The black skimmer inhabits the great rivers, lakes and coastal areas during the migrations, in South and North America. This work aims to make available basic information about the occurrence and abundance of the black skimmer in the coast of Santa Catarina. From April/2002 to May/2003 seasonal censuses were accomplished, and monthly in Itajaí, with aid of binoculars 10 x 50. The black skimmer is more frequent in the embankment of the South Bay (Florianópolis), in the summer and autumn, in the spring-summer in São José and Tijucas and in the autumn-winter in the estuary of the Saco da Fazenda (Itajaí). In this estuary, the population presented accentuated flotation along the year, with the largest abundances happening in August/2001, January/2002 and March/2003.
black skimmer; Charadriiformes; seasonal flotation
