presented. The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in particular drew much birder interest with 254 international visitor days over the 12 weeks of its first visit Feb-Apr 2018, contributing over US$12,000 into the local economy. The bird returned for two further seasons but it was not possible to gather further data.

Molecular identification of Sarcocystis halieti in the muscles of two species of birds of prey from Spain

Background Members of the genus Sarcocystis are protozoan parasites characterized by a prey–predator two-host life-cycle. Sarcocysts are formed in the muscles or central nervous system of the intermediate host (IH), while sporocysts develop in the small intestine of the definitive host (DH). Various birds of prey have been confirmed to be DH for Sarcocystis spp. Three Sarcocystis species, S. wobeseri, S. halieti and S. falcatula, have been identified in the muscles of birds of prey, of which the latter are known to be pathogenic and can cause encephalitis in various birds. The aim of this study was to identify Sarcocystis spp. in the muscles of birds of prey from Spain. Methods Between 2019 and 2020, muscle tissue samples taken from 59 birds of prey admitted to the Wildlife Recovery Centre in Ilundain (Navarra, Spain) were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. Sarcocysts in fresh squashed samples were morphologically characterized under the light microscope (LM). Sarcocystis spp. were identified by means of 28S ribosomal RNA and internal transcribed spacer 1 sequence analysis. Results Microscopic examination of squashed tissue samples stained with methylene blue revealed the presence of sarcocysts in three of the 59 (5.1%) birds examined. Only one sarcocyst type was observed under the LM. Sarcocysts were thread-like (1050–2160 × 130–158 μm) and had a thin (0.7–1.4 μm) and smooth cyst wall. Septa divided the cysts into compartments filled with banana-shaped (5.9 × 1.7 μm) bradyzoites. On the basis of DNA sequence results, S. halieti was identified in the western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and the black kite (Milvus migrans) for the first time. Sarcocysts of S. halieti were shorter and wider compared to those observed in the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and the herring gull (Larus argentatus). According to current knowledge, S. halieti may infect birds belonging to four different orders: Suliformes, Charadriiformes, Strigiformes and Accipitriformes. Conclusions This is the first report of S. halieti in the western marsh harrier and the black kite as IH. So far, little research has been conducted on birds of prey as IH for Sarcocystis spp. These results indicate that further studies combining morphological, histopathological, and molecular methods are required. Graphical abstract

Comparison of metal burden in different muscle tissues of Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Concentrations of 12 metals (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn) were examined in the pectoral and thigh muscle of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo). The samples were collected from Central Tisza-Jászság Nature Conservation Area in Hungary. The tissue samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The aim of the study was to examine the impacts of heavy metal pollution on the water birds, determine the concentrations of the abovementioned metals in the different muscle tissues of these wetland birds, and provide the basic materials for monitoring the environmental pollution. Among the investigated elements/metals, the detected concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Mo and Ni were below the detection limit. Higher concentration of Cu, Hg, Mn and Pb was measured in the pectoral muscle compared to the thigh muscle, but only in the case of Cu and Mn were found significant differences between the tissues. In the case of the Zn concentration, the higher value was detected in the thigh muscle. There were no statistical differences between males and females in either metal concentrations.

The recent range expansion of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae) in Hokkaido, Japan.

Though the Japanese population of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) has increased in recent decades, information on its spread to the northern island of Hokkaido has not been reported outside of Japan. The purpose of this paper is to update the scientific community about the breeding and range ecology of P. carbo, and to provide comparative information on the abundant and similar looking resident Japanese Cormorant (P. capillatus). Several ornithological groups and researchers were contacted in order to gather information about the current distribution and breeding activities of P. carbo in the region. Here the findings of Japanese research groups, translated publications, and direct observations are made available.

Seasonal and daily activity patterns of mammals in the colony of great cormorants

Despite extreme changes of ecosystems made by breeding colonies of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), these territories are still used by mammals. We present results of the analysis of mammal seasonal and daily activity patterns, registered by camera traps in two colonies of the great cormorants in Lithuania. Red foxes and raccoon dogs mainly visited colonies in the cormorant breeding time, April to July. In the inland colony of great cormorants in Lukštas Lake, average red fox relative shooting frequency in cormorant breeding time considerably exceeded that in non-breeding time (on average, 41.8 and 5.9 photos/100 days respectively). In the peninsular colony of great cormorants in Juodkrantė average relative shooting frequency of red fox in the breeding time was 7.8 versus 3.4 photos/100 days in non-breeding time, relative shooting frequencies of raccoon dog were 50.0 versus 1.3 photos/100 days, respectively. Daily activity patterns of wild boar and red fox in both colonies, as well as activity patterns of raccoon dog in Lukštas were related to the activity of cormorants with various degree of significance.

Molecular Identification of Sarcocystis Halieti in Birds of Prey From Spain

Background: Members of the genus Sarcocystis are protozoan parasites characterized by a prey-predator two-host life cycle. Sarcocysts are formed in muscles or CNS of the intermediate host (IH), while sporocysts develop in the small intestine of the definitive host (DH). Various birds of prey were confirmed to be DH for Sarcocystis spp. By contrast, only two species, S. wobeseri and S. falcatula were identified in the muscles of birds of prey. The latter species is pathogenic and can cause encephalitis in various birds. The aim of the present study was to identify Sarcocystis species in the muscles of birds of prey from Spain. Methods: In the period between 2019 and 2020, muscle tissues of 59 birds collected from Spain were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. Sarcocysts in fresh squashed samples were morphologically characterised under a light microscope (LM). Sarcocystis species were identified by means of 28S rRNA and ITS1 sequence analysis. Results: With the help of methylene blue-staining microscopic sarcocysts were detected in 3/59 (5.1%) birds of prey from Spain. Under LM, one type of sarcocysts was observed. Sarcocysts were thread-like (1050–2160 × 130–158 μm), had a thin (0.7–1.4 μm) and smooth cyst wall. Septa divided the cysts into compartments filled with banana-shaped (5.9 × 1.7 μm) bradyzoites. On the basis of DNA sequence results, S. halieti was identified in the western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and the black kite (Milvus migrans) for the first time. Sarcocysts of S. halieti detected in the black kite and the western marsh harrier were shorter and wider as compared to those observed in the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and the herring gull (Larus argentatus). Hence, S. halieti might infect birds belonging to three different orders, Suliformes, Charadriiformes and Accipitriformes. Conclusions: This is the first report of S. halieti in birds of prey as IH. Due to the inconsistency of research on Sarcocystis spp. from birds of prey, further complex morphological, histopathological, and molecular studies are required.