Breeding and seasonal occurrence of the Orinoco Goose (Neochen jubata) in Brazil

Abstract

The Orinoco Goose (Neochen jubata) is a "Near Threatened" species occurring extensively in South America. The objective of this study was to examine the breeding and seasonal occurrence of the species in Brazil. A search for adults and young was done by consulting the WikiAves database of photographs. Families with young were obtained by citizens in 11 municipalities within the Cerrado and Amazonia. In general, breeding birds were associated with rivers, been encountered swimming, or walking at sandy beaches. The Tocantins-Araguaia hydrographic region (TAHR) harbored most records with breeding evidence in the Cerrado, while families with young were recorded along the Guaporé and Purus rivers in Amazonia. Families had 1-2 adults and 2-11 young. Differences between the mean brood sizes of downy young and juveniles were not significant. On the other hand, the mean number of young accompanied by two adults was significantly higher than that been cared by only one adult. In both the Cerrado and Amazonia, young were detected during the dry season and beginning of the rainy season, when the water level of rivers is low. Pium, Aruanã, and Caseara are important breeding sites, while São Miguel do Araguaia and Lagoa da Confusão appear to be major non-breeding sites. The seasonal occurrence of records suggests that N. jubata might migrate within the TAHR. The species can breed successfully in central and northern Cerrado, where Parque Estadual do Cantão appears to be an important conservation unit for this species. Education of locals and strict protection are suggested as major actions for its conservation in Brazil.

Breeding biology of the Maguari Stork Ciconia maguari (Aves, Ciconiidae) in the Pampa, and an outline in other Brazilian biomes

“…This study suggests that citizen science can substantially contribute to the knowledge of aspects of the breeding of Maguari Storks. Some studies conducted recently in Brazil also have successfully used photographs gathered by citizens to study the breeding of species such as the Helmeted Manakin Antilophia galeata (Marçal & Lopes, 2019), the Orinoco Goose Neochen jubata (Tubelis et al, 2020), and the Horned Screamer Anhima cornuta (Tubelis, 2020). In these studies, data obtained by citizens complemented samples produced by scientists, or represented the whole set of records.…”

Conservation of the Orinoco Goose (Neochen Jubata) in the Middle Araguaia River, Tocantins, Brazil.

“…Aquatic birds are especially attracted to rice-growing agrosystems and have been registered in large numbers (Tubelis et al 2020). The crop also attracts a multitude of species besides the waterfowl, motivated by the variety and abundance of food, but especially rice grains (Stafford et al 2010, Justo 2019.…”

“…In areas where rice is grown on the floodplain of the Middle Araguaia River, a wide variety of birds have been recorded, many of them endemic and/or endangered (Pinheiro & Dornas 2009). The Orinoco Goose (Neochen jubata) is one species that uses natural wetlands, as well as irrigated rice plantations, in the region of the Middle Araguaia River (Pinheiro & Dornas 2009, Tubelis et al 2020. It inhabits riverine sandbanks, the banks of flooded lagoons, and savannas (Sick 1997, Carboneras 1992.…”

“…Currently, four remaining large populations of the Orinoco Goose are recognized, occurring in remote areas of environments partially or totally protected by conservation units. These are the Middle Juruá River in the Amazon, the Middle Araguaia River, and other cerrado sites in central Brazil (Tubelis et al 2020), the Department of Bení in Bolivia and the Llanos in the south of Venezuela and Colombia (Endo et al 2014), as well as a fifth population of undetermined size in the Branco River, Roraima, northern Brazil (Naka et al 2007). Information on population numbers (Endo et al 2014), and migratory movements (Davenport et al 2012) are still incipient, as well as long-term monitoring of different populations.…”

“…Information on population numbers (Endo et al 2014), and migratory movements (Davenport et al 2012) are still incipient, as well as long-term monitoring of different populations. In most cases, the species is identified through occasional sightings (Laranjeiras 2010, Lima 2011, Endo et al 2014, Tubelis et al 2020) and/or sporadic records resulting from ornithological inventories (Silveira & D'Horta 2002).…”