Page 262 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

2.2.4.15 Seabirds breeding at Richards Bay and surrounding
areas

Authors: MB Bowker, and DG Allan
Abstract:
White-breasted Cormorants (Phalacrocorax lucidus) have bred at three coastal localities between Richards Bay and Lake St Lucia,
KwaZulu-Natal. The sites are briefly described and numbers recorded breeding are summarised.
Introduction:
White-breasted Cormorants (Phalacrocorax lucidus) have bred at three coastal localities between Richards Bay and Lake St Lucia,
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN): Thulazihleka Pan in Richards Bay, Lake Mzingazi on the town’s north side and Lake Nhlabane farther north
(Figure 1, Bowker and Downs 2012, Crawford et al. 2013). These localities are briefly described below.

Thulazihleka Pan lake shore closely around much of its border. The White-
Co-ordinates: 28.7799 S; 32.0472 E breasted Cormorants breed in tall, dead, flooded trees.
Description: Reedbed in a shallow dam created by Conservation status: Unprotected but considered by
the construction of a berm wall and into which sludge from Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife to be an irreplaceable
har- bour construction has been disposed. It is nutrient- critical biodiversity area (CBA) (H Snyman, EKZN Wildlife
rich with no inflow or outflow and is maintained by rain, in litt. 2022). The water works for Richards Bay is sited
seepage and runoff. at the northeast of the lake and access to this region,
Conservation status: It is incorporated in the Richards where White-breasted Cormorants were nesting in 2021,
Bay Nature Reserve. is restricted.
Threats: These include vegetation cutting, water level Species and numbers breeding:
ma- nipulation, landfilling, pollution from solid waste and White-breasted Cormorant
efflu- ents, including fluoride, and gill-netting. Over several
visits in February and March 2022 no White-breasted Year No. of pairs
Cormo- rants or waders were seen at the pan, which was 2001 a 8
acidic with substantial die-back of reeds and discolouration 2021 b 2
of vegetation (E Booyjens, Richards Bay Wood-chip Mill,
in litt.). a Allan and McInnes (2002)
b Makhado AB, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the
Species and numbers breeding: Environment, pers. comm.
White-breasted Cormorant

Year No. of pairs
1985 a 112
1999 b √
2001 c 15
2002 b √
2022 d 0
a Cyrus and McCosh (1985)
b Bowker and Downs (2012)
c Allan and McInnes (2002; eight pairs for Lake Mzingazi) A view of the dead trees at the northeast of Lake Mzingazi that
with Crawford et al. (2013; 23 pairs for Richards Bay, which were used by White-breasted Cormorants for nesting in November
included Thulazihleka Pan and Lake Mzingazi) 2021 (photo RJM Crawford)
d Booyjens E, Richards Bay Wood-chip Mill, in litt. to RJM
Crawford, 3 March 2022
Note: With Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus), Grey
(Ardea cinerea) and Black-headed (A. melanocephala)
Herons, and African Spoonbill (Platalea alba) also
breeding.

Lake Mzingazi
Co-ordinates: 28.7586 S; 32.1122 E
Description: Lake Mzingazi in Richards Bay, KZN, covers
approximately 944 hectares and is the largest freshwater
lake in the province. The water from the lake is used for
both industrial and residential consumption. It is surround- A view of Lake Nhlabane from the west, November 2021 (photo
ed by dense bush with human settlement approaching the RJM Crawford)

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