>> PHOTOSPOT GIANT Waka Waka: The undulata in Paul Smith, Don Bland and Rob Clay

Giant Snipe Gallinago undulata gigantea, Kanguery, Itapúa, Paraguay, September 2013 (Don Bland / www. faunaparaguay.com).

hakira may have announced the arrival on xeno-canto: http://www.xeno-canto.org/15415). of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa It is time for the Giant Snipe to emerge. S with a song called “Waka Waka”, but the Weighing in at almost half a kilogram, the title lyrics evolved millennia earlier in the wet Giant Snipe is, predictably perhaps, the largest of grasslands of , composed by the the snipe (Hayman et al. 1986). The occurs elusive, nocturnal and rarely observed Giant as two disjunct , the nominate undulata Snipe Gallinago undulata. As dusk sets in and in northern South America, and the much larger the diurnal are settling down to roost, a gigantea in eastern , south-east , mysterious and slightly nasal “waka-waka-waka- eastern Paraguay and north-east Argentina (van waka ….” can be heard emanating from the ground Gils & Wiersma 1996). While both subspecies in dense grasslands in eastern Paraguay (well occur over large geographic ranges, they are found captured in Juan Mazar Barnett’s 1997 recording, at low densities and are patchily distributed. An

66 Neotropical Birding 15 apparent small population (perhaps less than are set way back on the body, giving it a top-heavy 25,000 birds in total) and loss of habitat has led and almost tailless appearance, and consequently to the species being considered of ‘High Concern’ movements are slow and deliberate. Although it (the second highest threat category) in a recent may appear that this is a morphological necessity status assessment (Lesterhuis and Clay 2011). enforced on the by its oversized appendages, In Paraguay the species is fairly widespread it is in fact a cunning part of the bird’s camouflage, east of the Paraguay River, but restricted to areas culminating in a disappearing act when the bird of natural grasslands, primarily within the Atlantic crouches ever so slowly into a clump of grass and Forest ecoregion, although usually in ‘islands’ of appears to vanish before your eyes. Cerrado and Mesopotamian Grassland habitats. Given the threats to such grassland areas— ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS overgrazing, frequent fires, conversion to pastures Thanks to all the members of the Whiskeyjack/FAUNA and crops—it is considered Near Threatened at the Paraguay Paraguay 2013 tour who accompanied us in national level (Guyra Paraguay 2005). Fortunately, the field when these images were taken: Alan Cairns, important populations are protected at Reserva Hugo del Castillo, Val George, Michael Jackson, Jan Kotaska, Rand Rudland, Dani Ruíz, Liz Savage, Bob Kanguery in San Rafael and Aguara Ñu in the Sitter and Arnold Skei. We would like to show particular Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve. appreciation for the conservation work of Guyra Seeing the Giant Snipe is a challenge, but Paraguay at Kanguery, Para La Tierra at Reserva Natural there are a few tips to help the intrepid birder. Laguna Blanca and Fundación Moises Bertoni at Aguara Familiarity with the call is essential, but merely Ñu for their important contributions to the conservation recognising the call is not enough on its own. of natural grasslands in Paraguay (and all sites where Though far-carrying, the voice possesses a strange, Giant Snipe can be seen). Valuable comments on the distant quality that makes it difficult to pinpoint manuscript were provided by Mark Pearman and Chris its source. The bird may be alternatively closer or Sharpe. This photospot is dedicated to the memory of further away than it seems, but the fact that the Juan Mazar Barnett, with whom RC first marvelled at the birds are pretty faithful to roosting areas means sounds of displaying Giant Snipe. that a bit of local knowledge can go a long away. You will also need to get your timing just right. PAUL SMITH Giant Snipe give their “waka-waka” call from the FAUNA Paraguay, Carmen De Lara Castro 422, Barrio ground for a short time at dusk, but do not emerge San Roque, Encarnación, Paraguay. until after dark, at which point they often perform E- mail: [email protected] high altitude, -like roding displays, DON BLAND accompanied by a bizarre noise like an overflying 632 Farnham Road, Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada jet and a weird “wa-wa-wow” sound, both of which V0N 1V8. are probably mechanical in origin (exemplified by E-mail: [email protected] xeno-canto cut 83363: http://www.xeno-canto. ROB CLAY org/83363). To be in with a chance of seeing the WHSRN Executive Office, Gaetano Martino 215, bird the observer will need to have a good general Asunción, Paraguay. idea of where it is when on the ground, good E-mail: [email protected] knowledge of the song and a decent flashlight to allow a good look. REFERENCES Should you be successful you will not be Guyra Paraguay (2005) Atlas de las aves del Paraguay. disappointed—and if you are lucky enough Asunción: Guyra Paraguay. to have one perch nearby, the bird may allow Hayman, P., Marchant, J. & Prater, T. (1986) Shorebirds. an extraordinarily close approach, even when An identification guide to the of the world. illuminated by spotlight. Giant Snipe is a London: Christopher Helm. remarkable bird, with an extraordinary 12 cm long Lesterhuis, A. J. & Clay, R. P. (2011) Status assessment of bill and wonderfully cryptic plumage that seems South American shorebirds. IV Western Hemisphere to give the bird a certain well-placed confidence Shorebird Group meeting, Vancouver, Canada, that it can see you better than you can see it. Birds August 2011. on the ground walk with an unsteady kiwi-like Van Gils, J. & Wiersma, P. (1996) Family Scolopacidae waddle, the elongated bill being held gingerly (, and ). Pp. 444–533 in: out in front and the oversized feet requiring del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. (eds.) Handbook considerable concentration to manipulate. The legs of the birds of the world, 3. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.

Neotropical Birding 15 67 >> PHOTOSPOT LEAR’SGIANT SNIPE MACAW

68 Neotropical Birding 15 Giant Snipe Gallinago undulata gigantea, Kanguery, Itapúa, Paraguay, September 2013 (Don Bland / www. faunaparaguay.com)

Neotropical Birding 15 69