Argentina
Iguazu National park (Missiones Pr.)
Iguazu is a large area, almost 500 square kilometers, of remnant Atlantic subtropical forest, on the Brazilian border of northeastern Argentina. The park bird species list tops 400, 180 of them resident. Among the rarities are Solitary Tinamou, Gray-bellied Goshawk, Black-fronted Piping-guan, Pileated Parrot, Saffron Toucanet, Spotted Bamboo Wren, Bay-ringed Tyrannulet, and Russet-winged Spadebill. Its total list represents approximately 44% of Argentina’s avifauna. Iguazu NP protects perhaps the greatest waterfalls in the world. The nearest city, Puerto Iguazu, is about 20 Km from the park. For more details see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America.
Punta Rasa Natural Reserve (Buenos Aires Pr.)
The reserve includes sand beaches, coastal dunes, tidal mudflats, and tidal salt water lowlands. Punta Rasa is one of the most famous sandpiper migration corridors in the Americas, the flight line between the South American coasts and North American grasslands. South American summer birds include Hudsonian Godwit, Red Knot, White-rumped Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, Whimbrel, Common Tern. Autral migrants include Two-banded Plover, Rufous-chested Dotterel, South American Tern, Forster’s Tern, Royal Tern. Resident water birds: Kelp Gulls, Band-tailed Gulls, Black Skimmers. The grassland area is home to Great Pampa Finch, Black-rumped Silverbill, Brown and Yellow Marsh Birds. Mammals that are present include the Culpeo Fox, Lesser Grison , Talas Tuco-tuco, Brazilian Guinea Pig. Marine mammals include Plata Dolphin and the South American Fur Seal. The reserve is located at Punta Rasa (36º 18’ S, 56º 47’ W), the southern extremity of Bahia Sanborombon, Buenos Aires Province. From the Second of April plaza in San Clemente del Tuyu, drive about 1 1/2 km on the sand road towards Faro San Antonio to the turn-off for Punta Rasa. In a short distance there is a sign and the entranceway to the reserve. Then watch for another sign with tide tables, which are there to alert drivers to the need for precautions - the road may be cut off by tides higher that 1.5 meters. After another 4 1/2 Km one arrives at the Punta Rasa beaches.
The reserve may be contacted by e-mail, at puntarasa@rpm-net.com.ar See http://www.rpm-net.com.ar/puntarasa/
Buenos Aires area (Buenos Aires Pr.)
There are three fine birding sites on the edges of Buenos Aires.
Costera Sur Ecological Reserve
This reserve includes pools, woodlands, and pampas grassland. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded, including Giant Wood-rail, Snowy-crowned Tern, Brown and Yellow Marshbirds, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Freckle-breasted Thornbird, Unicolored Blackbird and Sulfur-bearded Spinetail. Black-headed Duck, Rufous-sided Crake, and Curve-billed Reed-haunter are rare visiters.
The reserve is located on the Rio de la Plata estuary, in the southeast section of Buenos Aires, only a few minutes from downtown along Tristan Achaval Rodriguez Avenue, between Viamonte and Brasil Streets.
The reserve is also home to tree frogs, iguanas, the Half-moon Viper, the Coluber Constrictor, and the Lutrine Possum.
The park is open Tuesday to Sunday. From April to October: 8:00 to 18:00; from November to March: 8:00 to 19:00. Admission is free. It gets crowded on weekend afternoons. There are public restrooms. Telephone (in Spanish) 4315-1320. For further information see http://buenosairesguide.8m.com/reserva_ecologica.htm http://www.economist.com/cities/displayobject.cfm?obj_id=787751&city_id=BEA http://www.gcba.gov.ar/areas/med_ambiente/reserva/?menu_id=2486
Mar del Plata Port Nature Reserve
The Mar del Plata reserve, close to Buenos Aires, has an interesting mixture of birds. Resident species include Many-colored Rush-tyrant, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, White-tufted Grebe, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Brown Pintail, and the Silver Teal. Austral migrants include Bar-winged Cinclodes, Band-tailed Gull, Snowy Sheathbill, Two-banded Plover and the Austral Negrito. Summer migrants (September to March) include sandpipers and terns. Short-distance migrants that nest in this region and move north within South America during the winter include: Vermillion Flycatcher, Striated Heron, White-rumped Swallow and Grassland Yellow Finch. Seabirds can be seen from the end of one of the main port breakers.The list is over 120 species, not including rarities.
The reserve is located south of the Puerto de Mar del Plata, Partido de General Pueyredon, Buenos Aires province.
For further information E-mail at info@reservanatural.org.ar or postal address Fundacion Reserva Natural. Padre Dutto 383, C.P.7600 - Mar del Plata
Reserva Ecologica de Vicente Lopez
This reserve, which has one of the best panoramic views out over the Rio de la Plata protects the flora, fauna, and ecosystem of the area. Has a chipwood path with bridges. Spot-flanked Gallinule easy to see on lagoon. The reserve is located in the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires. From Avenida del Libertador (approx. #4,100) turn towards the coast on Paraná street. Cross the Tren de la Costa railroad tracks. Parking is available. It has a visitor's center, restrooms, permanent security (policemen on duty) and swings for children.
For further information telephone (154) 994-6304 or e-mail reservavlopez@yahoo.com.ar
Mar Chiquita Provincial Reserve (Cordoba Pr.)
Mar Chiquita, most famous as one of the last places where Eskimo Curlews were seen, is a huge permanent lagoon of saline water. It is home to enormous numbers of shorebirds, cf. 500,000 Wilson's Phalaropes, 15,000 Lesser Yellowlegs, 15,000 White-rumped Sandpipers, 200 Stilt Sandpipers, 20,000 Golden Plovers, 1,200 Hudsonian Godwits, 700 Pectoral Sandpipers. Austral species: Two Banded Plover, Rufous-chested Dotterel. The Collared Plover probably also nest here. An additional 55 species of aquatic birds have been recorded on the lake. Other species of note: Spotted Rail, Little Nightjar, White-fronted Woodpecker, Checkered Woodpecker, Chaco Earthcreeper, Crested Hornero, Chotoy Spinetail, Short-billed Canestero, Little Thornbird, Lark-like Brushrunner, Brown Cacholote, Crested Callito, Olive-crowned Crescent-chest, White-tipped Plantcutter, Crested Doradito, Dionelli’s Doradito, Stripe-capped Sparrow, Many-colored Chaco-Finch.
The reserve is located approximately 150 km northeast of Cordoba City, at 30º 45' S 62º 30' W. There is an interpretive center in Miramar, displaying the main biological features of the area. See http://www.manomet.org/WHSRN/viewsite.php?id=62
For more details see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America.
Los Glaciers National Park (Santa Cruz Pr.)
The park is set in one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, with glaciers surrounded by lakes, woods and mountains. It is home to some very interesting birds. Hooded Grebe (discovered only in 1974) occurs in the area around El Calefate, as do Magellanic Plover, Austral Canestero, Ruddy-headed Goose, and Canary-winged Finch. The steppe areas are home to the Chocolate-vented Tyrant. Spectacled Duck breeds in the park.
In addition to birdwatching the park also has mountain bikes for hire, a playroom, childrens games, horseriding, and fishing tours.
Los Glaciers is located in southeast Santa Cruz Province, the department of Lago Argentina. The closest city is El Calafate (80 km).
La Aurora del Palmar
Tierra del Fuego National Park (Tierra del Fuego)
The terrain of the park is irregular in relief with steep mountains, rivers, and lakes, plus seacoast. Because of the varied habitats the park offers the possibility of seeing sea birds: Black-browed Albatross, Antarctic Giant Petrel, Southern Fulmar, Cape Petrel, White-faced Petrel, Southern Skua, Dolphin Gull; shore birds such as Blackish and Magellanic Oystercatchers, Two-banded Plover, Black-faced Ibis, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Rufous-chested Dotterel, and land birds such as Least Seedshipe, White-throated Treerunner, Austral Negrito.
Sea mammals can be viewed along the coast. There is also sport fishing for salmon and trout.
The park is located in the southeast section of Tierra del Fuego Province, department of Ushuaia. Nearest city: Ushuaia (11 km). http://www.intertournet.com.ar/parquesnacionales/tierradelfuego.htm For more details see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America.
El Palmar National Park (Entre Rios Pr.)
The park, located in west central Entre Rios Province between Colon and Concordia, consists of Yatay palm trees habitat plus gallery forest along the river banks. The nearest city is Colon, at 65 Km.
Some noteworthy birds of this area include Long-winged Harrier, Brazilian Duck, Southern Screamer, White-necked Heron, Striated Heron, Whistling Heron, Southern Lapwing, Spot-winged Pigeon, Picazuro Pigeon, White-tipped Xenosaris, Guira Cuckoo, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Sickle-winged Nightjar, Black-and-white Monjita, Scimatar-billed Woodcreeper, Red-rumped Warbling Finch, Golden-billed Saltator, Saffron-cowled Blackbird, Marsh and Gray-and-chestnut Seedeaters.
http://www.intertournet.com.ar/parquesnacionales/elpalmar.htm
Potrerillos (Mendoza Pr.)
This resort town, north of the city of Mendoza, is said to be a good site for the endemic Steinbach's Canastero, as well as Red-tailed Comet, White-sided Hillstar, Brown-capped Tit-spinetail, Subtropical Docadota, Rufous-sided Warbling Finch, Andean Swift, Spot-billed Ground-tyrant, and several seedeaters. For more details see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America. |
