New nesting sites of the threatened Andean flamingo in Argentina.

RICARDO TORRES; PATRICIA MARCONI; LUCILA CASTRO; FLAVIO MOSCHIONE; GUSTAVO BRUNO; PABLO MICHELUTTI; SILVIO CASIMIRO; ENRIQUE DERLINDATI

Flamingo

IUCN

Año: 2019

1680-1857

Successful reproduction in flamingos is dependent on the availability of nesting sites for the establishment of colonies that provide both protection from predators and a suitable microclimate for the eggs and developing nestlings. The Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) is the rarest and most threatened flamingo species. This species makes complementary and alternative use of high Andean and lowland hypersaline wetlands in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. Very few breeding places are known located mainly in Chile and Bolivia. Our objective was to identify new nesting sites in Argentina. We report on six new breeding sites in Argentina and confirm the already cited Laguna Mar Chiquita as a breeding place for Andean flamingos. Our results highlight that isolated nesting colony locations are relatively common in Andean flamingos across their widespread range at lowlands places like Mar Chiquita, showing, showing that nesting colonies not are restricted to the Andes.