Behavior of Nannopterum brasilianus (Gmelin, 1789) (Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae) in an urban park in the municipality of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State

Abstract

The modification of landscapes by anthropic action, mainly due to urbanization, exerts strong pressure on birds. Public parks and other green areas offer favorable conditions for birds in cities throughout the year. Nannopterum brasilianus (Gmelin, 1789), the Neotropic cormorant, is one of the most frequent and abundant piscivorous water birds in urban parks, rivers and reserves. The present study aimed to describe the behavioral repertoire of N. brasilianus and evaluated possible behavioral changes in the dry and rainy seasons, in an urban area in Uberlândia (MG). The study was conducted in Sabiá Municipal Park, from December 2013 to November 2014, totaling 184 hours of observation. The fixed-point sampling method was used, in four ponds in the park. Observations were made in the morning, using the focal animal and ad libitum (record of all occurrences) techniques. In all, 164 records of the species were obtained. The behavioral repertoire included 15 behavioral acts, notably perching and preening. Some behaviors varied between the seasons (χ² = 62.05, df = 14, p <0.001), including flock flight and perching on the pond bank, which were displayed more in the rainy season.

Keywords

• Animal behavior
• Ethology
• Neotropic cormorant
• Urban birds
• Water birds