GOING SOUTH
THE FINAL
FURLONG
BRAZIL
Although many migratory species choose to winter
in the Caribbean, some, such as the Red Knot
subspecies Calidris canutus rufa, travel on to
Tierra del Fuego, on the southern tip of Argentina;
an incredible round trip of 30,000 km
WHERE 3 Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil
BIRDLIFE PARTNER 3 SAVE Brasil
Photo Lisandro Luis Trarbach
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
We’re in a race against time — Lagoa do Peixe National Park is
under threat. The agricultural and mining industry has recently
taken an interest in this outstanding refuge for migratory shore-
birds. They are now ill-informing locals in an attempt to create
conflict. Their objective: to strip off the Park’s protected status so
they can freely exploit it.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
SAVE Brasil has been tirelessly working with locals to promote bird
conservation through training and workshops to build a local iden-
tity between community and Park. Turn to page 44 to learn more
about the situation, and how you can help.
COLOMBIA
WHERE 3 Caribbean coast and the Andes, Colombia
BIRDLIFE PROJECT PARTNER 3 Calidris Association
Photo picnicnap/Shutterstock
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Migratory birds no longer have many places safe to refuel in Colom-
bia. Mangroves, forests and wetlands, a winter home to species such
as the Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla and the Short-billed
Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus, are being lost to an increasing
number of agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure projects. In the
Colombian Andes, habitat loss is also threatening the survival of
migratory species such as the Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
Where unsustainable tourism is an issue, Calidris is training locals
to identify birds and get them involved in birdwatching tourism. In
the Andes, they are working on developing bird-friendly alternatives
to cattle raising and coffee growing — both practices that have
resulted in the loss of important bird habitat.
FLYWAY THREATS
HABITAT DESTRUCTION
Including development, tropical deforestation and agricultural expansion
CLIMATE CHANGE
Already having an impact, with the range of over 200 species shifting north
HUMAN DISTURBANCE
Tourism can lead to the degradation of vital feeding spots for migrant waders
HUNTING
Unsustainable hunting is a major threat to shorebirds as they cross the Caribbean
ARGENTINA
WHERE 3 San Antonio Bay, Río Negro, Argentina
BIRDLIFE PARTNER 3 Aves Argentinas
Photo Elliotte Rusty Harold/Shutterstock
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
San Antonio Bay is an essential stopover site for migratory birds.
Unfortunately, humans love those beaches as much as the Red
Knots and Sanderling Calidris alba do. The presence of vehicles,
pets and people is scaring off the exhausted birds, threatening their
already dwindling populations.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
To capture the attention of as many tourists as possible, Aves
Argentinas organises the yearly Shorebird Festival of San Antonio
Bay, where they inspire tourists to take care of shorebirds and their
environment through educational activities, art, workshops and
birdwatching trips.
Environmental education is the key to developing a tourism culture
that is friendly to Red Knots and other threatened migratory birds.