Reproduction of the American Oystercatcher (“piru-piru”), Haematopus palliatus Temminck 1820 (Aves: Haematopodidae), in northeastern Brazil
2020
Siqueira, Airton Janes da Silva | Guzzi, Anderson | Lima, Pedro Cerqueira | Damasceno, João Paulo Tavares | Pichorim, Mauro | Fedrizzi, Carmen Elisa
(American Oystercatcher, locally called ‘piru-piru’) is strictly a coastal bird, which occurs from Canada to the southern end of South America. The species is distributed along the entire Brazilian coast, however, approximately 50% of the population is estimated to be concentrated in the Rio Grande do Sul State, where it reproduces during the austral spring and summer. This study presents the first documented reproduction records of H. palliatus from 2004 to 2019 in northeastern Brazil in: Piauí State, Maramar Beach (02°54’S, 41°28ʹW); Ceará State, Banco dos Cajuais Beach (04°41’S, 37°21ʹW); Rio Grande do Norte State, west of the Amaro (05°05’S, 36°25ʹW) and Salina Soledade (05°06’S, 36°32ʹW) beaches; and Bahia State, Mangue Seco Beach (11°27’S, 37°21ʹW). The reproductive period of these birds initiated at the end of May and extended through mid-October. Their nests are simple and bare, consisting of a shallow cavity in the sand on open areas with or without low vegetation. The inspected nests had from one to three eggs, whose colours and shapes were similar to those observed in other regions. Most eggs were lost, apparently due to predation. Various anthropic threats were observed in the four study areas, especially the circulation of motorised vehicles and the presence of domestic dogs and cattle. Loss of habitat quality and real estate speculation, however, are among the main threats to the future of the species in northeastern Brazil, indicating the importance of proactive measures for the conservation of H. palliatus.
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