Seabird nesting colonies in Cayo Frances Wildlife Refuge, Cuba
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Abstract
The study of seabird nesting colonies in Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago is crucial due to its relevance as a breeding area and the increasing threat of tourism development. Between 2006 and 2025, nine censuses were conducted in Cayo Español de Afuera (Cayo Frances Wildlife Refuge, northeast of Villa Clara Province, Cuba) with the aim of documenting aspects related to seabird nesting colonies (Charadriiformes). Given the small size of the key, a census was conducted during each visit, recording the presence of bird species and their breeding status. The number of nests, as well as their composition was determined for each species. As a result of the study, it was possible to corroborate the importance of Cayo Español de Afuera for the reproduction of several colonial seabirds, mainly for the Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) and the Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus), as well as the most important period during the breeding season. In 2010, a nest belonging to the American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) was found, which constitutes the second documented nesting record for the species, in chronological order. The results demonstrate the need to continue ecological studies and monitoring bird colonies in these critical areas, increasing sampling efforts during each breeding season, in order to gain a more profound understanding of the process, thus contributing to the conservation of the species involved. Monitoring efforts must be concentrated between the second half of May and the beginning of June, given a lack of resources for conducting samplings.
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