Survey of South Polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) for blood parasites in the vestfold hills region of Antarctica

Abstract

Thin blood smears prepared from 125 South Polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) at breeding islands and feeding sites in the Vestfold Hills region of Antarctica between December 1999 and January 2000 did not contain hematozoa. These findings confirm results of previous smaller studies, and provide baseline data for this species.