Absence of Haematozoa in Chicks of Little Egret in the Camargue, Southern France

Abstract

-High nest densities in colonial birds is assumed to favor the infection of individuals by parasites. Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) chicks (N = 187) were sampled before nest departure in six different colonies of the Camargue, southern France, to determine the prevalence of Haematozoa infection. The absence of blood parasites is discussed. Received 8 August 2001, accepted 25 August 2001.