The Birds of Sala y Gomez Island, Chile

Abstract

-The fauna of Chile's Sala y Gomez island (26028'S, 105021'W) is not well known because of the island's remote location, small size, and low profile. Previous literature about the bird life of this island consists of one report based on two visits of less than three hours duration, listing 11 species of seabirds, of which seven were observed breeding. The authors of the present study remained on the island for six days, during which time we observed 14 species of birds, ten of which were nesting. Both species richness and abundance were greater than reported previously. Sala y Gomez Island has significant breeding colonies of Blue-gray Noddy (Procelsterna cerulea) and Christmas Shearwater (Puffinus nativitatis). Also we recorded for the first time nesting by small numbers of Redbilled Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) and White Terns (Gygis alba). Received 29 September 1998, accepted 2 December 1998. Resumen.-La fauna que habita en la isla Sala y Gomez (26028'S, 105021'W), Chile, es escasamente conocida debido a lo remoto de esta isla, su pequefio tamafio y baja altitud. Sobre sus aves s61o existe un reporte que da cuenta de dos visitas de menos de tres hr de duraci6n. Esta nota describe la presencia de 11 especies de aves marinas, siete de ellas nidificantes. Durante nuestro estudio nosotros permanecimos seis dias en la isla, registrando 14 especies de aves, con 11 especies nidificantes. Tanto la riqueza, como las abundancias registradas por nosotros fueron mayores a las mencionadas por el reporte anterior. La isla Sala y Gomez posee importantes poblaciones reproductivas de Procelsterna cerulea y Puffinus nativitatis. Ademas en ella nidifican Nesofregettafuliginosa, Sula dactylatra, Phaethon rubricauda, Anous stolidus y Sterna fuscata. Ademais registramos por primera vez la nidificaci6n de Phaethon aethereus y Gygis alba, pero en bajo nimero.