OCCURRENCE AND MORTALITY OF SEABIRDS ALONG
THE NORTHERN COAST OF BAHIA, AND THE
IDENTIFICATION KEY OF THE PROCELLARIIFORMES
ORDER AND THE STERCORARIIDAE FAMILY
Pedro Cerqueira Lima
Rolf Grantsau
Rita de Cássia Ferreira da Rocha Lima
Sidnei Sampaio dos Santos
September, 2004
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
OCCURRENCE AND MORTALITY OF SEABIRDS ALONG THE NORTHERN
COAST OF BAHIA, AND THE IDENTIFICATION KEY OF THE
PROCELLARIIFORMES ORDER AND THE STERCORARIIDAE FAMILY
Pedro Cerqueira Lima¹*; Rolf Grantsau²**; Rita de Cássia Ferreira da Rocha Lima; Sidnei Sampaio dos Santos¹
¹Cetrel S/A Empresa de Proteção ambiental do Pólo Petroquímico de Camaçari, Via Atlântica Km 9 Interligação Estrada do
Coco - CEP 42810000 - Camaçari - Bahia. Email: [email protected]
² Rua das Macieiras, 43 – Terra Nova, CEP 09820 570 – São Bernardo do Campo, SP.Email:[email protected]
*Photos; **drawing and key.
ABSTRACT
The objectives of this research paper are as follows:
1) the study of the mortality phenomenon along the northern coast of the state of Bahia;
2) the identification of the species participating in this phenomenon;
3) the development of adequate techniques to recover debilitated birds;
4) the establishment of migratory routes;
5) to inform coastal communities of the importance of preserving seabirds through the
implementation of the Environmental Education Program developed by CETREL
(Environmental Protection Company of the Petrochemical Complex of Camaçari).
Firstly, the dead and/or debilitated birds were collected from the shores of Bahia and
autopsied or treated and subsequently banded and set free. The dead birds were dissected in
order to identify the probable cause of death. The autopsies performed in samples of 100
specimens showed that the skin of 89.5% of the birds was in bad condition, 68.75% of them
hosted endoparasites, 41.6% were found with plastic material in their intestinal system and
33.3% had an icteric liver. The birds were submitted to biometrical studies and then stuffed,
depending on the conditions of the carcass. Thirty birds were captured that had been banded
in several countries, among them: Portugal (18), Brazil (8), Spain (2), USA (1) and South
Shetland Islands in Argentina (1). In 1994, due to an oil spill along the Brazilian coast,
approximately 10,000 birds of 21 species were killed, averaging 23,4 birds per kilometer.
From 1994 to 1999, our team identified 43 species involved in the mortality phenomenon,
three of them being new occurrences in Brazil: Calonectris edwardsii, Pelagodroma marina
hypoleuca, and Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis, in the state of Bahia, besides 21 other
species: Phoebetria fusca, Phoebetria palpebrata, Fulmarus glacialoides, Daption capense,
Pterodroma incerta, Pterodroma mollis, Pachyptila vittata, Pachyptila belcheri, Pachyptila
desolata, Procellaria conspicillata, Procellaria cinerea, Puffinus puffinus, Fregetta tropica,
Oceanites oceanicus, Oceanodroma leucorhoa, Catharacta chilensis, Catharacta
antarctica, Catharacta maccormicki, Stercorarius pomarinus, Stercorarius parasiticus e
Stercorarius longicaudus
Key Words: Seabird; mortality; occurrence, Bahia, Brazil.
1
INTRODUCTION
The death-rate of seabirds along the northern coast of the state of Bahia and on the
beaches of Salvador and Itaparica Island have been extensively studied by the team associated
with the study and preservation of CETREL, the environmental treatment plant for
Polopetrochemical Industrial Complex over the past 17 years, but the investigations became
more intense from 1994 to 1999. In principle, the mortality phenomenon is related to several
causes, although undernourishment is certainly the most important, especially during the rainy
season (April to August). In this period a great number of birds are found dead or debilitated
along the Bahian shore. The majority of species collected during the survey was birds
migrating from places where they were born, while some had been accidentally “pushed” onto
the continent by storms. Some migrants traveled from Europe, Africa, North America, the
south of South America and Antarctica. During the rainy season strong winds create a series
of problems for the migrant birds to get food (fish, octopus or plankton) and the migrants end
up dead or half dead on the beach. Some of the specimens were autopsied to diagnose the
cause of death. The stomach of the great majority of the dead birds were completely empty
and the dreadful state of their skin suggested undernourishment . The data gathered on this
subject indicate that, in reality, starvation is one of the major factors of mortality in this
region. The fishermen living along the coast of Bahia generally give names to these birds such
as “southern birds”, “ship-crashers”, “patão”, “lôlô” and “garapiau.” The first two are related
to the incidence of storms. If these birds are spotted near the coast, the fishermen refuse to go
out fishing and if they are already in open sea fishing, they return home immediately.
AREA OF STUDY AND METHODOLOGY
From 1994 to 1999, the phenomenom of seabird mortality was through beach-patrols
along Itaparica Island (1994-1995), Salvador, Lauro de Freitas, Camaçari and the northern
coast of Bahia (Praia do Forte to Mangue Seco), a 240 km seashore strip. From 1994 to 1999,
occasional patrols were conducted in other
areas, such as the municipalities of
Candeias and Madre de Deus, the
Recôncavo region, Valença, Ituberá and
Baixo Sul, expanding the monitored area a
further 7,000 km.
Seabirds found dead were collected
to avoid double counts. The corpses were
placed in a plastic bag and stored in a
freezer for posterior identification. The
following
equipment
helped
the
implementation of biometric studies and
autopsies of the dead birds: Mitutoyo
tachometers
(200-300mm),
Crow
dynamometers (500-1,000g), analytical
scale (5kg), rulers (50-100cm), Nikon
FM2 cameras equipped with 58 and 300
mm lenses, a Panasonic SVHS camcorder,
SVHS tapes (two-hour), Fujichrome film
for slides, Zeiss binoculars (10x40) and a
Area (red) of study.
GPS (Global Positioning System).
2
To study the weather conditions in wintertime, Cetrel's Air Monitoring Network was
used. This network, based in Arembepe provides data concerning on wind direction and
speed, rainfall, temperature and barometric pressure.
Some autopsied and birds had their viscera stored in 10% formaldehyde solution for
posterior histopathological analysis. Autopsies were made by the Veterinary Hospital of the
Federal University of Bahia.
The disclosure of information was publicised through CETREL’s Environmental
Education Program, with lectures, film exhibitions, posters and announcements displayed in
schools and commercial places, as well as in fishing communities.
The Salvador Zoo and wildlife agencies (mainly IBAMA) sent some live birds to be
examined and treated at CETREL’s wildlife recovery center. Those birds underwent a
rehabilitation process that lasted an average of 15 days. Birds were fed twice daily with fish or
squid and were given a daily suplement (15 drops) of Vitamin B. Also, the birds were given a
piperazine-based vermifuge drug and underwent physiotherapy sessions in a nearby beach
(Lima, 1996).
Collected specimens are housed in the Rolf Grantsau (RG) and Museu de Ciências
Naturais da CETREL (Cetrel's Natural Science Museum)(MCNC).
RESULTS
During the 1994 beach-patrols 3,487 birds of 21 species and 5 families were found
(Table 1) along seven months (June to December). However, in 1995 during the monitoring
activities only 615 birds were found, although the monitoring period had been extended to
nine months (March to November). Those birds belonged to 11 species and five families. Two
additional species, not found the previous year, were recorded in 1995: Oceanites oceanicus
(Hydrobatidae) and Sula leucogaster (Sulidae), totaling 25 species distributed among 7
families identified from 1994 to 1995. Table 1 shows the number of seabird occurrences in
1994 and 1995, which totaled 4,102 birds.
The difference in seabird numbers found between the years suggests some unusual
factors, probably an oil spill (see below), caused the large 1994 mortality (Fig. 1 and 2).
In 1995, 494 specimens of Calonectris d. borealis were identified before the
beginning of the rainy season (from April to August) and, the birds were found along the
Bahian coast, from March to August, a longer period compared to previous years. No record
of this subspecies was made in March 1994 which proves the duration on the Bahian coast
had been extended. According to the data collected in 1994 and 1995, the two major
occurrences involving the death of Calonectris d. borealis and Puffinus gravis, mostly
recently fledged birds, corresponded to 89.2% of seabirds found in 1994, and 92.2% in 1995,
which showed the greater vulnerability of these species to the climactic factors probably due
to their young age.
A total of 54 debilitated birds were rehabilitaded and released using the techniques
developed by Lima, P.C. (1996), which consisted of appropriate diet sometimes even forced
down the throat of the bird, physiotherapy in sea water and ingestion of vermifuge drugs and
Vitamin B emulsion. Within the period 10 to 15 days, the birds returned to their normal
weight and physiologic functions (Table 4). The weight of one Puffinus gravis improved
from 470gr when it arrived to 720gr after fifteen days of treatment. The recovered birds were
banded and set free 4km from the coast (Table 8). Puffinus gravis responded better to
treatment, while the C. d. borealis was much more delicate, with 66.67 % and 5.56 % survival
rates, respectively. Through banding and the collection of biometrical data of dead birds, the
team found most species of Procellariidae had not been previously listed in the Brazilian
3
Banding Organ (CEMAVE) manual. Therefore, it seems apparent that the bird-banding
records should be extended to all 23 (Table 9).
In 1996, 1,222 birds of 21 species (24 of them alive) were found, six of them being
new occurrences in Bahia (Table 1). Five species were represented by banded individuals
(Table 6) and Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca was a new record for Brazil.. Twenty-six
examples of Pachyptila desolata and Pachyptila belcheri (Table 8) were rehabilitated and
banded. In 1996 the mortality figures were quite different. Pachyptila. P desolata and P.
belcheri composed 61.8 % and 18.9 %, respectively of all records; while C. d. borealis and
P. gravis corresponded to 9.74 % and 0.49 %, respectively (Table 1). Prions were found dead
along most of the Brazilian coast after one of the largest oil spills recorded in the country
(Martuscelli et al., 1997).
In 1997 only 47 dead birds of four species were collected (Table 1). This small
quantity was due to the lack of time to monitor a larger stretch of the coast (only 400km of
shoreline was inspected). It was assumed that in 1997 the seabird mortality rate was
insignificant since no bird were delivered by the communities, IBAMA or Environmental
Police to CETREL.
In 1998, 478 dead birds were found, eight of them banded (Tab. 6.): three C. d.
borealis from Portugal; two Sula dactylatra, two Anous stolidus and one Sterna eurygnatha
had Brazilian bands. One Spheniscus magellanicus and three Puffinus griseus were
rehabilitated and banded. In 1998, the percentage of C. d. borealis, (79.7 %) and P. gravis
(13.8 %) was similar to that of 1994 and 1995, respectively. One specimen of C. chilensis
was found for the first time documented in northern Brazil, adding to the six specimens
collected in the 19th century (Silva e Silva et al., 2002). It is worth mentioning that a S.
magellanicus was found debilitated and weighing approximately 1.5 kg. The bird was
rehabilitated, banded and sent to Santa Catarina to be set free, its weight having reached 3.0
kg.
A total of 170 birds of 20 species were found from April to December 1999 (Table.1).
A highlight concerned the presence of three dead and decomposed Phoebetria palpebrata
between July and August. The team also collected 41 C. d. borealis 24.1% of all records; 31
Procellaria a. aequinoctialis 18.2% of all records; 25 Puffinus gravis 14.7% of all records;
and 23 Diomedea chlororhynchos 13.5% of all records. As to the S. magellanicus species,
the team captured (4) penguins (2 dead and 2 alive) that were taken to the Zoo in Salvador.
Also in 1999, another species was added to the state bird list when four carcasses of Daption
capense were found.
The Table 7 shows the morphological data on bird skins in specimens that are in the
Rolf Grantsau (RG) and Museu de Ciências Naturais da CETREL (MCNC) collections,
showing the variations existing within each species.
The Table 5 shows the morphological data on the species that were more involved in
the mortality phenomenon, as well as abundant data on the C. d. borealis species.
The Table 3 shows the weight of birds deposited in the RG and MCNC collections.
INFLUENCE OF THE CLIMATE IN THE MORTALITY PHENOMENON
The mean temperature in the municipality of Camaçari is 25 oC and the mean rainfall,
approximately 1,700 mm. In 1998, the mean temperature was 24.9 oC and the annual
accumulated precipitation amounted to 1426.4mm. The latter, compared to the regular
statistics, shows an unforeseen drought 1998. Most rainfall in the region was concentrated in
May and June. The highest value monthly amount was 320.4 mm in June, an increase of 39.6
mm compared to June 1997. A summary of the meteorological parameters in the Arembepe
Station from January to September 1995 to 1998 show barometric pressure (mBarr) and
4
humidity (%) increased from April through August; temperatures decreased from April to
August, precipitation (mm) increased from April to July and wind speed (m/s) increased
from April to August.
It was observed that from 1996 to 1998, the wind reached speeds greater than 5.5 m/s
and up to 6.0 m/s, from May through July. The rainy period from May thru September in
1995 to 1998 (Fig. 3), recorded the highest rainfall (963.5 mm) in 1995 and 1998 (1129.3
mm), while the lowest precipitation (745.9 mm) occurred in 1997. Regarding the total amount
of precipitation from 1995 to 1998, the opposite occurred the lowest annual precipitation
totaled 1444.4 mm in 1998, while the highest precipitation recorded amounted to 1958.8 mm
in 1996. As to the wind direction, between the first and second trimesters from 1995 thru
1998, the direction of the wind was East/Southeast/Southeast; in the fourth trimester the
direction of the wind was East/Northeast /Northeast. This behavior of the wind resulted from
the position of an anticyclone, whose center moved upward to the north of the state of Bahia
in that period, changing the wind direction in the fourth trimester, in accordance with the
normal climate regime of the region. In 1997, the picture changed dramatically due to the El
Niño phenomenon, which disturbs the normal conditions of the weather. Data gathered by
CETREL’s Air Monitoring Network support the understanding of the mortality phenomenon
of seabirds in the north coast of Bahia. The high rate of precipitation concentrated in the
critical period of the year (May/ September) associated with strong winds moving from the
sea towards the continent, also influenced significantly the death rate phenomenon (Fig.3).
The winter of 1999 was very atypical, compared to the winter of preceding years, due to the
low intensity cold fronts of the south that kept coming to the coast of Bahia and the speed of
winds of approximately 6 km/s. The total rainfall that amounted to 707mm was considered
low in the critical period (May/September). Nevertheless, in the middle of August, a huge
climatic change took place, the highest rates of rainfall were recorded and the wind speed
reached 39.6 km/h (11m/s) at 4:00 a.m. on August 17,1999. In this month the rainfall reached
180 mm. In only five days, from August 4th to 19th, it rained 121.5 mm which represented
67.5 % of the month (Fig. 3). As a consequence, the heavier rainfall and stronger winds were
concentrated in a short period in the middle of August, causing the death of 45 birds between
August 21st to 25th , corresponding to 25.0 % of all bird deaths in that year.
DISCUSSION
Several factors may affect the number of seabirds found dead or weakened along the
coast, which could include the climactic conditions and pollution. Nevertheless the climate
seems to have the greater impact on birds. Along the coast of Bahia, although the weather
conditions remained more or less the same as in previous years, the amount of rain and
intensity of wind increased during the April to August period, the result of northbound cold
fronts that constantly came from the south and upward to the coast of the state, from 1995 to
1998 (Fig. 3).
These climactic variations substantially influenced seabird mortality, since the
percentage of deaths depends largely on weather conditions. During the studies carried out by
the team between 1982 and 1999, he only year that could be referred to as atypical was 1994.
The high mortality was caused by the accident involving an oil tanker from Nigeria, in May,
1994 (data provided by Petrobrás) that resulted in a large oil spill that flooded the coast of
Salvador and extended northward along the coast of Bahia.
During the study period of 1994-1999, 23 new species were recorded for Bahia, three
of them being new occurrences in Brazil (Table 1). Twenty-nine banded birds were also
collected, 19 of them C. d. borealis, 11 from Selvagem Grande island in Portugal, and two
5
from the Canary Islands, Spain, a recovery rate of 1 band for every 181 C. d. borealis found.
Also, one Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis banded in the South Shetlands Islands (Antarctica)
and two Sterna hirundo, one banded in Portugal, and another in the USA were found (Table
6).
Most of the birds found dead were Calonectris d. borealis (Table 1). In 1994 the
highest death rate (68.2%) was also associated with this species (3447 specimens), 80.5 % in
1995 and totaling 2874 in both years, averaging 57.2 % in 1994 and 1999. The causes of this
apparent greater vulnerability are probably linked to the young age of the majority collected
birds (most were fledglings in their first migration) and their inexperience in finding food
under adverse situations such as stormy seas. This was evident by the state of
undernourishment of the birds taken to the recovery center and their high death rate compared
to the much more resilient Puffinus gravis. Yet despite this comparative resistence, the
Puffinus gravis was the second species in terms of overall death rate (740 specimens) which
corresponded to 21 % of all birds in 1994 and 11.7 % in 1995. The total number of specimens
in these two years was 812 so the average death rate as a percentage of the total was 15.3 %
from 1994 to 1999. The third commonest species among wrecked birds was Pachyptila
desolata, found only in 1994 and 1996, but averaging 14.4 of all collected specimens. The
irregular pattern of occurrence of this species and its dominance in 1996 (when it perished in
numbers along most of the Brazilian coast) suggest it is vulnerable to special conditions
(perhaps storms associated with malnutrition) occurring in irregular periods. Nevertheless, it
differs a lot from many species involved with the mortality phenomenon (Table1).
In 1994, the recuperation rate of birds taken for rehabilitation was significant. One D.
chlororhynchos (1.200 g), one C. d. borealis (420 g) and one P. gravis (320 g) were
admitted underweight at the center but soon regained normal weight (Table 4). After
recovery, they were banded and set free. One (1) P. gravis that had been previously
recuperated and banded by the CETREL team in 1994 (R 17090), was collected dead by
Adriano Paiva in Praia do Forte, May, 1999, thus proving the effectiveness of the
methodology used to recuperate debilitated birds. This finding also showed that the migratory
route of this species is the same year after year.
In 1995 results were not so good. Due to the high level of debilitation,birds taken to
the rehabilitation center had no chance of survival. Out of nine birds that arrived alive, eight
were C. d. borealis and survived only a couple of hours and one was P. gravis that survived
five days. Post-mortem examination showed empty stomachs, a few polyethylene nibs and
some endoparasites in the small intestines. The state of the skin was bad, although the organs
were preserved, and thus differed greatly from the 1994 autopsies, which showed a significant
amount of plastic in the intestines, as well as remains of octopus and many parasites. The
livers of the birds icteric and the skin, in the great majority of the birds (approximately
89.5%), was already in a state of decomposition.
Figure 1 shows the ratio of birds affected by the 1994 oil spill. Comparing data
gathered in 1994 with the information provided in 1995, it can be concluded that the mortality
rate in 1995 was not as significant as in previous years (Figure 2). In 1994, the main
mortality factors were pollution and malnutrition caused by bad weather. In 1995, the cause of
death was attributed to natural weather conditions in the region. Both were considered normal,
as compared to the standard death rates of previous surveys.
Investigations undertaken along the coast of Rio Grande do Sul from July 1997 to July
1998 over a distance of 3000 km and specimens were randomly selcted to investigate stomach
content. In 13 months, 7690 specimens were collected among 18 different species. 81% of
those were S. magellanicus, 19% were Procellatiiformes. The cause of death for 812 was oil
and 507 deaths came from activity related to fishing. It can be surmised that crude oil, fishing
activity and injestion of man made products were the main causes of death. (Petry and
6
Fonseca, 2002)
Our surveys have also shown that the fishermen of the continental platform of the
Brazilian coast, are responsible for seabirds deaths, although it has not been possible yet to
estimate the exact figure. Many birds were found with hooks in their digestive system or had
fractured wings and tarsi from blows caused by fishermen because they consider these birds
prejudicial to their fishing, they gather around fishing boats to eat the baits.
The causes of death in 1995 to 1999 coincide with data taken in the years preceding
1994, thus confirming that the great level of malnutrition is the principal factor for bird
mortality along the Brazilian coast. The effects of pollution caused by oil spills can be easily
demonstrated: the oil sticks to the bird feathers gluing them together. Consequently the bird
cannot fly or float and is washed onto the beach. Also, the oil is absorbed by the skin and
ingested when the bird tries to clean its plumage, thus causing irreversible damage to the
stomach, intestinal system, liver and kidneys (Vooren e Fernandes, 1989).
Another significant factor related to pollution was discussed by an article published by
VEJA on July 28, 1976 (Catela, 1976), focusing the hundreds of birds found dead along 35
km of the Bahia shoreline, between Arembepe and Boca do Rio, near the city of Salvador.
This article demonstrated a particular ignorance concerning the real names of the species
involved in the phenomenon and on the causes of such a high-scale mortality. In the article,
birds of the order Procellariidae are initially referred simply as “ terns” and afterward as
“royal terns”. At first, the principal culprit for this ecological disaster was attributed to the
titanium plant (TIBRAS) that disposed of its sulfuric acid and ferrous sulfate waste into the
sea. But a post mortem examination carried out by Newton Paes Coelho, veterinarian of the
Biological Institute of Bahia specializing in domesticated birds, concluded that none of the
birds involved in that specific phenomenon was poisoned or had suffered any other type of
intoxication. Therefore, the phenomenon described in that article differs completely from the
investigations carried out by othe CETREL team on the subject of local phenomenon of this
kind.
Our studies have shown that seabird deaths are not restricted to some parts of the
coast, but included all the northern coast of the state of Bahia, some beaches of Salvador and
the coastal strip of Itaparica Island, besides the south shores of the state where we also carried
out surveys The death finding of dead seabirds in the Bahia region increases during the rainy
season (Table 2.) From April to August the number of occurrences increases significantly,
peaking between May and July, mostly because of specimens of C. d. borealis.
Theresults show that C. d. borealis occurs off the Bahia coast throughout the whole
year with migrant birds arriving in numbers in November. In an oceanographic campaign
carried out off Mangue Seco in February 1998, several C. d. borealis were found 20 miles
off the coast, following some fishing boats.
COMPARATIVE DATA OF THE STUDIES CARRIED OUT IN PORTUGAL AND
BAHIA
To better understand C. diomedea borealis wrecks in Brazil, Lima visited the
Selvagem Grande, Desertas and Madeira islands (Portugal) in October 1996, together with a
group of Portuguese researchers in charge of investigating the behavior and bird banding of
the seabirds breeding sites. In this period, 548 young birds of the C. diomedea borealis
species were banded with Portuguese bands, out of the 3000 birds banded every year; the
dead birds collected were found in several places and locations on the islands, for example
inside the nests. Thus, it was possible to find four (4) bands of adult birds of the C. diomedea
borealis subspecies (Selvagem Grande Island), one specimen banded with L 46845 on
7
September15, 1995 and the other with the L 051372 band, on September 2, 1994. Both
individuals probably died before leaving the island, because young birds never return to the
breeding site before four or five years. In addition, the young birds would have to be over
seven to be ready for reproduction (Zino, 1985). Two other dead birds were collected: one
banded with a L 29665 band in September, 1988 and the other banded with a T 1753 band in
1970, the latter being one of the oldest records ever found (Zino, personal information). In the
studies carried out in Bahia, wit was discovered via post mortem examinations that the liver
of the C. diomedea borealis birds was icteric (orange color). In two autopsies executed in
young C. diomedea borealis birds collected in the Selvagem Grande Island, the liver of the
birds presented normal color (intense red), thus confirming the hypothesis that malnutrition is
the principal cause of death among birds. For the first time, the Larus argentatus species was
considered as predator of young C. diomedea borealis. In Portugal, autopsies executed in four
specimens of this species detected the presence of a young C. diomedea borealis banded in
the stomach of one of the Larus argentatus individuals. In 1998, three (3) C. diomedea
borealis were collected dead in the northern coast of Bahia, banded during the 1996
campaign: L 056734, 035859 and L060135. Similar studies are being carried out along the
Portuguese coast (320 km), at the start of the European winter (October through March).
These surveys began in 1982 and are carried out every year as an aid to scientific research and
to establish concrete conservation measures. During the 1990/91 campaigns, 281 bodies of
birds were identified, but only one C. diomedea borealis, one P. griseus and one P. puffinus
were collected at that time (Granadeiro, 1991). A comparative study also realized along 5,330
km of the Portuguese coast (Granadeiro et al, 1997) between 1990 and 1996, confirmed the
death of 2,660 birds belonging to 39 species. A comparison of the results of these studies with
the surveys carried out along the northern coast of Bahia, plus the listing of the most common
birds involved in the mortality phenomenon in these two regions, led to the conclusion that:
C. diomedea borealis represents 0.41% (11) and 57.2 % (3447), P. gravis, 0.15% (4) and
15.3% (922), P. griseus 0.15% (4) and 0.38 % (23), P. puffinus 0.15% (4) and 0.51 % (31),
S. fuscata 9.1% (242) and 0.13% (8), S. hirundo 0.15 % (4) and 0.12% (7). These figures
show that out of the six species studied in these two countries, the C. diomedea borealis and
P. gravis species represent the higher rates in Bahia, and the S. fucata species in Portugal.
Therefore, these two species are more common during southern hemisphere winter, than in
the winter in Portugal.
SEABIRD PREDATORS
The major predators of birds are dogs, cats and foxes (Dusicyon sp), Yellow-headed
caracara (Milvago chimachima), the crested caracara (Caracara plancus) that capture the
living or recently dead birds. The Black vulture (Coragyps atratus), the Turkey vulture
(Cathartes aura) and the Lasser yellow-headed vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) are
decomposed birds eaters. The Ocypode albicans crab sometimes builds its dwelling near the
decomposing birds, in order to get food. It is quite common for a crab to pull out the tarsus of
a bird. Smaller species such as Pachyptila sp. are almost totally decimated by crabs.
LIST OF SPECIES AND COMMENTS
SPHENISCIDAE
Magellanic Penguin - Spheniscus magellanicus (Forster, 1781). A male specimen was
collected on Itapoã beach (12° 55' 02" S, 38° 21' 10" W) in June 1998, debilitated and
8
weighing 1.5 kg. The specimen underwent treatment over a period of 15 days, and after
recovery weighed 3.0 kg. The bird was then banded and sent by plane to Rio Grande do Sul
to be set free. In the winter of 1999, two specimens of this species were captured live on the
beaches of Salvador. Both were taken to the Salvador Zoo. In August, 1999, two young
specimens were collected in an advanced stage of decomposition. In 2001, another specimen
was captured and banded and delivered to Santa Catarina fully recovered
DIOMEDEIDAE
Black-Browed Albatross - Diomedea melanophrys (Temminck, 1828). Nine
specimens were collected from 1994 to 2001 and are housed in the MCNC (Museum of
Natural Sciences of Cetrel): two skeletons, one beak and two skins.
Yellow-Nosed Albatross- Diomedea chlororhynchos chlororhynchos (Gmelin,
1789). Souza (1999) lists this species as a new occurrence for Bahia based on supposed
specimens collected between 1990 and 1992. From 1994 to 1999, 37 specimens were
collected by the CETREL team. Seven skins and four skeletons were deposited in the MCNC
collection,. A female collected on17 July, 1994 in Salvador (12° 55' S, 38° 21' W), in the RG
9496 collection. In 2001, five other specimens were collected and placed in the MCNC
collection.
Shy Albatross - Diomedea cauta (Gould, 1841) is a visitor to the Peruvian, Chilean
and Argentinian coasts The bird's first register in Brazil was of a female specimen found dead
in Mostardes on the Rio Grande do Sul coast in April 1990 (Petry et al, 1991). In September
of 2003 a specimen of the bird was found on Poços Beach, in the municipality of Conde (12°
33' S, 38° 00'53) on the Bahian coast (Lima et al., 2004).
Sooty Albatross - Phoebetria fusca (Hilsenberg, 1822). A young male specimen
(MCNC 28) was collected on 3 March, 1996, in Salvador (12° 55' S, 38° 21' W). This is the
second exemplar collected in Brazil, the first one being from São Paulo (Willis & Oniki
1985). A third specimen was collected in the state of Rio Grande do Sul on 5 December,1996
(Roman, 1998).
Light-mantled Sooty Albatross - Phoebetria palpebrata (Forster, 1785) – Five
individuals have ben collected in Bahia: one (skin, RG 9511) found on 31, August 1994 on
Baixios beach (12° 03’ 37” S, 37° 44’ 36” W). The skeleton of a second specimen was
collected on Subaúna beach (12° 13' 15" S, 37° 50' 07" W) on 28 August, 1994 and prepared,
without the skull, by Werner Bokermann, who kept it in his private collection. The skull
(Figure 4) is in the RG collection. The third specimen was found on Itaparica Island, Bahia,
on 7 June, 1996 (Sampaio and Castro, 1998). Sampaio and Castro (1998) reached the
conclusion that the specimen was an adult, because it lacked beige tips on the head and body
feathers, describing the bird as uniformly gray, a description that generates confusion because
no Phoebetria is uniformly gray. Phoebetria fusca is the only species that has an almost
uniform color, a soot-like dark gray.
Between June and August 1999, three specimens were collected on the beaches of the
northern coast of Bahia. All three of them were in an advanced state of decomposition,
although the wings, skull and parts of the body were deposited in the MCNC.
9
PROCELLARIIDAE
Antarctic Fulmar - Fulmarus glacialoides (Smith, 1840). A specimen (RG 9497) was
collected in Mangue Seco, (11° 27' S, 37° 27' W) on 16 July, 1994. This species may be a
very common casuality along beaches in Rio Grande do Sul, (Vooren e Fernandes, 1989;
Petry & Fonseca, 2002). In Bahia, only a single specimen was collected.
Cape Petrel - Daption capense (Linnaeus, 1758). It was found only in 1999, after an
August downpour when 4 specimens of this species were found dead on the beach in
Buraquinho, municipality of Lauro de Freitas, and Praia de Guarajuba, in the municipality of
Camaçari, and on the beach of Madre de Deus. Three skins and a skeleton are in the MCNC
collection. These are the first records from Bahia.
Hooded or Atlantic Petrel - Pterodroma incerta (Schlegel, 1863). Thirty-six
individuals were collected: three individuals are deposited in the Werner Bokermann
collection, two (2) specimens collected in June 1994 in northern Bahia, are in the RG
collection (RG 9485 and 9486, both male); a skull collected by Fernando Pinto on 9 July,
1985 in Maceió (Alagoas) is also in the RG collection (RG9072), a skin is in the MCNC (N
574) collection and a skeleton was collected at Praia do Forte (12° 33' S, 38° 00' W) on
November 2, 1998.
Kerguelen Petrel - Pterodroma brevirostris (Lesson, 1831). A male specimen (RG
9480) was collected in Arembepe (12° 43’ 29” S, 38° 10’ 45” W) on 15 July 1994. This is the
third specimen found in Brazil. The first was found in Salvador in September 1985 and is in
the National Museum collection (Teixeira et al., 1985) The second specimen was collected on
1 October 1986 on Cassino beach, Rio Grande do Sul, (Vooren e Fernandes, 1989).
Soft-plumaged Petrel - Pterodroma mollis mollis (Gould, 1844). Two individuals of
this species are deposited in the RG collection: a female (RG 9573) collected in Porto Sauípe
(12° 21' S, 37° 54' W) on 5 August, 1996 and one male (RG 9645) collected in Lauro de
Freitas (12° 55’ S, 21° 10’ W) on 10 September, 1996. Six individuals are deposited in the
MCNC, three (3) collected in September 1996 and three (3) collected in 1999 in northern
Bahia. Elsewhere in Brazil there are also three (3) specimens that were collected by Vooren
at Cassino beach (Rio Grande do Sul) on September 19, 1984 and October 2,1984 and a third
one collected in 1987. In the state of Paraná, an individual was collected on May 30,1994 at
the Atami Resort (Krul and Moraes, 1994).
Broad-billed Prion - Pachyptila vittata (Forster, 1777). A skull belonging to this
species was found in 1996 amid other prion bones, but it was. There is also a specimen from
Cassino beach (Rio Grande do Sul), found in October 1979 (Belton, 1982). The skin of this
specimen was prepared and exhibited to Rolf Grantsau, who confirmed the identification, but
later was lost. A specimen of this species, apparently the sole documented record of this
species in Brazil, was collected on Atami beach, Paraná, on 14 May, 1994 (Krul and
Moraes,1994).
Dove Prion - Pachyptila desolata (Gmelin, 1789). Two skins (RG 9482: male, RG
9483 female), were collected in June 1994 in the northern coast of Bahia. Six skeletons
collected on 8 May, 1994 between Salvador and Mangue Seco, are in the Werner Bokermann
collection. Two specimens in the National Museum collection (MN 33449 male, 33450
female) were collected in July 1984 in Salvador, by Sônia Riqueira. We have 11 specimens in
10
the MCNC collection, collected from the beaches between Salvador and Mangue Seco. In
July 1996, thousands of P. belcheri and P. desolata died in the stretch along the north of
Paraná, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Martuscelli et al., 1997). This phenomenon occurred in
the south and proceeded upwards to the north of Brazil. In Bahia, 986 individuals of both
species were collected..
Slender-Bille de Prion - Pachyptila belcheri (Mathews, 1912). Souza (1999) listed
this species as a new occurrence in Bahia, after one individual spotted flying off
Salvador1998. It is difficult to be certain of this report, three species of prions occur in Bahia,
and it would be hardly possible to just one bird flying over an open sea. An individual (RG
9484) was collected in June 1994 in northern Bahia. There are also three individuals in the
MCNC collection, collected between 1994 and 1996, from the northern coast of Bahia. There
are many records from São Paulo and in Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul
(Vooren e Fernandes, 1989; Martuscelli et al., 1997).
White-Chinned Petrel - Procellaria aequinoctialis aequinoctialis. (Linnaeus, 1758).
In the MCNC collection, three skins of this species are kept; six in the RG collection and four
skeletons in the Werner Bokermann collection. Two individuals are outstanding, because they
do not have a white spot on the chin: the male specimen collected in Mangue Seco on July 4,
1994 which is in the RG collection (RG 9542) (CG 9542, Fig. 5) and the second specimen
collected at Praia do Forte, July 1999, of undetermined gender and deposited in the MCNC
collection (579). Specimens without the white spot on the chin from New Zealand have been
originally described as a distinctive form of P. a. steadi by Mathews (Birds of Australia Vol
2, p110, 1912) but it is generally considered a synomim of P. a. aequinoctialis. CG 9495
(Fig. 5) shows a typical white-chinned individual, the most common species among the dead
specimens collected.
White-Chinned Petrel - Procellaria conspicillata (Gould, 1844). One male specimen
(RG 9491) was collected in Salvador (12° 55' S, 38° 21' W) on July 18, 1994 (CG 9491,
Fig.5). Previously, in the same year, a live specimen was found in Salvador. The bird was
successfully rehabilitated and released.
Grey Petrel - Procellaria cinerea (Gmelin, 1789). One dead individual (MCNC 383)
was collected in Mangue Seco (11° 27' S, 37° 27' W), in 1996. The skeleton, wing and tail
feathers and bill were preserved. There are only two other Brazilian records of this species;
oneunsexed bird found on November, 1982 in Rio Grande do Sul (Vooren and Fernandes,
1989), and another also from Rio Grande do Sul housed in the Herculano collection,
(Alvarenga, personal communication).
Cory's Shearwater - Calonectris diomedea borealis (Cory, 1881). This species has
been recorded in 10 Brazilian states, state of Ceará being the farthest northward occurrence
recorded (Pacheco and Maciel, 1995). The species was observed in the state of Santa
Catarina, in December 1973. A dead individual of this species was found in Garapaba beach
(28° 10' S, 48 37' W) but besides its advanced state of decomposition and was preapred for
scientific collection and placed in the Unisonos collection (304). At that time, the bird was
considered “peculiar” and sent to the Museum of Natural History in Washington (Silva,
1975).
Between 1994 and 1999, 19 bird bands of this species were collected: 17 from
Portugal, (mostly from Selvagem Grande) and two from Gran Canaria, Spain (Table 6). The
collection of this species is estimated in approximately 57,2% of all birds collected from 1994
11
to 1999. There are seven individuals in the RG collection and 6 specimens in the Werner
Bokermann collection. Three specimens were sent to the UNESP/Rio Claro collection and
four dead birds were delivered to Dante Teixeira to be placed in the National Museum
collection. In addition, six individuals were deposited in the Zoology Museum in São Paulo.
The MCNC collection contains a further 37 specimens. Among the specimens in the MCNC,
three present different characteristics: MCNC 491, of undetermined gender, collected from
the northern coast of Bahia in May 1998, has a pale collar at the nape of the neck forming a
complete ring around the neck (MCNC 491, Fig.6); MCNC 453 (Fig. 6), a male collected in
Arembepe (12° 43’ 29” S, 38° 10’ 45” W) on August 8, 1998 displays a dark pectoral band
that forms a well defined collar with 1.5cm width; MCNC 437 (Fig. 6) collected in Bahia in
May 8, 1998, displays a white field in its primaries, characteristic of the C. diomedea
diomedea subspecies, and laterally the breast displays a sort of drawing made with dark
scales. CG 9489 (Fig. 6) shows a typical specimen, very common among the specimens found
dead. We examined 17 individuals of the C. edwardsii species, 21 of the C. diomedea
diomedea subspecies and nine (9) of the C. diomedea borealis subspecies in the American
Museum of Natural History in New York, besides 29 specimens of the C. diomedea borealis
subspecies in the Funchal Museum (Portugal), in addition to all the individuals collected in
the bird banding campaigns we promoted from 1994 to 1999. Only three (3) individuals
displayed significant differences. Among all the birds of this species that we collected, four
dead birds were found along the coast of Bahia and marked with picric acid. This type of
mark was used in the Selvagem Grande Island (Portugal) with the purpose of studying the
behavior of the species. When Lima visited this island in 1996 he found some carcasses of the
C. diomedea borealis subspecies marked with this substance.
Cory's Shearwater - Calonectris edwardsii (Oustalet, 1883). Out of the 3,447
Calonectris diomedea borealis individuals found dead from 1994 to 1999, two individuals of
this species were collected: the first one was found decomposed in June 1995 at Praia do
Forte, measuring: bill- 43mm, wing - 285mm, tail - 125mm, tarsus - 44mm, total length 440mm, average toe with toenail - 57mm, spread - 970mm and weight; the second one was
sent alive to IBAMA. This individual died but was not preserved (Lima et al, 2002). The
measurements of this individual, while alive were as follows, thus indicating that it belonged
to a subspecies: bill - 4,7mm, nose point - 3,9mm, head- 10,3mm, tarsus - 5,8mm, diameter of
the tarsus - 0,6mm, wing - 31,0mm, total length - 48,0mm, tail -12,5mm, weight - 480 gr.
Greater Shearwater - Puffinus gravis (O´Reilly, 1818). In 1999, Souza via personal
communication with Eduardo Albernaz, described the species as a new occurrence in Bahia
between 1990/1992. This species ranks second in number of occurrences (Table 1). There are
three (3) specimens deposited in the RG collection: RG 9481 female, collected from the coast
of Bahia in June 20, 1994; RG 9843, collected in Arembepe (12°43’29” S, 38°10’45” W) on
May 14, 1998; RG 10058, male, collected from the northern coast of Bahia on June 15,1994.
Two specimens were placed in the Werner Bokermann collection; six in the Zoology Museum
of São Paulo; two were delivered to Dante Teixeira and destined to the National Museum. In
the MCNC collection, there are eight specimens. The presence of this species was detected in
Bahia, in 1982.
Sooty-Shearwater - Puffinus griseus (Gmelin, 1789). In 1999 Souza via personal
communication with Edson Félix, described the species as a new occurrence in Bahia. There
is one female specimen RG 9545 collected on November 10, 1995 from the coast of Bahia. In
the MCNC collection there is a specimen (N 446) taken from the coast of Bahia on May 16,
1998, undetermined gender; three specimens were found debilitated and were recovered,
12
banded and set free.
Manx Shearwater - Puffinus puffinus (Brunnich, 1764). There is one specimen, a
female RG 9964, collected on 1 November, 1998 in Salvador (12° 55' S, 38° 21' W) and a
skeleton in the Werner Bokermann collection. Three specimens are part of the MCNC
collection (N138 – exposition/museum, MCNC N 545 female and MCNC N 546, of
undetermined gender, all collected from the northern coast of Bahia. A specimen was
captured in 2002 which had been banded in Great Britain.
HYDROBATIDAE
Wilson' Storm-petrel - Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl, 1820). One specimen was found,
a skeleton with feathers, in Mangue Seco (11° 27' S, 37° 27' W) in 1997. In 1999, five
specimens were collected, one was a female bird that was placed in the RG collection; a skin
and three skeletons are deposited in the MCNC collection.
White-faced Storm-petrel - Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca (Moquin-Tandon, 1841).
Only one specimen of this species was collected in Mangue Seco (11° 27' S, 37° 27' W) and
an incomplete skin was deposited in the MCNC collection, N 124. (Lima et al, 2002) This is
the first record of this species in Brazil.
Black-bellied Storm-petrel - Fregetta tropica (Gould, 1844) Only one specimen of
this species was collected, a skeleton with feathers in Mangue Seco (11° 27' S, 37° 27' W), in
1997 and placed in the MCNC collection (N 576) Teixeira et al., (1988) reported that isolated
individuals have been observed at a distance of 370km from the coast of Espírito Santo. M.
V. Petry reported that he found one specimen of this species on the seashore some 23 km
from N de Pinhal, in September 1990. Its skull is placed in UNISINOS (Belton, 2000). Olmos
(2000) summarized the records of this species in Brazil, the first specimen being collected off
Bahia by Sperling in 1855 and presently in the BMNH (The Berlin Museum of Natural
History) collection. The MCNC is the second specimen record from Brazil.
Leach's Storm-petrel - Oceanodroma leucorhoa (Vieillot, 1818). Only one specimen
of this species was collected, a skeleton with feathers in Mangue Seco (11° 27' S, 37° 27' W),
in 1997, but it was subsequently lost. There is only a photo of this specimen.
PHAETHONTIDAE
Red-billed Tropicbird - Phaethon aethereus aethereus (Linnaeus, 1758). Only one
specimen, female, was found in Mangue Seco (11° 27' S, 37° 27' W) in February 1997, with a
serious injury in the head. It was deposited in the RG collection, RG 9608.
SULIDAE
Masked Booby - Sula dactylatra dactylatra (Lesson, 1831). Four specimens were
collected: 2 in 1994 and 2 in 1998. One specimen is in the RG collection and one male
specimen is part of the MCNC collection (N 544), collected on March 23, 1999 in Salvador
(12° 55' S, 38° 21' W) and banded (Table 6).
Brown Booby - Sula leucogaster leucogaster (Boddaert, 1783). Two specimens were
prepared and deposited in the MCNC collection (N 187 and 188), one was banded (Table.6).
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PHALACROCORACIDAE
Antarctic Shag - Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis (Murphy, 1936). Only one specimen
of this species was collected in Barra de Itariri, (11° 51' S, 37° 34' W) on the northern coast of
Bahia by a businessman who removed the bird band and threw the bird away. The juvenile
specimen had been banded by Marco Favero of the Universidadd Nacional de Mar del Plata in
Punta Armonía, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands, Antartica, band AA 4765. This is the
first register of this species in Brazil. (Lima et al. 2002)
FREGATIDAE
Magnificent Frigatebird - Fregata magnificens (Mathews, 1914). Two specimens
were collected, one of them alive, found on August 16, 1999. A curiosity about this finding is
the fact that this bird was found inland, in the west of Bahia, very far from the coast, in the
city of Bom Jesus da Lapa. This bird must have gone along the São Francisco River. The
strong winds that occurred in that period were probably the reason of such displacement.
During wintertime, these birds are very common along the coast of the state and they can be
seen flying over the city of Salvador, approximately 5 to 10km from the coast. However, this
sole specimen was the only one found throughout 17 years of research. The bird was
recuperated, banded and set free twenty days later at Arembepe beach. The bird bands listed
for this species in CEMAVE’s bird-banding manual (U or V) are not adequate for this species
on account of their short tarsus. The bands are very wide (13mm) therefore they can cause
serious damage to the bird’s joints. To band this bird it is necessary to manufacture a special
13 mm diameter and 7 mm wide bird band. The MCNC collection has a specimen of this
species.
STERCORARIIDAE
Antarctic Skua - Catharacta antarctica antarctica (Lesson, 1831). One specimen,
female was collected in Mangue Seco, on June 13, 1998, and placed in the RG collection (RG
9989); one male specimen was found and collected in Salvador (12° 55' S, 38° 21' W) on June
5, 1998 and deposited in the MCNC collection (N 576). This species was previously recorded
in Bahia, in June 1982. At that time, a debilitated specimen was collected, recuperated and set
free. A specimen of this species was put in the ACEM 034 collection after being found in the
Grajaú Resort, Paraná, on November 7, 1992.
Chilean Skua - Catharacta chilensis (Bonaparte, 1857) One specimen was collected
in Mangue Seco (11° 27' S, 37° 27' W) on May 29, 1998 in an advanced state of
decomposition (Silva et al., 2002). The skeleton was prepared and deposited in the
osteological collection of the MCNC 001: wing - 410mm, bill - 55mm, tarsus- 73mm, average
toe with toenail - 83mm, head-110mm. This species is mentioned as an occurrence in Brazil
and was collected by Vooren in 1984 (Willis and Oniki, 1991), although the Ocean and
Coastal Environmental Diagnosis on the South and Southeast Regions of Brazil carried out in
1994 and supervised by Vooren does not register the occurrence of this species in Rio Grande
do Sul. A specimen found in June 1990, 76 km south of the Lagoa do Peixe (RS), is part of
the collection at the Zoology Museum of UNISINOS. In 2001, one more specimen was
collected and placed in MCNC collection.
14
South Polar Skua - Catharacta maccormicki (Saunders, 1893). Five specimens of this
species were collected from the northern coast of Bahia; two skins were collected in May 16,
1998 and deposited in the MCNC collection (N 429 and N 580) and three skeletons are in the
osteological collection of the MCNC (N 002, 003 and 004). The three Catharacta specimens
recorded and deposited in the RG and MCNC collections eliminate all doubts concerning the
identification of these species (Sick, 1985, 1987). On May 22, 2001, in the district of Lauro
de Freitas, Bahia, an individual banded with a German band was collected. The bird has been
banded while still in the nest in Antarktis - Stat. Jubany (62° 45’ S, 58° 40’ W) on February 8,
2001. The bird traveled a distance of 5718 km.
Artic Skua - Stercorarius parasiticus (Linnaeus, 1758). Eight specimens were
collected from 1994 to 1999. A skin is part of the Werner Bokermann collection and one of
the MCNC collection (N 581). A dark-morph first-year (see Olson & Larsen 1994 for a
description) male (MCNC 581) was found dead on the beach on 11 November 1989 in
Mangue Seco (11° 23’S, 34° 33’W).
Long-tailed Skua - Stercorarius longicaudus (Vieillot, 1819). Only one partially
decomposed specimen was found on Jauá beach on the northern coast of Bahia on June 3,
1998; the skin was prepared and deposited in MCNC collection (N 573).
Pomarine Jaeger - Stercorarius pomarinus (Termminck, 1815). In 2000, two
individuals were found in the Northern coast of Bahia and sent to the MCNC collection.
LARIDAE
Kelp Gull - Larus dominicanus (Lichtenstein, 1823). This species is listed in this
study only because one specimen was observed in Mangue Seco, in 1994. Nevertheless, this
species was not noted among the dead birds involved in the mortality phenomenon.
STERNIDAE
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo (Linnaeus, 1758). Two specimens were found dead,
one was banded with a Portuguese band (G 5070); this was the first occurrence of birds of this
species found in Brazil, banded in Portugal and it displays the first documented east/west
transoceanic travel of this species (Lima, 1996; Monteiro et al, 1996; Hays et al 1999).
During the banding survey carried out in Mangue Seco (11° 27' S, 37° 27' W) seven birds
were captured and banded by Monteiro in the Azores Archipelago. Monteiro also captured a
S. hirundo banded by the CETREL team in Mangue Seco on June 8, 1997, when it was
found in the nest. These findings strengthened evidence for the east/west transoceanic
movement of this species.
Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea (Pontoppidan, 1763). In 1994, three individuals of
this species were collected from the northern coast of Bahia: two are part of the CG (9513)
collection, one which was collected in Salvador in July 1994, and from Mangue Seco in
August 1995 which is deposited in the RG collection (N 9547) the third is a female specimen
that was collected in Mangue Seco (11° 27' S, 37° 27' W) on August 3,1993 and was placed in
the MCNC collection (N 14).The banding activities regarding the family of Sternidae revealed
the presence of nine species. Nevertheless, the S. paradisaea species was found only as one of
the species involved in the mortality phenomenon, thus confirming the theory that this species
does not mix with other species resting overnight on the sand banks of Mangue Seco.
15
Sooty Tern - Sterna fuscata (Linnaeus, 1766). Eight specimens were found along the
northern coast of Bahia: two specimens are part of the RG collection (RG 9479) collected at
Praia do Forte, on July 28, 1994 as well as RG 10010 collected on March 24, 1999 in
Arembepe. One specimen was prepared and deposited in the MCNC collection (N 344). This
species, similar to the S. paradisaea specie has only been observed as one of the species
involved in the mortality phenomenon. It was only in 1995 that an adult individual was seen
resting in Mangue Seco, together with a group of birds of the family of Sternidae.
Roseate Tern - Sterna dougallii (Montagu, 1813). An individual of this species was
collected in February 1997, from the coast of the municipality of Lauro de Freitas (12° 55’
02’’S, 21° 10’ W) this specimen being currently part of the MCNC collection. There is a
theory about the east/west transoceanic movement of this species is similar to the S. hirundo
species movement. This hypothesis is also mentioned by Monteiro. This was confirmed by
the capture of a bird in Mangue Seco in 2000 that had been banded in Great Britain in 1999.
(Hays et al, 2002) The studies developed together with Helen Hays of the American Museum
of Natural History in New York, were aimed at proving this hypothesis.
Cayenne Tern - Sterna eurygnatha (Saunders, 1876) . One specimen of this species
was collected on Itaparica Island and was placed in the MCNC collection.
Brown Noddy - Anous stolidus stolidus (Linnaeus, 1758). Twelve specimens of this
species were collected from 1994 to 1999 in northern Bahia; three specimens are deposited in
the RG collection: RG 9528 collected in Salvador on February 18, 1995; RG 9544 collected
from the northern coast of the state on October 10, 1995 and RG 9899 collected in Salvador
on May 24, 1998. Five specimens are in the MCNC collection, three of them were found
banded (Table 6). Similarly to the S. paradisaea e S. fuscata species, this species does not
mix with other species on the sand banks of Mangue Seco.
CONCLUSIONS
Along the coast of Bahia accidents involving oil spills seldom occur, but in 1994 there
was a terrible accident with a Nigerian oil tanker, when a huge amount of oil spilled out into
the sea, causing serious impact on the coastal environment with irreparable consequences, as
proven by thousands of dead seabirds that were found along the shores of Bahia, Salvador and
Itaparica Island. Such a disaster had never been seen before by the scientific and local
communities. It is mandatory that tankers and ships of foreign countries passing along the
coast or mooring in Bahian ports should be regularly inspected to avoid this type of accident.
During this study, Calonectris d. borealis accounted for most birds found on the
beach. The specimens were mostly young birds that left their nests from 3 months to one year
before dying in their first or second flight accross the Atlantic. This accounts for their frailty,
chiefly when facing storms or sea pollution. The non-breeding adult birds of this species are
more experienced and have already gone through a lot of storms and are therefore not
involved in the mortality phenomenon. Moreover, the adult birds in their reproduction cycle
are safe from these perils on account of remaining in their breeding territories on Selvagem
Grande Island (Portugal) and the Canary Islands (Spain). The beginning of the breeding cycle
in March favors the birds that fly from the south of the American continent in search of
adequate breeding sites. During their flight to the islands where they will breed they do not
face bad weather, because it is only in April that the rainy season starts in Bahia. After the
16
breeding season, the birds return home in October heading south, because winter is beginning
in the northern region.
The causes of mortality from 1994 to 1999 can be catalogued as pollution, starvation
and “natural phenomena”: oil pollution and polyethylene ingestion; starvation from lack of
food deriving from the pollution itself and/or lack of fish along the coast due to large-scale
predatory fishing in Bahia;
The discovery of 42 species recorded from 1994 to 1999 and involved in the mortality
phenomenon has contributed to a better knowledge of the principal factors that cause this
phenomenon and has extended significantly the list of species existent in the state of Bahia.
Also, it has added four species to the listing of Brazilian species. Furthermore, through bird
banding it was possible to trace the migratory routes of the species involved in the mortality
phenomenon. The techniques developed to recuperate debilitated species and the bird banding
of the recuperated birds are good indicators, because these birds can be recuperated in their
breeding territory. The specimens collected and deposited in the MCNC collection and other
Brazilian collections are good sources for consultation, because the great majority of the
species are not well-represented in Brazilian collections, in either type or in the quantity of
species. The identification key for the Order of Procellariiformes included in this study is
very useful to prevent any kind of error, since it allows the correct identification of the species
of this particular family, considering that many mistakes have been made over the years.
(Pinto, 1963, 1968, 1978; Sick, 1985, 1997; Teixeira et al, 1988)
Monitoring and environmental education are fundamental for the studies of seabird
mortality. It is important to have the assistance of collaborators to proceed in this survey, not
only from the scientific communities but also from local environmental agencies and
communities.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Belton, W. (1982). Aves silvestres do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre. Fundação
Zoobotänica do Rio Grande do Sul.
______, ( 2000). Aes do Rio Grande do Sul: distribuição e biologia. Editora Unissinos.
Catela, C. (1976). Morte na praia. Revista Veja, N. 28.
Granadeiro, J. P. and M. A. Silva (1991). Resultados da campanha de inspeções costeiras para
detecção de aves marinhas mortas no litoral continental português (1990/1991). Airo
Vol. 2 n.º 2:29-33.
_______, Silva, M. A., Fernandes, C. & Reis, A. (1997). Recuentos de aves orilladas en
Portugal, 1990-1996. Ardeola 44: 9-17.
Grantsau, R. (1995). Os albatrozes (Diomedeidae, Procelariiformes) do Atlântico e sua
ocorrência na costa brasileira e uma chave de identificação. Bol. CEO, Nº.12: 20-31.
Hays, H. and P. C. Lima (1997). Distribution of Roseate Terns along the coast of Brazil. In:
Proceedings 7th Roseat Tern Workshop, 26-27 April, Horta, Azores, Portugal, page
21.
17
______, P. C. Lima, L. Monteiro, J. DiCostanzo, G. Cormons, I. C. T. Nisbet, J. E. Silva, J.
A. Spendelow, J. Burger, J. Pierce and M. Gochfeld (1999). A Non-breeding
Concentration of Roseate and Common Terns in Bahia, Brasil”. Journal of Field
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no litoral do Paraná. In: Cong. Bras. Ornit, 4, Recife, PE, 1994. Resumos Recife:
Universidade Rural de Pernambuco, 1994, p.105.
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120:58-61.
______, R. Grantsau, R. C. F. R. Lima and S. S. dos Santos (2002) Notas sobre os registros
brasileiros de Calonectris edwardsii (Oustalet, 1883) e Pelagodroma marina
hypoleuca (Mouquin-Tandon, 1841) e primeiro registro de Phalacrocorax
bransfieldensis Murphy, 1936 para o Brasil. Ararajuba 10(2):263-265.
______, _____, _____ and ____(2004). Primeiro registro para o nordeste brasileiro do
Albatroz-de-cabeça-cinza (Diomedea c. cauta Gould, 1841). Atualidades
Ornitológicas n° 118:3.
Martuscelli, P., F. Olmos and R.Silva e Silva (1995) Macronectes halli, primeiro registro
para o Brasil. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 115-187 –88.
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Brazil”. Cotinga 8:55-56.
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morphology, breeding, molt, diet and feeding of seabirds in the Azores. Colonial
Waterbirds 19: 82-97.
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Brasil. In: Congresso Brasileiro de Ornitologia 4, 1994, Recife, PE, Universidade
Federal Rural de Pernambuco, 1994, p. 45.
Murphy, R.C. (1936). Oceanic birds of South America. AMNHNY.
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Hydrobatidae ). Nattereria 1:27-28.
______, P. Martuscelli, R. Silva e Silva and T. S. Neves (1995). The sea-birds of São Paulo,
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do Rio de Janeiro e um sumário de suas aparições na costa brasileira
(Procellariiformes: Procellariidae )” Ararajuba 3: 82-83.
18
Petry, M. V. and V. S da Fonseca (2002). Effects of human activities in the marine
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Neotropical 13(2):137-142.
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Diomedeidae), para o Litoral Sul do Brasil. In: Congresso Brasileiro de Ornitologia 7,
Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 1998, Universidade do Estado do Riode Janeiro, 1998, p. 70.
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Vol 6 (2): 136-137.
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Brasília.
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Catarina, Brasil (Aves, Procellariidae). Iheringia, Zool. 46: 54.
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Brasil. Ararajuba 10(2):275-277.
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com os ecossistemas. Atualidades Ornitológicas 88:6-7.
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_______, J. B. Nacinovic, I. M. Schloemp and E. E. Kischlat (1988).
Brazilian seabirds (3). Bull. Brit. Orn.Cl.108:136-139
Notes on some
Vooren, C. M and A. C. Fernandes (1989). “Guia de Albatrozes e Petréis do Sul do Brasil”,
1ed., Rio Grande do Sul: SAGRA Livraria, Editora e Distribuidora LTDA.
Zino, P. A. (1985). Pequeno apontamento histórico sobre a caça das Cagarras na Selvagem
Grande e desenvolvimentos recentes nesta ilha. Bocagiana, Portugal: Museu
Municipal do Funchal p.2.
Warham, J. (1990). The Petrels: Their ecology and breeding systems. Academic Press
Limited.
19
Willis, E. O. and Y. Oniki (1985). Bird specimens new for the state of São Paulo,
Brazil.Rev.Brasil. Biol., 45 (1/2): 105-108.
_______and ______(1991). Nomes Gerais para Aves Brasileiras. Américo Brasiliense - SP.
_______and ______ (1993). New and reconfirmed birds from the state of São Paulo, Brazil,
with notes on disappearing species. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 113 (1):23-34.
_______and ______ (1993). On a Phoebetria specimen from southern Brazil. Bull. Brit. Orn.
Cl.113 (1):60-61.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To Carlos Eugênio Bezerra de Menezes, Director Manager of CETREL. To my fellow biologists:
Jaelson O. Castro, Francisco P. da Fonseca-Neto, Cláudio L.S Sampaio, Mariana S. Pinho, Simone de
Souza Campos, Valquer dos Santos, Luis Carlos D. dos Santos, Valdique da Silva Lopes, Lenílson S.
Nunes, Jorge L.C. de Almeida, Dilson M. R. dos Santos, Nequinha, Daniel Schmukler, Sergio B. dos
Santos, Thyers Novaes de Cerqueira Lima Neto, Aloísio Fereira da Rocha Neto for their help in field
investigations. To IBAMA, Jardim Zoológico, Policia Ambiental do Estado da Bahia, Projeto
TAMAR, Projeto MAMA, for delivering debilitated birds to our center, and for their assistance and
support. To CEMAVE for the posters and support. To the fishing communities all over the northern
coast of Bahia, Salvador and Itaparica Island for their cooperation. To the Environmental Sector of
PETROBRÁS, for its support and assistance. Werner Bokermam (in memoriam) for his help. To Prof.
Paulo Cesar Costa Maia and Aliomar Arlego Paraguaçu, Medicine Veterinary - UFBA, for Histology
and Pathology examinations on collected birds. Ilse Grantsau for help revision in the text. Richard
Hartley for help in translating the text. And to my friends for the concession of your photos :Haroldo
Palo Júnior Diomedea melanoprhys, Phoebetria palpebrata, Fulmarus glacialoides and Catharacta
chilensis; Luis Claudio Marigo Sterna fuscata; Fábio Olmos Calonectris edwardsii and Robson Silva
e Silva Phaethon aethereus.
20
TABLE 1. Birds found dead during the mortality phenomenon between 1994 - 1999.
1994
1995
1996
PERIOD
1997
1998
1999
TOTAL
-
-
-
-
01 ( 0,2% )
02 (1,1% )
03
Diomedea melanophrys
03 (0.08%)
-
-
-
02 ( 0,41% )
03 ( 1,7% )
08
Diomedea chlororhynchos
03 ( 0.08% )
-
09 ( 0,73% )
-
02 ( 0,41% )
23 ( 13,5% )
37
Diomedea sp.
-
-
-
-
-
01 ( 0,5%)
01
Phoebetria fusca **
-
-
01 ( 0,08% )
-
-
-
01
Phoebetria palpebrata **
02 ( 0,05% )
-
-
-
-
03 ( 1,7 % )
05
Fulmarus glacialoides **
01 ( 0,02% )
-
-
-
-
-
01
-
-
-
-
-
04 (2,3% )
04
Pterodroma incerta **
31 ( 0,88% )
-
-
-
01 ( 0,2% )
04 ( 2,3% )
36
Pterodroma brevirostris
01 ( 0,02% )
-
-
-
-
-
01
-
-
05 ( 0,4% )
-
-
03 ( 1,7%)
08
Pachyptila desolata
110 ( 3,15% )
-
755 ( 61,8% )
-
-
-
865
Pachyptila vitatta **
-
-
01 ( 0,8%)
-
-
-
01
40 ( 1,14% )
-
231 ( 18,9% )
-
-
01 ( 0,5% )
272
-
-
71 ( 5,8% )
-
-
-
71
Procellaria a. aequinoctialis
144 ( 4,1% )
-
09 ( 0,73% )
-
02 ( 0,41% )
31 ( 18,2%)
186
Procellaria conspicillata **
01 ( 0,02% )
-
-
-
-
-
01
-
-
01 ( 0,08% )
-
-
-
01
2380 ( 68,2% )
494 ( 80,5% )
119 ( 9,74% )
32 ( 68% )
381 ( 79,7% )
41 ( 24,1%)
3447
-
02 ( 0,3% )
-
-
-
-
02
Puffinus gravis
740 ( 21% )
72 ( 11,7% )
06 ( 0,49% )
13 ( 27% )
66 ( 13,8% )
25 ( 14,7% )
922
Puffinus griseus
03 ( 0,8%)
06 (0,9%)
04 ( 0,32% )
-
04 ( 0,83% )
06 ( 3,5% )
23
11 ( 0,31% )
09 ( 1,46% )
01 ( 0,08% )
-
02 ( 0,41% )
08 ( 4,7% )
31
SPECIES
Sphesniscus magellanicus
Daption capense **
Pterodroma mollis **
Pachyptila belcheri **
Pachyptila sp.
Procellaria cinerea **
Calonectris diomedea borealis
Calonectris edwardsii */ **
Puffinus puffinus **
21
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
TOTAL
Oceanites oceanicus **
-
01 ( 0,16% )
-
-
-
05 ( 2,9% )
06
Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca */ **
-
-
01 ( 0,08% )
-
-
-
01
Fregetta tropica */ **
-
-
01 ( 0,08% )
-
-
-
01
Oceanodroma leucorrhoa **
-
-
01 ( 0,08% )
-
-
-
01
Phaethon aethereus aethereus
-
-
-
01 ( 2,1% )
-
-
01
Sula dactylatra
-
-
02 ( 0,16 % )
-
02 ( 0,41% )
-
04
Sula leucogaster leucogaster
-
01 ( 0,16% )
01 ( 0,08% )
-
-
01 ( 0,5% )
03
Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis */ **
-
01 ( 0,16% )
-
-
-
-
01
Fregata magnificens
-
-
-
-
-
02 ( 1,1 % )
02
Tringa flavipes
01 ( 0,2% )
-
-
-
-
-
01
Catharacta antarctica **
06 ( 0,17% )
09 ( 1,46% )
01 ( 0,08% )
-
03 ( 0,62% )
-
19
Catharacta chilensis **
-
-
-
-
01 ( 0,2% )
-
01
Catharacta maccormicki **
-
-
-
01 (2,1% )
05 ( 1,04% )
-
06
Stercorarius parasiticus **
01 ( 0,02% )
02 ( 0,32% )
01 ( 0,08% )
-
04 ( 0,83% )
01 ( 0,5% )
09
Stercorarius longicaudus **
-
-
-
-
01 ( 0,2% )
-
01
Sterna hirundo
03 ( 0,08% )
03 ( 0,48% )
-
-
01 ( 0,2% )
-
07
Sterna paradisaea
03 ( 0.08% )
-
-
-
-
01 ( 0,5% )
04
Sterna fuscata
02 ( 0,05% )
06 ( 0,97% )
-
-
-
-
08
Sterna dougallii
-
-
-
-
01 ( 0,2% )
-
01
Sterna eurygnatha
-
-
-
-
01 ( 0,2% )
-
01
01 ( 0,02% )
09 ( 1,46% )
01 ( 0,08% )
-
01 ( 0,2% )
05 ( 2,9% )
17
3487
615
1222
47
478
170
6022
SPECIES
Anous stolidus
TOTAL
Note: the value between brackets corresponds to the percentage of individuals of this species found in the respective year.
* =New occurrence in Brazil. ** New occurrence in Bahia
22
Table 2 - Period of occurrence of seabirds in the coast of Bahia
SPECIES
Spheniscus magellanicus
Diomedea melanophrys
Diomedea chlororhynchos
Phoebetria fusca
Phoebetria palpebrata
Fulmarus gracialoides
Daption capense
Pterodroma incerta
Pterodroma brevirostris
Pterodroma mollis
Pachyptila desolata
Pachyptila vitatta
Pachyptila belcheri
Procellaria a. aequinoctialis
Procellaria conspicilata
Procellaria cinerea
Calonectris diomedea borealis
Calonectris edwardsii
Puffinus gravis
Puffinus griseus
Puffinus puffinus
Oceanites oceanicus oceanicus
Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca
Fregatta tropica
Oceanodroma leucorrhoa
Phaeton aethereus aethereus
Sula dactylatra
Sula leucogaster leucogaster
Fregata magnificens
Catharacta antarctica
Catharacta chilensis
Catharacta maccormicki
Stercorarius parasiticus
Stercorarius longicaudus
Stercorarius pomarinus
Sterna hirundo
Sterna paradisaea
Sterna fuscata
Sterna dougallii
Sterna eurygnatha
Anous stolidus
* = Skin deposited in the MNRJ
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
AUG SEPT OCT
X
X
X
X
NOV
DEC
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
23
Table 3. Weight of birds represented in the mortality phenomenon, dead, deposited and examined in the
collections RG and MCNCetrel .
SPECIES
N/
WEIGHT ♂
±
(X)
-
Spheniscus magellanicus
Diomedea melanophrys
N/
1/
1957g
(-)
2/
-
Diomedea chlororhynchos
Daption capense
1/
290g
(-)
Pterodroma incerta
2/
Pterodroma brevirostris
1/
175g
(-)
Pterodroma mollis
1/
180g
(-)
Pachyptila desolata
3/
Pachyptila belcheri
355g-390g (372,5g)
WEIGHT ♀
±
(X)
WEIGHT
(undetermined gender)
N/ ± ( X)
-
2 / 1500g-2665g(2082,5g)
-
-
1100g – 1375g (1237,5)
3 / 1490g-1788g (1592,6g)
1/
255g
(-)
-
1/
574g
(-)
-
-
-
1/
200g
(-)
1/
86g-100g (94,6g)
1/
110g
(-)
3 / 96g-130g (110,6g)
8/
80g-95g (86,7g)
13/
Procellaria
a.aequinoctialis
4/
625g-750g (656,2g)
Procellaria conspicilata
1/
Calonectris d. borealis
625g
75g-97g (82,8g)
4 / 625g-730g (688,7g)
(-)
200g
(-)
3/
70g-84g (78,6g)
1/
500g
(-)
-
-
18/ 390g-600g (490,2g)
9 / 380g-620g (478g)
10/ 340g-510g (417,5g)
Puffinus gravis
-
3 / 350g-520g ( 456g)
2 / 490g-560g ( 525g)
Puffinus griseus
-
1/
(-)
1/
590g
(-)
1/
75g
(-)
375g
Puffinus puffinus
1/
235g
(-)
2/
210g
( 210g)
Catharacta antarctica
1/
711g
(-)
1/
760g
(-)
-
Catharacta maccormick
-
Sterna paradisaea
1/
60g
(-)
Sterna dougallii
1/
80g
(-)
1/
55g
(-)
1/
750g
(-)
1/
64g
(-)
-
2/
90g-102 g (96g )
Anous stolidus
Note: N = number of skins ; ± = more or less weight; ( X ) mean weight.
1/
106g
(-)
24
Table 4. Weight of the seabirds when they are set free
SPECIES
WEIGHT WHEN SET FREE
2 800 (N=2)
Spheniscus magellanicus
628, 75 (N=12)
Puffinus gravis
725 (N=2)
Procellaria a. aequinoctialis
85,9 (N=15)
Pachyptila desolata
81,9 (N=5)
Pachyptila belcheri
620
Calonectris d. borealis
1 550
Diomedea chlororhynchos
640 (N=2)
Puffinus griseus
Note: 1. Mean difference = difference between the mean weight of the bird when
released and the weight of the bird to be set free.
2. Weight in grams.
3. The value in parenthesis is equal to the mean weight at the moment of release.
Table 5. Biometric data on the species mostly represented in the mortality phenomenon
SPECIES
S , N,
BILL
±
(X)
N
WING
±
(X)
Pachyptila desolata
? 40 /
13-15 ( 14,5 )*
35 /
18-21
( 19,6 )
Pachyptila belcheri
? 16 /
9-10
( 9,4 )*
7 /
17,8-19
( 18,4 )
Procellaria a. aequinoctialis
? 20 /
53-45
(49,2)
20 /
42-36
( 35,2 )
17 /
860-425
( 703 )
Puffinus gravis
? 59 /
56-40
( 46,1 )
55 /
35-31
( 32,7 )
56 /
780-320
( 492 )
Puffinus puffinus
? 7 /
40-35
( 36,5 )
9/
24-22
( 23 )
3/
420-220
( 320 )
Callonectris diomedea borealis
M 25 /
f 33 /
? 302 /
61-50 (53,6 )
60-48 ( 54,8 )
46-64
(56)
25 /
33 /
255 /
35-38,5
33-37
31,5-39
( 36,3 )
( 36,1 )
( 35,6 )
23 /
32 /
164 /
390-620 ( 482 )
380-680 ( 467,6 )
330-700 ( 471,5)
N
WEIGHT
±
(X)
-
Note : Measurement in mm and weight in grams. S = gender; N =number of skins ; ± = higher or smaller measure ; ( X ) = mean ; m = male; f = female
•
Measurement of the base width of the bill.
25
Table 6 . Seabirds found banded in the northern coast of Bahia
SPÉCIES
Calonectris d. borealis
Sterna eurygnatha
Sterna hirundo
Anous stolidus
Sula leucogaster
Sula dactylatra
Phalachrocorax bransfildensis
Catharacta maccormicki
BAND
L 053705
L 43269
L 037017
L 049205
L 048948
L 048848
L 036729
L 049279
L 049284
L 049279
L 049653
L 042648
L 052108
6083829
6083560
L 046845
L 035859
L 060135
L 056734
L 74658
G 5070
J 16104
J 22642
J 22667
U 21142
V 18297
U 18091
AA 4765
EA0123561
COLLECTION
DATE
07/06/94
08/06/94
10/06/94
11/06/94
12/06/94
12?06/94
26/06/94
26/06/94
26/02/94
26/06/94
29/06/94
31/05/95
05/07/95
26/06/94
30/06/94
06/06/96
08/05/98
02/06/98
13/05/98
12/04/98
13/0296
10/07/96
12/04/98
12/04/98
03/10/96
15/12/98
03/08/98
- / - /96
08/02/01
ORIGIN
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 14/10/93. Non flying juvenile.
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 19/09/93. Non flying juvenile.
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 31/10/93. Non flying juvenile
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 02/10/93. Non flying juvenile
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 01/10/93. Non flying juvenile
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 01/10/93. Non flying juvenile.
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 29/10/92. Non flying juvenile
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 01/10/93. Non flying juvenile
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 10/10/93. Non flying juvenile
Non available data.
Non available data.
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 29/06/94. Non flying juvenile.
Non available data.
Canary Island, Spain, 07/11/93. Non flying juvenile
Canary Island, Spain, 04/11/93. Non flying juvenile
Selvagem Grande, Madeira, Portugal, 15/09/95. Non flying juvenile
Non available data.
Non available data
Non available data
Escalvada Island, Espirito Santo, 29/06/97. Young.
Vila do Porto Island, Santa Maria, Azores, Portugal.03/07/94. Young
Guarita Island, Abrolhos Marine Park, Bahia, 05/05/95.Young
Abrolhos Archipelago, Bahia, 22/05/97. Young
Abrolhos Archipelago, Bahia, 22/05/97. Young
Abrolhos Archipelago, Bahia, 25/04/96. Young
Abrolhos Archipelago, Bahia, 29/01/92. Adult.
Abrolhos Archipelago, Bahia, 19/06/92. Adult, female
Punta Armonia, Nelson Island, South Shetland.
South Shetland Island
26
Table 7. Biometric data on skins examined in the RG and MCN Cetrel collections .
SPECIES
Spheniscus
magellanicus
Diomedea
melanophris
Diomedea
chlororhynchos
Phoebetria
fusca
Phoebetria
palpebrata
Fulmarus
glacialoides
Daption
capense
Pterodroma
incerta
Pterodroma
brevirostris
Pterodroma
mollis
Pachyptila
desolata
Pachyptila
belcheri
Procellaria
a. aequinoctialis
S, N ,
Total
± (X)
N,
Wing
±
(X)
?1/
556
(-)
1/
170
(-)
1/
? 1/
864
?
(-)
1/
1/
535
490
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
m 1 / 776
(-)
f 1/ 740-750 ( 745 )
? 4/ 740-788 (768,2)
? 1/ 742
(-)
1/
494
(-)
2/
495-498 ( 496.5 )
6/
470-510 ( 492 )
1/
520
(-)
N,
Tail
±
(X)
25
192
185
Cúlmem
±
( X)
N,
Tarso
±,
(X)
(-)
1/
60
(-)
1/
31,2
(-)
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
104,5
106
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
86,3
82
(-)
(-)
1/
2/
5/
N,
166
(-)
180-185 ( 182,5 )
165-175 ( 170,2 )
1/
236
(-)
1/
2/
6/
1/
108,3
(-)
110-114 ( 112 )
113-120 ( 116 )
109
(-)
1/
1/
6/
1/
80,9
(-)
80
(-)
77-85 ( 81,3)
80
(-)
? 1/
760
(-)
1/
486
(-)
1/
234
(-)
2/
104-110 ( 107)
1/
77
(-)
f 1/
455
(-)
1/
334
(-)
1/
124
(-)
1/
40
1/
47
(-)
m 1/
385
(-)
f 2/
361-381 ( 371 )
1/
2/
258
(-)
252-271 ( 261,5 )
2/
99,4
(-)
97,3-102 (99,65)
1/
2/
31,5
(-)
29,4-31,2 (30,3)
1/
2/
44,8
(-)
44-45 ( 44,5 )
m 2 /
428-435 (431.5)
f 1 / 418
(-)
2/
1/
318-326 ( 322)
345
(-)
2/
122-128 ( 125)
1/
139
(-)
2/
1/
36-38
39
( 37 )
(-)
2/
1/
43-46 ( 44,5 )
45
(-)
1/
26
(-)
1/
m 1 /
310
(-)
m 2 /
328-335(331,5)
f 1 / 334 ( - )
?1/
347 ( - )
m 3 /
230-305 (275)
f 1 / 305 ( - )
?3/
285-290(288,3)
274-300 (288,6)
m 8 /
f 13 / 240-300 ( 276 )
?3/
274-288 ( 280 )
m 4 /
480-550 ( 513 )
f 5/
492-540 (510,4 )
?1/
495 ( - )
1/
2/
1/
1/
3/
1/
5/
8/
13 /
5/
4/
5/
?/
249
1/
(-)
(-)
254-260 ( 257)
235
(-)
248
(-)
194-230 ( 206,3)
196
(-)
180-198 ( 192,6 )
184-201 ( 188,3 )
179-195 ( 186,9 )
180-186 ( 183,6 )
384-400 ( 390,7 )
389-405 ( 396 )
395
(-)
1/
2/
96
(-)
105-110 ( 107,5)
110
(-)
175
(-)
3/
98-103 ( 100,3)
1/
92
(-)
5/
88-110 ( 97,6 )
8/
73-97
( 89,3 )
13 / 78-94
( 86,4 )
5/
82
( 84,8 )
4/
120-130 ( 124,7 )
5/
120-135 ( 128,8 )
1/
140
(-)
1/
1/
2/
1/
1/
3/
1/
5/
8/
13 /
5/
4/
5/
1/
25-38 ( 31,5 )
27
(-)
27
(-)
29-30 ( 29,3)
27
(-)
26-31 ( 28,2 )
24,8-29,3 ( 26,2)
23-26,7 ( 25,2 )
25-27
( 25,8 )
47-57 ( 51,5 )
49-53 ( 51 )
46
(-)
2/
1/
1/
3/
1/
5/
8/
13 /
5/
4/
5/
1/
37
(-)
33-37 ( 35 )
35
(-)
38
(-)
33-35 ( 34,3 )
34 ( - )
30-36 ( 33,2 )
31-35 ( 32,8 )
32-36 ( 33,1 )
32-33 ( 32,6 )
64-68 ( 65,2 )
60-65 ( 63,2)
63
(-)
27
Continuation
Procellaria
conspicilata
Calonectris d.
borealis
Puffinus
gravis
Puffinus
griseus
Puffinus
puffinus
Pelagodroma
marina
Fregetta
tropica
Sula
dactylatra
Caharacta
antarctica
Catharacta
maccormicki
Stercorarius
parasiticus
Sterna
hirundo
Sterna
paradisaea
Sterna
dougallii
Sterna
fuscata
Anous
stolidus
m 2/
m 18/
f 8/
?9/
f 3/
?3/
451-450 (450,5)
2/
480-580 (527,7 )
490-560 ( 522,5 )
456-560 (509,5 )
484-498 ( 489 )
500-520 ( 506,6)
19 /
9/
9/
3/
3/
f 1 / 430
? 1 / 440
(-)
(-)
m 1 / 347
(-)
f 2 / 300-333 ( 316,5 )
?/
?/
-
346-364 ( 355 )
330-375
345-375
340-370
318-328
330-345
1/
1/
278
310
1/
2/
241
222-240
1/
( 359,3 )
( 364,7 )
( 354,8 )
( 324,3 )
( 336,6 )
2/
103-105
(104 )
2/
50
19 /
9/
8/
3/
3/
120-145
130-160
120-170
110-113
115-130
( 136,5 )
( 142,7 )
( 138,5 )
( 111 )
( 122,6 )
19 /
9/
9/
3/
3/
50-58
49-58
50-57
45-47
47-50
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
44
45
(-)
( 73,5 )
1/
2/
37
34-37
( 50 )
2/
64-65
( 64,5 )
( 54,1 )
( 53,1 )
( 53,9 )
( 46 )
( 49 )
19 /
9/
9/
3/
3/
51-62
48-58
43-61
58-59
59-62
( 56,2 )
( 53,4 )
( 54,6 )
( 58,3 )
( 61 )
1/
1/
55
55
(-)
(-)
1/
2/
45
45-46
(-)
( 45,5)
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
85
115
(-)
(-)
(-)
( 231 )
1/
2/
75
72-75
165
(-)
1/
75
(-)
1/
17
(-)
1/
40
(-)
1/
163
(-)
1/
78
(-)
1/
19
(-)
1/
42
(-)
(-)
( 35,5 )
m 1/
800
(-)
1/
218, 5
(-)
1/
210
(-)
1/
140
(-)
1/
51
(-)
m 1 /
f 1/
?1/
580
580
500
( -)
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
390
390
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
144
148
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
50
48
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
70
73
(-)
(-)
1/
125
(-)
1/
41
(-)
2/
64-72
? 1/
425
(-)
1/
298
(-)
1/
180
(-)
1/
35
(-)
1/
45
(-)
?1/
332
(-)
1/
253
(-)
1/
105
(-)
1/
36
(-)
1/
20,2
(-)
m 1 /
f 1/
?1/
m 1 /
350
335
323
310
(-)
(-)
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
1/
1/
263
265
268
225
(-)
(-)
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
1/
154
158
141
-
(-)
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
1/
1/
34
31
31
24
(-)
(-)
(-)
(-)
1/
1/
1/
15
15
13
(-)
(-)
(-)
m 3 /
353-395 (376)
( 299 )
3/
3/
37-48
m 3 /
f 1/
?4/
357-390 ( 370 )
378
(-)
375-385 (378,5 )
3/
1/
4/
43-46
( 44,6 )
45
(-)
40,3-42 ( 41 )
2/
380-385 ( 382,5 )
3/
292-312
3/
1/
4/
245-275 ( 258 )
254
(-)
246-276 ( 262,7 )
3/
4/
129-145 ( 138 )
115-135 ( 127,6 )
1/
133 ( - )
134-145 ( 138,5 )
( 44 )
( 68 )
3/
22-25
( 23,5 )
3/
1/
4/
25-28
25
21-27
( 26 )
(-)
( 32,3 )
Measurement in mm; m = male , f = female S = gender; N = number of skins; ± higher or smaller measure; ( X ) mean
28
Table 8. – Recovered birds and banded between 1994/2001
SPECIES
Spheniscus magellanucus
Diomedea chlororhynchos
Pterodroma incerta
Pachyptila desolata
Pachyptila belcheri
Procellaria a. aequinoctialis
Calonectris d. borealis
Puffinus gravis
Puffinus griseus
Sula dactylatra
Fregata magnificens
Catharacta antarctica
Catharacta maccormicki
* Band furnished by CEMAVE.
No.of individuals
02
01
01
02
16
08
02
01
12
03
01
01
01
03
BAND* USED
W
T(U)
R
H
H
H
S/T
R (S )
T(S)
S/T
U
U
T
T
YEAR
1998/2001
1994
1996
1994
1996
1996
1994
1994
1994
1998
1999
1999
1993
2001
29
Table 9. Seabirds Bands Recommended
Species
Band
Recommended
recommended
band
by CEMAVE
Phoebetria fusca
Not available
V
Phoebetria palpebrata
Not available
V
Fulmarus glacialoides
N
P
Pterodroma incerta
Not available
R
Pterodroma brevirostris
Not available
J
Pterodroma mollis
Not available
N
Pachyptila desolata
Not available
H-J
Pachyptila belcheri
Not available
H-J
Procellaria a.aequinoctialis
Not available
T
Procellaria conspicilata
Not available
T
Procellaria cinerea
Not available
S
Calonectris d. borealis
N
S
Calonectris edwardsii
Not available
S
Puffinus griseus
Not available
S
Puffinus puffinus
N-P
R
Pelagodroma marina
Not available
H-J
Fregata tropica
Not available
H
Phalacrocorax bransfildensis
Not available
V
Fregata magnificens
V
V*
Catharacta antarctica
Not available
U
Catharacta chilensis
Not available
T
Stercorarius longicaudus
Not available
P
Stercorarius pomarinus
Not available
R/S
* The height of the band should be shortened. See text.
30
Diomedea melanophris
70
Diomedea
chlororhynchos
20,00
21,82
Procellaria a.
aequinoctialis
30
Pachyptila desolata
19,35
Pachyptila belcheri
11,76
Pterodroma incerta
20
Calonectris diomedea
9,09
Puffinus gravis
Puffinus puffinus
Percentual
Figure 1. Percentage of birds found soaked in oil in 1994
66,67
66,67
60
50
40
25,00
13,95
10
0
Species
31
Figure 2. Percentage of birds found soaked in oil in 1995.
33,3
35
30
25
16,6
20
Percentage
15
10
4,3
3
5
0
Puffinua gravis
Calonectris d. borealis
Sterna hirundo
Sterna fuscata
32
Figure 3. Precipitation in the critical period from May to September - 1995 to 1998
1129,3
1200
963,5
1000
940,1
745,9
mm
800
600
400
200
0
Ano 1995
Ano 1996
Ano 1997
Ano 1998
33
Figure 5. Procellaria aequinoctialis without white spot on the chin
Figure 4. Skull Phoebetria palpepbrata
Figure 6. Calonectris diomedea borealis with different characteristics.
34
IDENTIFICATION KEY OF THE PROCELLARIIFORMES ORDER
AND THE STERCORARIIDAE FAMILY.
PLATE I
PLATE II
PLATE III
PLATE IV
PLATE V
PLATE VI
PLATE VII
PLATE VIII
PHOTOS
Spheniscus magellanicus
Diomedea melanophrys
Diomedea chlororhynchos
Diomedea cauta
Phoebetria fusca
Fulmarus glacialoides
Phoebetria palpebrata
Daption capense
Pterodroma incerta
Pterodroma mollis mollis
Pterodroma brevirostris
Pachyptila desolata
Pachyptila belcheri
Procellaria conspicillata
Procellaria aequinoctialis aequinoctialis
Calonectris diomedea
Colonectris diomedea
Calonectris diomedea (Young)
Calonectris edwardsii
Puffinus gravis
Puffinus griseus
Puffinus puffinus
Oceanites oceanicus
Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca
Sula dactylatra
Phaethon aethereus
Sula leucogaster
Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis
Fregata magnificens
Chataracta antarctica
Chataracta chilensis
Chataracta maccormicki
Stercorarius pomarinus
Stercorarius parasiticus
Larus dominicanus
Sterna hirundo
Sterna hirundo
Sterna paradisaea
Sterna paradisaea
Sterna fuscata
Sterna dougallii
Sterna dougallii
Sterna eurygnatha
Anous stolidus