The health status of the populations of resident colonies of sea birds, the cormorant or guanay (Phalacocorax bougainvillii), the Peruvian pelican (Pelecanus thagus) and the Peruvian booby (Sula variegata), is studied.
The objective of this study is to generate a set of baseline reference values on population health of these species that can also be used to discard infectious diseases. This will also serve to monitor the health of the bird population in the long- term.
Health campaigns were conducted in 2008 with veterinary experts. Samples were taken to assess health and emerging diseases (avian influenza, avian cholera, etc.) in the guanays and pelicans populations. This was also an opportunity to diagnose or discard emerging infectious diseases that could affect these populations.