Current Status of Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) in Cuba

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Current Status of Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) in Cuba

2016

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The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) inhabits Cuban coastal saline habitats, although the number of individuals and specific breeding and foraging locations are largely unknown. Unpublished fieldwork data, as well as data coming from scientific literature, zoological collections and eBird, were collated to assess the Reddish Egret breeding population and number of foraging individuals in Cuba. A total of 155 breeding pairs, which represent 3% of the estimated global population and 22% of the estimated regional population (i.e., Eastern Management Unit), were confirmed. Most of the breeding reports were distributed within the Sabana-Camagüey archipelago (54%, n = 13 breeding areas). Foraging Reddish Egrets were common throughout Cuba's coastal saline habitats and were documented in most of the localities referred to in published and unpublished sources (88%, n = 65 sites). These observations accounted for a maximum of 544 birds (n = 20 sites), which represent 7–10% of the global population estimate. Four of the foraging sites accounted for 69% (n = 544) of the overall foraging population. The evidence suggests that Cuba should be considered an area of great importance for Reddish Egret conservation.

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