Seabird and Shorebird diversity in Puerto Deseado, Patagonia, Argentina and the Associated Conservation Problems

GANDINI, P & E. FRERE

ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL

NEOTROPICAL ORNITHOLOGICAL SOC

Año: 1998 vol. 9 p. 13 - 22

1075-4377

During the breeding seasons of 1986–1987, and from 1992 to 1995, we obtained information on the distribution and abundance of breeding seabirds and shorebirds of Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz, Argentina, and the surrounding area. Also, we recorded relative abundance of resident species, migrant species, and birds using the beaches of Puerto Deseado during winter dispersion. We identified two main areas where seabird colonies were distributed: 1) interior waters of Ría Deseado, and 2) Bahía Oso Marino. We identified fifteen species breeding in both areas: Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome), Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps), Rock Shag (P. magellanicus), Neotropic Cormorant (P. brasilianus), Red-legged Cormorant (P. gaimardi), Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus), Dolphin Gull (L. scoresbii), terns (Sterna hirundinacea and S. eurygnatha), Chilean Skuas (Cathar-acta chilensis), Antarctic Skua (C. antarctica), Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater), Black-crowned Night-Herons), (Spheniscus magellanicus), Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome), Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps), Rock Shag (P. magellanicus), Neotropic Cormorant (P. brasilianus), Red-legged Cormorant (P. gaimardi), Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus), Dolphin Gull (L. scoresbii), terns (Sterna hirundinacea and S. eurygnatha), Chilean Skuas (Cathar-acta chilensis), Antarctic Skua (C. antarctica), Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater), Black-crowned Night-Herons), (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome), Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps), Rock Shag (P. magellanicus), Neotropic Cormorant (P. brasilianus), Red-legged Cormorant (P. gaimardi), Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus), Dolphin Gull (L. scoresbii), terns (Sterna hirundinacea and S. eurygnatha), Chilean Skuas (Cathar-acta chilensis), Antarctic Skua (C. antarctica), Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater), Black-crowned Night-Herons), s), Neotropic Cormorant (P. brasilianus), Red-legged Cormorant (P. gaimardi), Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus), Dolphin Gull (L. scoresbii), terns (Sterna hirundinacea and S. eurygnatha), Chilean Skuas (Cathar-acta chilensis), Antarctic Skua (C. antarctica), Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater), Black-crowned Night-Herons), s), Dolphin Gull (L. scoresbii), terns (Sterna hirundinacea and S. eurygnatha), Chilean Skuas (Cathar-acta chilensis), Antarctic Skua (C. antarctica), Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater), Black-crowned Night-Herons), Antarctic Skua (C. antarctica), Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater), Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Flying Steamer-Duck (Tachyeres patachonicus), and Crested Duck (Anas specu-laroides). Our results showed that Puerto Deseado and surrounding areas represent an important coastal zone with high bird diversity where seabirds and shorebirds interact directly or indirectly with diverse human activities such as tourism, fisheries and pollution.x), Flying Steamer-Duck (Tachyeres patachonicus), and Crested Duck (Anas specu-laroides). Our results showed that Puerto Deseado and surrounding areas represent an important coastal zone with high bird diversity where seabirds and shorebirds interact directly or indirectly with diverse human activities such as tourism, fisheries and pollution.