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Relações alimentaRes de aves com capivaRas (HydrocHoerus HydrocHaeris)em paRque uRbano no sudeste do bRasil Dean & Macdonald, 1981;Ruggiero & Eves, 1998;Weeks, 2000). Em sua maioria, tais relações -incluindo a criação ou destruição de micro hábitats específicos por megaherbívoros (veja, Ogada et al. 2008) -estão relacionadas à alimentação e variam de comensalismo INTRODUÇÃOAs relações entre aves e mamíferos são diversas, incluindo desde seu uso como poleiro de caça até o aproveitamento da sua carcaça (e.g.,

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Understanding high biodiverse areas and interactions among organisms requires reciprocal action between scientists and community through citizen science. This paper results from the joint efforts of an amateur nature photographer and scientists to describe the predation behaviour of the heronArdea cocoiupon the lizardAmeiva ameiva. We also discuss the importance of citizen science and digital photography for natural history studies.

Bill deformities seem rare among birds, with recorded occurrence of about 0.5-2% (Craves 1994, Verea & Verea 2010). These deformities may be due to injuries and diseases, malformations, malnutrition and possibly genetic factors and pollutants (Craves 1994), although evidences for any of these causes are inconclusive (Fox 1952, Pomeroy 1962, Sharp & Neill 1979). The deformity degree may influence several phases of the birds' life, from feeding to feather maintenance, the latter affecting thermoregulation, parasite proliferation, courtship and mating (Pomeroy 1962, Sharp & Neill 1979, Thompson & Terkanian 1991, Zampiga et al. 2004). We describe and illustrate herein three bird species, a hummingbird, a pigeon, and an ovenbird, from southeastern Brazil, which share a similar deformity (crossed bill) but have different habits. Additionally, we comment on the possible consequences of this deformity, as the outcomes probably vary according to the deformity degree, species, sex, and general habits of the affected birds. We are unaware of such comparative reports, less so about the possible outcomes depending on the birds' habits.

The invasive Asiatic freshwater bivalve Corbicula fluminea is regarded as a pest in several countries including Brazil. Two water birds native to South America, the limpkin Aramus guarauna and the common gallinule Gallinula galeata, are herein recorded preying on C. fluminea in a pond of an urban park in South-eastern Brazil. The exotic clam is becoming increasingly common in the diet of both these water birds. This trend is likely due to its increasing population and the consequent rarity of the habitual prey (apple snails and native clams) for the mollusc-specialised limpkin, besides being an accessible animal protein source for the omnivorous gallinule.

Relações alimentaRes de aves com capivaRas (HydrocHoerus HydrocHaeris) em paRque uRbano no sudeste do bRasil Giulia b. d'anGelo¹ micael e. naGai¹ ivan sazima²³ ABSTRACT Feeding relationships of birds with mammals are diverse and range from using mammals as hunting perches to feeding on their carcasses. We studied the natural history of associations between birds and capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) at an urban recreational park and focused on three main questions: (1) How many and what are the bird species that associate with capybaras? (2) What resources used by the birds are provided by capybaras? (3) What are the behaviours of birds and capybaras during the different associations? Additionally, we summarised the associations of birds with capybaras recorded to date, which include commensal, mutualistic and semi parasitic relationships. We recorded 10 bird species (mostly non-passerines) associated with capybaras. The birds used the capybaras as: (a) hunting perches; (b) beaters that flushed arthropods and fish; (c) attractors of flies; (d) sources of organic particles, external parasites, blood, diseased tissue, and carcasses. Birds and capybaras interacted mostly when the former picked ticks, or fed on blood and diseased tissue. When the birds picked ticks, the capybaras adopted poses that allowed the birds to reach body parts otherwise inaccessible. However, when the birds pecked at wounds to take blood or diseased tissue, the mammals tried to discourage the birds with avoidance movements of the body or head, and sometimes retreated. When the birds used the capybaras as perches or attractors, the mammals seemed oblivious to the birds' presence. Twenty-one bird species are presently reported to associate with capybaras. Thus, the numbers we found in the urban and restricted study site are remarkable, and our findings strengthens the importance of so-called green areas to harbour the remaining wildlife in our increasingly anthropised environment.