On the atlas map one can of course not see the details of the location but THE typical site with the highest density of skimmers in the Lower Rufiji (and most other waterbirds, as well as hippos and crocs) downstream of the limits of the Selous Game Reserve was in the tidal freshwater wetlands just upstream of the delta. Of course the number of observations there is much lower than in the Tagalala area as it was only the REMP boat (Rufiji Environment Management Project 1997-2003) that would pass through there from time to time.

They were not breeding there but one can safely assume that this place corresponds to the turbidity maximum where the electrical charges of the organic matter particles in suspension from the freshwater start to be neutralised by salts from the Ocean and where the inorganic ion compositions (nitrates and phosphates) from the 2 water masses can start to be complementary. This creates an area of high productivity with a food chain that can feed all these birds, bethos, fish, etc..  
This situation is comparable to the Tana Delta where they are also typically in the freshwater tidal area. Unfortunately this is a type of wetland that is usually the first to be annihilated when dams and irrigation schemes are being put in place as will be profusely demonstrated at the International Conference on the Contemporary evolution of African Floodplains and Deltas that will take place in Dar from 27 to 30 May.

http://www.kenweb.or.ke/index.php/african-deltas-conference-2014.html  
 

> Message du 19/05/14 12:23
> De : "Judith Jarvis judith.jarvis@y7mail.com [tanzaniabirds]"
> A : tanzaniabirds@yahoogroups.com
> Copie à :
> Objet : Re: [tanzaniabirds] African Skimmer lalest map and spreadsheet
>
>  

>

Neil,
>
> 143 Skimmers at Lake Tagalala 27.12.2012 (on my list for Selous).
>
> Jude
>
> On 29/04/2014 10:39 AM, Neil and Liz Baker wrote:
>

 

 

 

the latest map and raw data for this species.

>

would be good to add a few lat-longs and any counts not detailed here.

>

we need to look at trends and for this we need DATA.

>

geo map to follow.

>

Neil

Neil and Liz Baker, Tanzania Bird Atlas, P.O. Box 1605, Iringa, Tanzania.
> Mobiles: +255 785-311298 and +255 784-834273.
> http://tanzaniabirdatlas.com
> Subscribe to: tanzaniabirds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

>