A baseline survey of coastal birds in the Greater Bazaruto region, Mozambique

We report the numbers of coastal birds in the Greater Bazaruto Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), Mozambique. In November–December 2023, we counted waterbirds foraging on tidal flats and at roost sites in the San Sebastian (São Sebastião) Peninsula, Bazaruto Archipelago, and the mangrove-lined bays between Bartolomeu Dias Point and the Save River Delta. Coverage was fairly comprehensive in The Sanctuary and Bazaruto Archipelago, but the mainland coast was not surveyed between Inhassoro and the southern end of Vilanculos Bay, and only half of the area of the northern bays was surveyed. Despite incomplete coverage, over 55 000 coastal birds were counted, of which 60% were shorebirds (mainly Charadriidae and Scolopacidae), 25% terns and gulls (Laridae) and 10% flamingos (Phoenicopteridae). Non-breeding migrants dominated among both shorebirds (95%) and terns (94%). In addition to the three shorebird and three tern species currently used to recognise this site as an IBA, there are globally significant populations of an additional four shorebirds (Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica , Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea , White-fronted plovers Charadrius marginatus and Chestnut-banded plovers C. pallidus ), two terns (Greater Crested Thalasseus bergii and Damara Sternula balaenarum ), Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus , and White-breasted Cormorants Phalacrocorax [carbo] lucidus . Curlew Sandpipers and Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola are globally Vulnerable and Bar-tailed Godwits are Near-threatened. Our counts confirm the importance of the Greater Bazaruto IBA for coastal birds. Although the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park supports important populations of several bird species, half of all shorebirds occur in The Sanctuary, and the northern mangrove bays support globally important populations of White-fronted and Chestnut-banded Plovers as well as regionally important populations of Terek Sandpipers Xenus cinereus . Ensuring the long-term conservation of these areas is essential to protect the ...