Project Update: June 2010

The first part of this project helped to find more than 10,000 Andean flamingos at lowland wetlands around Melincué during the winter season in 2009. The survey was part of a larger conservation strategy of high Andes flamingos, including design and implementation of a network of wetlands of importance for flamingo conservation through Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Perú.

A large amount of field data was collected. Physical characteristics of the wetland were measured, as well as chemical parameters (temperature, pH, transparency, TDC and conductivity). Two undergraduate theses on conservation and ecology in Andean flamingos were started at National University of Salta as part of the project. Preliminary results allowed us to apply for new proposals, specially focused to integrate information of flamingo habitat use, ecological and habitat resources and condition, and other components of biodiversity in lowlands wetlands.