Page 55 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

2.2.2.1 Coastal breeding sites of seabirds in Angola

Author: Michel Morais
Abstract:
Six species of seabird have bred at four localities along the Angolan coastline between Luanda and Namibia: Great White Pelican (Pele-
canus onocrotalus), Cape Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis), White-breasted Cormorant (P. lucidus), Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus),
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum). This chapter collates estimates of numbers of each species
breeding at the different localities. Two of the localities are in Baía do Mussulo, which is situated south of Luanda. More than 16,000 pairs
of Cape Cormorant and 500 pairs of Kelp Gull bred at Ilha dos Tigres farther south and the northernmost breeding record for Damara Terns
was 30 km north of the Cunene River mouth.

Introduction:
Six seabirds considered in the Atlas of sea-turtles, seabirds and seals of the Benguela Current and adjacent areas have bred at four
localities along the coast of Angola between Luanda and the Cunene River mouth on the border between Angola and Namibia. They are:
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), Cape Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis), White-breasted Cormorant (P. lucidus), Kelp
Gull (Larus dominicanus), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum). The locations of the colonies are
shown on Figure 1. The four localities are described briefly below.

Baía do Mussulo African Spoonbill (Platalea alba). Other notable species
are African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus), Great White
Water and coastal birds, some of which are listed by the Pelican (Pelicanus onocratalus), Yellow-billed Stork (Myc-
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as teria ibis), Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum), Royal Tern
Threatened, are amongst the most spectacular inhabitants (Thalasseus maximus), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne cas-
of the Baía do Mussulo. This bay supports both resident pia) and Grey-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocepha-
and migratory species, some common and others rare. lus).
Migratory species use the bay for breeding, feeding or Ilha S. João da Cazanga
as a resting point. Residents that breed in the bay include
White-breasted Cormorant, Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Coordinates: 8.951 S, 13.116 E
Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala), Little Egret Description: An island inside Mussulo Bay that has man-
(Egretta garzetta), Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax groves, low marine wetlands with small canals, sand banks
nycticorax), Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopica) and and sea grass.

0° A

Baia do Mussulo
Ilha S. Joao da Cazanga
Ilha dos Passaros
A
Luanda

10°

B

Ilha dos Tigres Angola

15°

30 km n of Cunene B

Cunene River

15° 20° 25°

Figure 1. A map showing the four localities at which seabirds nest along the Angolan coastline

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