Page 277 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

Nsumu Pan northeast shore (27.36 S; 32.71 E) but this has disinte-
Coordinates: 27.67 S; 32.30 E grated. It is thought that the cormorants have shifted their
Description: A large fresh-water pan linked with the breeding into adjacent dune-forest trees but no counts are
Mkhuze River. Much of the shore is lined with trees, available.
in some of which White-breasted Cormorants have bred. Conservation status: The full water surface of the lake
Conservation status: Protected within the iSimangaliso (including both sites where the cormorants bred) forms
Wetland Park. part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage
Species and numbers breeding: Site and the St Lucia Ramsar Site. Some villages and
White-breasted Cormorant rural farmlands are situated near the shore.
Species and numbers breeding:
Year No. of pairs(ad) White-breasted Cormorant
1996 a √ Year No. of pairs (ad or juv)
2007 a 15 2004 a 64
2008 a √ 2005 b 38
2009 a 10 2006 b 60
2010 b (180 ad) 2007 b 100
2011 b 10 2008 b 75
2013 b √ 2009 b 62
2018 b 5 2010 (75 ad)
2019 c 50 2011 (75 ad)
2021 c 0 a
a 2012 63 (147 ad)
Bowker and Downs (2012)
b 2013 (147 ad)
EKZN Wildlife (unpublished record)
c 2014 2 (88 ad)
Mfeka, S (EKZN Wildlife, pers. comm.)
2015 8 (128 ad)
Muzi Pan 2016 c 26 (199 ad)
Coordinates: 27.40 S; 32.37 E
Description: A large fresh-water pan, linked to the 2017 91 (ad and juv)
Mkhuze River, having trees, reeds and grassland around 2018 √ (3 juv)
its shore-line. White-breasted Cormorants have nested in
trees and one Grey-headed Gull pair was reported to have 2021 d 0
bred.
Conservation status: A boundary of the iSimangaliso a Crawford et al. (2013)
Wetland Park is the midline of the pan. Its eastern b Bowker and Downs (2012)
section lies within the park and the World Heritage Site. c Approximate count on photo of C Fox
The western portion is unprotected and has villages and d AB Makhado (pers. obs.)
rural farmlands along the shore.
Species and numbers breeding: Kosi Bay Estuary
White-breasted Cormorant Coordinates: 26.93 S; 32.94 E
Description: An estuary-linked lake system. Most lakes
have fringing vegetation, including mangroves near the
Year No. of pairs
mouth, a Raphia (R. australis) forest and a freshwater
2014 a 9 swamp forest. It is surrounded by grasslands, marsh and
dune forest. Summer and winter counts of bird species
Grey-headed Gull show considerable fluctuations. A small number of White-
breasted Cormorants bred in 2018 at the south of Lake
Year No. of pairs Amanzimnyama near the Siyadla Channel. The mean of
2004 b 1 47 counts of White-breasted Cormorants at Kosi Bay
between 1949 and 2015 was 51 (standard deviation 37,
a
Approximate count on photo of M Humphries maximum 145, minimum 2).
b
McInnes and Allan (2011) An unusual influx of Cape Cormorants was recorded
in winter 1994 possibly associated with the annual KZN
Lake Sibayi sardine (Sardinops sagax) run. High counts of Reed
Coordinates: 27.36 S; 32.71 E Cormorants (Microcarbo africanus) were recorded in
Description: A large freshwater lake, in many parts winter 1992 and of White-faced Whistling Ducks
surrounded by trees. Abstraction of water for urban use has (Dendrocygna viduata) in winters of 1992 and 1993.
lowered the water level. The receding shoreline distanced For the region good numbers of Red Knot (Calidris
trees from the lake and killed the fig trees (Ficus trichopo- canutus) occur. Some 20–50 pairs of African Pygmy
da) in which White-breasted Cormorants formerly nested Goose (Nettapus auritus) breed, as do 3+ pairs of Pel’s
on the southeast shore (27.40 S; 32.71 E). White-breasted Fishing Owl (Scotopelia peli). White- backed Night Heron
Cormorants also bred on a platform constructed to hold (Gorsachius leuconotus), Rufous-bel- lied Heron (Ardeola
water-monitoring instruments in the shallow water on the rufiventris), Allen’s (Lesser) Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni),

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