Breeding biology review of White‑backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Brazil and a case study in the largest restinga protected area (Aves, Charadriiformes, Recurvirostridae)

In Brazil, the White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus is distributed in the midwest, south and southeast but breeding information is scarce. In this study, species breeding information in the country was compiled from online platform (WikiAves, eBird) and literature. A case study describing nests and egg biometry were reported in Restinga of Jurubatiba National Park (RJNP), on the north cost of Rio de Janeiro state, as well potential threats to the species. Sampling was carried out in September and December 2018, monthly in 2019 and between January to March and September to December in 2020. Overall, 70 breeding records were compiled, between 1997 and November 2021, being 64 from WikiAves in all regions of Brazil, four records from eBird in São Paulo state (in 2021) and two records in literature (one from São Paulo state, in 2007 and one from Rio de Janeiro in 2012). In RJNP, 44 nests were identified being 34 active, with an average of 3.5 eggs per nest, and overall 118 eggs were measured. The main materials used to build the nests were the saltmarsh plant and mud. Around 60% of nests were degraded or predated. Predation was the main cause of egg loss. Successful nests (with chicks or hatching signs) represented 26% of the total nests monitored. This study reports the first information on the biometry of the species' eggs and nests, confirming the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro state as a nesting area for the species

Distribution and Trends of Endemic Hawaiian Waterbirds

Four endemic species of wetland-dependent waterbirds occur on the main Hawaiian Islands, all of which have experienced sharp population declines and are listed as endangered species. Twice per year, state-wide surveys are conducted to count waterbirds, but these surveys are evaluated only infrequently. We used a state-space approach to evaluate long-term (1986–2016) and short-term (2006–2016) trends and current distribution and abundance of endemic Hawaiian waterbirds. The most numerous species was the Ae‘o, or Hawaiian Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), with a 5-year estimated average abundance of 1,932 individuals, followed by ‘Alae Ke‘oke‘o, or Hawaiian Coot (Fulica alai), with 1,815 individuals, Alae ‘Ula, or Hawaiian Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata sandvicensis) with 927 individuals, and the Koloa Maoli, or Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana) with 931 individuals. All four species had positive trends over the long-term, but short-term and island specific trends were more variable, and in some cases negative. These results provide valuable information to help guide management of Hawaii’s threatened and endangered endemic waterbirds

Primer reporte del acantocéfalo Profilicollis altmani en una cigüeñuela de cuello negro Himantopus mexicanus

We record the presence of the acanthocephalan specie Profilicollis altmani in a black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus, in the Northern coast of Peru. Profilicollis altmani had not been previously reported in H. mexicanus, this being the first report in a new host.Se reporta el hallazgo del acantocéfalo Profilicollis altmani, en un individuo de cigüeñuela de cuello negro (Himantopus mexicanus) en la costa norte del Perú. Profilicollis altmani no había sido reportado anteriormente en H. mexicanus, siendo este el primer reporte de este tipo

Successful nesting by 2 endangered Hawaiian waterbird species in a restored Indigenous wetland agroecosystem

The Hawaiian Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) and Hawaiian Gallinule (Gallinula galeata sandvicensis) are federally endangered waterbirds endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Both species are conservation-reliant; their population persistence is dependent on invasive predator control and removal of invasive plants that degrade habitat. We present observations of successful nesting by one Hawaiian Stilt pair and one Hawaiian Gallinule pair at a site managed within an adaptive Indigenous agroecological framework on the island of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. The Hawaiian Stilt nest, found in February 2019, contained 4 eggs and produced 3 hatchlings, 2 of which were banded and monitored after hatching. The Hawaiian Gallinule nest, found in February 2020, contained 6 eggs and produced 5 hatchlings. Although no individuals were banded from this nest, 2 adults and 2 hatchlings were continuously observed in the nesting area after the eggs hatched. Lo‘i kalo Hawaiian wetland agroecosystems centered around the cultivation of kalo (taro; Colocasia esculenta), have the potential to expand Hawaiian waterbird habitat beyond state and federal protected areas. We are aware of unpublished accounts of Hawaiian waterbirds nesting in commercially farmed lo‘i kalo, but until now, there have been no previously published accounts of native waterbirds breeding in lo‘i kalo managed as Indigenous agroecosystems

Halophiles and Biogeography

Halophilic Archaea •Halophilic archaea dominate the Earth’s many hypersaline environments such as Great Salt Lake (GSL) • They are multi-extremophiles, tolerating not only salinity, but also desiccation and high levels of UV irradiation • Halorubrum is a genus of Halophilic archaea with wide distribution around the Earth • The distribution of Halorubum across space and time begs the question of the mechanism behind the biogeography

Noteworthy records of Sunbittern Eurypyga helias (Pallas, 1781) (Eurypygiformes, Eurypygidae) and Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus (Statius Müller, 1776) (Charadriiformes, Recurvirostridae) from the southern Andes of Ecuador

We report the highest and southernmost documented records of 2 species of Ecuadorian birds: Sunbittern Eurypyga helias (Pallas, 1781) in the southern end of Podocarpus National Park and Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus (Statius Müller, 1776) in Yacuri National Park. Considering these and other records, both species might be expanding their ranges into the highlands, but the necessity to fill geographical, morphological, and taxonomic gaps on Ecuadorian birds remains

Diversidad de aves acuáticas y playeras en Costa del Este, ciudad de Panamá, de Febrero a Mayo del 2021

Costa del Este es parte de la ruta de migración de aves migratorias, además, sitio de albergue para especies locales, por lo que nuestro objetivo fue determinar las aves acuáticas y playeras presentes en la zona costera de Costa del Este ubicada entre la desembocadura del río Abajo a 9°00’21.47”N y 79°28’43.88”O hasta el límite Este con el ecosistema de manglar a 9°00’37.91”N y 79°27’21.03”O. En bajamar queda expuesta una gran extensión de fangales rodeados por una enorme cantidad de desechos de diferentes denominaciones. Este sitio se seleccionó por su extensión, accesibilidad y representatividad de hábitats para realizar un conteo semanal dos horas antes o después de la pleamar y así determinar la riqueza y abundancia de especies locales y migratorias. El recorrido se hizo cuatro veces al mes y a pie, muy lento, observando, a simple vista y con binoculares 8 x 40 mm, iniciando en la zona de mareas, al borde externo del manglar. En cada recorrido se anotó las especies encontradas y el número de visitas por especie representada por la cantidad de veces que se observa la especie. En total, se registraron 26 307 visitas, 39 especies, 15 familias y ocho órdenes. Nannopterum brasilianum con 8 447 visitas (32.11%) y Pelecanus occidentalis con 6 192 visitas (23.53%) fueron las especies más frecuentes; las especies restantes estuvieron por debajo del 10%. Phalacrocoracidae con 8 447 visitas (32.11%), seguida de Pelecanidae con 6 192 visitas (23.53%), Scolopacidae con 5 559 visitas (21.13%) y nueve especies (23.08%), Laridae con 2 750 visitas (10.45%) y cuatro especies (10.25%) y Ardeidae con 2 037 visitas (7.74%) y nueve especies (23.08%) fueron las familias más representativas. Suliformes con 8 696 individuos (33.06%), dos familias (13.33%) y Charadriiformes con cinco familias xxvi (33.33%) y 19 especies (48.72) fueron las taxa más destacadas. La zona de mareas con 19 091 visitas, 35 especies, 19 familias y 12 órdenes fue la zona más representativa. El litoral fangoso con 15 256 visitas y el mangle con 25 especies fueron los biotopos más frecuentados. Los comportamientos exploratorios, alimentarios, reposo, facilidad social y de sociabilidad fueron las conductas intraespecíficas e interespecíficas más sobresalientes. Solo Spatula discors, Cairina moschata, Buteogallus anthracinus y Pandion haliaetus están considerados bajo algún estado de conservación. La contaminación y la urbanización son efectos antropogénicos influyentes en la diversidad de aves

Habitat Use of Hawaiian Waterbirds in Kawainui Marsh

In Kawainui Marsh, located on the windward side of O‘ahu, eleven man-made ponds were developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Hawai‘i Department of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) to supplement nesting and foraging habitat for endangered, native Hawaiian waterbirds ( ae'o - Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), ʻalae keokeo - Hawaiian coot (Fulica alai), and 'alae 'ula - Hawaiian gallinule (Gallinula galeata sandvicensis). Management of hydrological conditions is thus a priority for DOFAW, as robust water circulation is critical to provide optimal wetland habitat for native waterbirds, as well as to prevent outbreaks of avian botulism caused by natural toxins produced in wetland soils. A better understanding of Hawaiian waterbird use of managed wetland habitat in relation to water quality is needed to implement effective management strategies. The objectives of this project are to: (1) compare water quality parameters among ponds within the Kawainui Marsh pond system; (2) determine the relationship between water depth and water quality; (3) evaluate habitat use of Hawaiian waterbirds in relation to water depth and water quality. Weekly surveys were conducted in the wetland pond system from May 2018 through March 2019, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM, to measure water quality parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen [DO], pH, salinity, turbidity, and oxidation-reduction potential [ORP]) using a YSI ProDSS sonde. A census of the number of Hawaiian waterbirds and their behaviors was recorded in the pond system concurrently during water quality surveys. Data was divided into wet and dry seasons, which correlated with precipitation. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were used to compare water quality parameters and presence of waterbirds between season and among ponds, as well as test for an interaction between season and pond. Regression models were used to determine the relationships between water depth and (1) water quality parameters, and (2) waterbird behaviors. Hawaiian coots were observed most frequently during the wet season, when water depths were greatest, and primarily utilized the North Ponds, which had the greatest number of ponds with water throughout both wet and dry seasons. Hawaiian coots showed a preference for ponds with deeper water, particularly when foraging; however, no observations of nesting Hawaiian coots, and very few observations of resting Hawaiian coots, were recorded during this study period. Maintaining water depths above one foot may increase the number of foraging Hawaiian coots during the dry season. Hawaiian stilts were frequently observed in both the wet and dry seasons; however, Hawaiian stilts were observed nesting only during the dry season, which is likely because the dry season coincides with the Hawaiian stilt nesting season. Hawaiian stilts utilized the North and South Ponds for foraging, but primarily utilized the North Ponds for nesting, resting, and preening. The greatest number of nesting stilts were observed in pond 11, which may be due to the number of small islands that provided preferred nesting habitat. Hawaiian stilts do not seem to be limited by water depth, particularly when foraging; however, additional data on nest-site characteristics is needed to inform management decisions for Hawaiian stilt habitat. Hawaiian gallinules were not frequently observed during this study period, but when observed, gallinules primarily utilized the North Ponds for foraging in both wet and dry seasons. One Hawaiian gallinule was observed nesting in pond 4 during the dry season, which could be due to the availability of dense vegetation throughout that pond. Hawaiian gallinules may prefer ponds with deeper water, as they were most frequently found foraging in ponds with water depths of one to two feet. Overall, our results suggest maintaining water depths in Kawainui Marsh is most important for providing foraging habitat for Hawaiian coots and nesting habitat for Hawaiian stilts; however, more data collection is needed to determine specific water depths.Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlif

A new species of Parastrigea (Digenea, Strigeidae) endoparasite of Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves, Accipitridae) from Argentina

A new strigeid digenean, Parastrigea macrobursa n. sp., is described from specimens recovered from the small intestine of the great black-hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves: Accipitridae), from Formosa Province, Argentina. The new species is characterized by having a tulip-shaped forebody, a hindbody without neck region, a large, well delimited copulatory bursa, and a very deep genital atrium. Three species of Parastrigea share the shape of the copulatory bursa namely P. faini, P. astridae and P. tulipoides. Parastrigea faini and P. astridae differ mainly from the new species by having the forebody strongly divided in two regions and very developed lateral expansions, and Parastrigea tulipoides by having a long neck region and a longer body size. This new species represents the first record of a member of the genus Parastrigea Szidat, 1928 parasitizing birds from Argentina. A key is presented for the species currently recognized as valid in the genus.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse