Anthropogenic features influencing occurrence of Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) in an urban area in central Amazonian Brazil

Abstract

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Southernmost record of Yellow-headed Vulture, Cathartes burrovianus Cassin, 1845 (Cathartiformes, Cathartidae), in Buenos Aires province, Argentina

“…Some vulture species are known to have expanded and grown their populations by associating with human activities, such as cattle, landfills, or urban settings, where they find food and habitat diversity (Avery 2004, Novaes andCintra 2015). Even though cattle is a main activity in northern Buenos Aires province (Morello et al 2012), Cathartes vultures usually feed on smaller prey (Houston 1994, Campbell 2015, Novaes and Cintra 2015. On the other hand, new sanitary landfills and illegal waste disposal areas may provide vultures with new feeding opportunities (Novaes and Cintra 2015).…”

“…Even though cattle is a main activity in northern Buenos Aires province (Morello et al 2012), Cathartes vultures usually feed on smaller prey (Houston 1994, Campbell 2015, Novaes and Cintra 2015. On the other hand, new sanitary landfills and illegal waste disposal areas may provide vultures with new feeding opportunities (Novaes and Cintra 2015). However, there is a lack of information about solid waste disposal in all of Latin America (Tello Espinoza et al 2010), which makes it difficult to track these places and survey the fauna associated with them.…”

Scavenger birds exploiting rubbish dumps: Pathogens at the gates

“…The movement pattern of this species is mainly between their roosting sites and their food sources (Novaes & Cintra, ). They tend to be faithful in terms of movement to the food source area (DeVault, Reinhart, Brisbin, & Rhodes, ; Novaes & Cintra, ). The home range reported for this species is less than 35 km 2 (Holland et al., ).…”

“…While they may be considered resistant to infections, recent evidence indicates that they can be colonized and behave as a potential carriers of different pathogenic bacteria (Blanco, 2018;Hidasi et al, 2015;Marin, Palomeque, Marco-Jiménez, & Vega, 2014;Sulzner, Kelly, Smith, & Johnson, 2014). The American black vulture (Coragyps atratus, hereafter black vulture) is an avian scavenger that exploits anthropogenic sites like rubbish dumps throughout the Americas (Iñigo Elias, 1987;Plaza & Lambertucci, 2018;Sazima, 2013), and are highly associated with different anthropic areas (Barbar, Werenkraut, Morales, & Lambertucci, 2015;Lambertucci, Speziale, Rogers, & Morales, 2009;Novaes & Cintra, 2015). However, there is no information about pathogen infections acquired by black vultures from these sites, which can also affect other species with which they interact, including humans.…”

Urban waste disposal explains the distribution of Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) in an Amazonian metropolis: management implications for birdstrikes and urban planning

“…Monitoring occurred between 18 November 2014 and 20 February 2015. Sampling consisted of five visits to each street market from 09:00 h to 16:00 h, the time interval corresponding to the peak activity period for Black Vultures (e.g., Avery et al, 2011 ; Novaes & Cintra, 2015 ). Each visit lasted between 10 and 15 min and was conducted by one observer (G.M.A.)…”