A Visit to Argentina for Phalarope Research

By Science Director Nathan Van Schmidt

​Last month, I  returned from a trip to Argentina, where I met with scientists at the International Phalarope Working Group Meeting at Laguna Mar Chaquita, the main wintering ground for Wilson’s Phalaropes, where I had the chance to visit and survey for these interesting birds.

​At the bilingual meeting, phalarope researchers from across North and South America shared results from the past ...

​​five years’ of research, and developed international research goals and strategies for the next five years.

It was extremely productive, providing new insights on methods we can use to estimate the quality of habitat different ponds provide for phalaropes—planned to be implemented this summer—and the development of a new partnership with a “sister site” to the South Bay, Ecuasal in Ecuador!

​Just like San Francisco Bay, this part of the Pacific Coast has been developed into a series of salt ponds that provide excellent foraging habitat for migratory waterbirds. 

The field photo is me counting phalaropes during a field excursion to the shore of Laguna Mar Chaquita. There was supposed to be an aerial survey at the same time, but it was unfortunately cancelled due to the ominous storm clouds seen in the pictures! I'm excited to share more details about my trip to Ecuador—keep your binoculars trained on this blog!​