SEASONAL CHANGES IN ABUNDANCE AND POND PREFERENCES OF WATERBIRDS AT MOITAKA SEWERAGE WORKS, PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
| Posted: |
26/09/2021 |
| Author(s): |
Harry L. Bell |
Data are given on abundance of the more common waterbirds at Moitaka sewerage
works, Port Moresby. Egrets and Pied Herons showed few seasonal fluctuations whereas
Australasian Grebes, Black-winged Stilts and Masked Lapwings increased after the
breeding-season. Terns were annual passage migrants. Jacanas occurred only when the
south-east trade winds accumulated scum into firm mats. Species favouring anaerobic
ponds were: terns and Pied Herons, because dead fish and cockroaches were present;
Jacanas, which walked on the floating faeces; and Masked Lapwings, which foraged along
the shallow shore-lines. Grebes only frequented aerobic ponds, and Stilts preferred them
where the shoreline was sufficiently shallow. Egrets showed no preferences.
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