Enrique J. Derlindati: Project Update: October 2007

Observation tower building in Melincué to survey flamingos activities. (Photo: M. Romano).

Preliminary results show that total flamingo abundances differ between sites. Andean flamingos (Phoenicoparrus andinus) are more abundant at the lowland site than in high Andes site (3,254 vs. 1,022). In contrast, the Puna flamingo (P. jamesi) was the dominant species at high Andes site (5,750), but was absent at the lowland site.

Activities patterns also differ. Andean flamingo used more time in courtship displays (marching of 32 to 225 individuals) in the lowland wetland. In the high Andes site, this species spends more time on feeding activities. Puna flamingos almost exclusively feed all of the time. Lakes differ in some limnological characteristics, mainly conductivity and dissolved oxygen: Vilama showed average values of 20.12 ± 6.75 [O2] mg/l and 86.73 ± 54.83 mS; and Melincué 6.21 ± 0.97 [O2] mg/l and 5.47 ± 1.37 mS.

We believe the high proportion of time used in courtship displays at the lowland wetland, is associated with initiation of the breeding cycle while feeding activities in high Andes wetlands are associated with hatching and fledging. We need to survey more wetlands, including breeding sites, to know if this pattern is consistent.