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SEASONAL CHANGES IN ABUNDANCE AND POND PREFERENCES OF WATERBIRDS AT MOITAKA SEWERAGE WORKS, PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA


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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