Waterfowl Surveys and Wetland Conservation in Latin

Waterfowl Surveys and Wetland Conservation in Latin America

and the Caribbean

M. Carbonell & B. López

Ducks Unlimited

Waterfowl Surveys and Wetland Conservation in Latin America

and the Caribbean

M. Carbonell & B. López

Ducks UnlimitedPhoto J.Sánchez

Nicaragua

1/3 of NA breeding species occur in LAC33 countries (Carib 13, CA 7, SA 13)

Complicated coordination issuesNatural resource budgets small

Good technical capabilities in countries

1/3 of NA breeding species occur in LAC33 countries (Carib 13, CA 7, SA 13)

Complicated coordination issuesNatural resource budgets small

Good technical capabilities in countries

Latin America & CaribbeanLatin America & Caribbean

Photo M.Carbonell

Photo M.Lezama

Countries lead the workNot for but with in-country professionals

Partnerships essential

Countries lead the workNot for but with in-country professionals

Partnerships essential

Latin America & CaribbeanLatin America & Caribbean

LAC Waterfowl SurveysLAC Waterfowl Surveys

Photos J.Sánchez

Management and Restoration* * *

Key areasNumbers and chronology

Site specific issues

Management and Restoration* * *

Key areasNumbers and chronology

Site specific issues

Provide data for Ramsar designations Provide technical information for

hunting regulationProvide capacity building and

technology transfer

Provide data for Ramsar designations Provide technical information for

hunting regulationProvide capacity building and

technology transfer


Photo M.Carbonell


Participants of the first extensive North American waterfowl survey in 1935

Participants of the first extensive North American waterfowl survey in 1935

Photo Ducks Unlimited

Training in collaboration with Canadian Wildlife Service and three Divisions of

the US Fish and Wildlife Service

Training in collaboration with Canadian Wildlife Service and three Divisions of

the US Fish and Wildlife Service


Synchronized surveys, standard methods

National reports on DU’s web site

Access Database

Oracle Database with NBII/USGS/USFWS

Synchronized surveys, standard methods

National reports on DU’s web site

Access Database

Oracle Database with NBII/USGS/USFWS


Photo M.Carbonell

13 countries - 4 winters – 80+ obs.Nobody gets paid

Equipment is scarce


-M. Acosta - A. Aguilar - L. Andino - M. Andrade - H. Andujar - I. Angarita - D. Arbeláez - M. I. Argueta - B. Arrévalo - O. Arróliga - A. Bazzaglia - M. Beltré - C. Bikhi - R. Cal - J. Caraballo - M. Carbonell - E. Carey - F. Castillo - K. Castillo - J.F. Castro - W. Cinea - A. Coc - J.R. Crouse - G. Cruz - A. Daneris - D. Denis - J.S. Désir - R.C. Edouarzin - M. Féliz - O. Figueroa - K. Fitzerald -C. R. Funes - L. Gape - G. García - N. G. García - J. Garvin - E. Guerrero - E. G. Guevara - K. Grasela - B. Hay - A. Haynes-Sutton - S. Henríquez - H. Herrera - N. Herrera - M. Ibarra - R. Ibarra - H.J. Jacques - R. Jairam - M. Jean - J. Jiménez - F.C. Joe - J.F. Jourdain - P. Judex - E. Labrecque - M. Lezama - J. E. Linares - J. Lohr - B. López - B.C. Martinez - C. Martínez - C. R. Martínez - E. Martínez - K. Martínez - W. Martinez - R. Mazur - C. Mejía - D. Medina - L. A. Merlos - V. Meza - K. Mohadin - J.A. Morales - M. Morales - L. Narine - R. Nekrui - M. Ojeda - A. Ortiz - O. Ottema - J. Peña - B. Pérez - H. Pérez - E. Pierre - L. A. Pineda - K. Polanco - A. Ramharak - D. Ramil - A. Rauda - C. Rivera - M. Rivera - R. Rivera - D. Rodríguez - G. Rodríguez - W. Rodríguez - S. Sahdew - A. Sánchez - J. Sánchez - L. Sánchez-Mármol - M. Solís - A. Spaans - D. Teul - M. Teul - S. Thorn - N. Tilus - F. Troncoso - R. Vargas - R.E. Vásquez - S. Vilchez - A. Vreedzaam - C. Wardle - J. Zolotoff –

LAC Waterfowl SurveysParticipants

LAC Waterfowl SurveysParticipants

LAC Waterfowl SurveysLAC Waterfowl Surveys1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002

Number of countries 6 12 12Number of wetlands 39 77 89Number of participants 17 58 61Number of birds Fall - 56892 19110Number of birds Winter 41782 392902 476696Number of birds Spring 87057 276662 318519

Aythya affinis

0

5

10

15

1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002

# of

bird

s x

1000


Anas discors

0

200

400

600

1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002

# of

bird

s x

1000

The increase in the numbers of birds observed probably indicates improved methods and/or gained

experience among observers.


Winter 2000-2002Fall 2000-2002

C. America41%

Carib.10%

S. America49%

C. America36%

Carib.8%

S. America56%

Central America and the Caribbean account for higher numbers of birds in fall than in winter while the opposite is true for South America. This may indicate a large number of birds migrate through Central America

and the Caribbean on their way to their wintering areas in South America.

Waterfowl SurveysWaterfowl Surveys

Central America

Caribbean

Northern SouthAmerica

Central America

Caribbean

Northern SouthAmerica

Winter 2001-2002

Winter 2000-2001

The higher numbers of birds observed in South America probably indicates more adequate wintering habitat for migratory Anas discorsthan in Central America and the Caribbean.

Waterfowl SurveysWaterfowl Surveys

Wetlands with highest numbers of birds

0

50

100

150

200

250

num

ber o

f bird

s x 1

000

Colombia, Santa Marta, 26-Jan-02

El Salv ador, Cerrón Grande, 4-Apr-02

Nicaragua, Tisma, 19-Mar-00

R. Dominicana, Cabral, 26-Jan-02

Costa Rica, Bajo Tempisque, 15-Mar-01

• The start to the waterfowl surveys has been slow and data is not yet providing much information on the chronology, distribution and wintering population trends in Latin America and the Caribbean of North American breeding waterfowl.

• In spite of this, some important wetlands have been identified that were not previously known to hold significant numbers of waterfowl.

• Some management/conservation needs and issues have also been identified at specific wetlands.

• Methodology and synchronization need to be improved and standardized.• Networking, training and capacity building should be an on-going component

of the surveys initiative.• A classification and quantification of wetlands would be useful in planning the

surveys and in management/conservation decision making.• An assessment of harvest techniques, effort and outcome in each country

should be carried out, as well as continue to strengthen links with hunters.

LAC Waterfowl SurveysConclusions

LAC Waterfowl SurveysConclusions

www.ducks.org/conservation/latinamerica.aspwww.ducks.org/conservation/latinamerica.asp

¡ Gracias !¡ Gracias !

LAC posters # 51 & 100LAC posters # 51 & 100

Photo M.Carbonell

Documents

Waterfowl Surveys and Wetland Conservation in Latin