Volume 8 1997 No.1

ORNITOWGIA NEOTROPICAL 8: 1-5, 1997 @ The Neotropical Ornithological Society

A LARGE AUTUMN CONCENTRATION OF (CYGNUS MELANCORYPHUS ANO COSCOROBA COSCOROBA) ANO OTHER WATERBIROS AT PUERTO , MAGALLANES, CHILEAN , ANO ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR ANO WATERFOWL CONSERVATION

Fran~ois Vuilleumier

Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, U.S.A.

Resumen. Aproximadamente 20.000 Cisnes de cuello negro (Cygnus melancoryphus) y 1.000-2.000 Cisnes coscoro- bas ( Coscoroba coscoroba) fueron hallados en una gran concentración de aves acuáticas (total 30.000-35.000 individuos de 18 especies), cerca de Puerto Natales, Magallanes (XII Región), , el 28 de Abri11995 (otoño austral). Esta concentración parece ser la de mayor importancia numérica señalada en esta wna, conocida como un sitio de invernaje de aves acuáticas. Se discute las implicaciones de estas observaciones para la conservación de cisnes y otras especies acuáticas en la Patagonia. Abstract. About 20,000 Black-necked Swans (Cygnus melancoryphus) and 1,000-2,000 Coscoroba Swans (Coscoroba coscoroba)were estimated in a large concentration of waterbirds, totalling 30,000-35,000 individuals of 18 , near Puerto Natales, Magallanes (XII Región), Chile, on 28 April 1995 (Southern HemispheTt; autumn).. Th!s seems to be the largest such concentration of swans and other waterfowl ever reported from thls area, w~lch !S known as a waterbird wintering site. Implications of these observations for swan and waterfowl conservatlon are discussed. Accepted 7 December 1995. Key words: Swans, Cygnus melancoryphus, Coscoroba coscoroba, waterbirds, Puerto Natales, Magallanes, Chile, Patagonia, autumn concentrations, conservation.

INTRODUCTION dae, 1), swans (, 2), geese(Anatidae, 1), On 28 April1995 I observed a spectacular con- (Anatidae, 4), coots (Rallidae, 1), and gulls (Laridae, 3). I counted or estimated these centration of waterbirds, totalling 30,000-35,000 individuals, in a large complex of shallow bays at from the bridge of the ferry boat M/N Puerto the head of Go1fo Almirante Montt and at the Eden, as the vessel slowly made her way toward mouth of Seno Última Esperanza, between the the Puerto Natales harbor, from 12:30 to 13:00 h. southern tip of Península Antonio Varas and Once the ferry boat was docked, the large water- the town of Puerto Natales, Magallanes, Chile, concentration offshore was no longer visi- 51° 44 'S, 72 ° 31'W (Paynter 1988: 202). The taxa ble, whether from the boat's decks or from the censused in this concentration belonged to 18 shore. species in 7 families: penguins (Spheniscidae, 1 Additional waterbirds were present along the species), grebes (Podicipedidae, 3), cormorants waterfront at Puerto Natales from 15:00 to (Phalacrocoracidae, 2), flamingos (Phoenicopteri- 18:00, but in much smaller numbers than the VUILLEUMIE

offshore concentration, totalling less than 1,000 CONCENTRATION OF SWANS individuals of 13 species: Neotropic Cormorant I estimated the number of Coscoroba Swans (Phalacrocorax olivaceus, about 30), Imperial Coscoroba coscorobaat 1,000-2,000 individuals, Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps, about 50), Chilean and that of Black-necked Swans Cygnus melan. Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis, about 15), coryphus at about 20,000 individuals. All these Coscoroba Swan (Coscorobacoscoroba, about 50), swans occurred in a single dispersed flock, ex- Black-necked Swan ( Cygnus melancoryphus, tending over an area of water of at least 1 km x about 300), Upland (Chloephaga picta, 1 km, and the other species of waterbirds were about 30), Crested (Lophonetta speculari- mixed among them. As mentioned above, in pides, 4), Chiloé Wigeon (Anas sibilatrix, about addition, smaller numbers of both Coscoroba 70), Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica, about coscoroba and Cygnus melancoryphus were seen 15), White-winged Coot (Fulica ?leucoptera, along the waterfront in Puerto N atales, totalling about 120), Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus, about about 200-300 Cygnus melancoryphus and 50 80), Dolphin Gull (Larus scoresbii, about 15), Coscoroba coscoroba. and Brown-hooded Gull (Larus maculipennis, Interestingly, as the ferry boat sailed toward about 40). Puerto N atales, she disturbed dozens of Black- I describe below the waterbird concentration necked Swans, all of which fled the boat's offshore from Puerto N atales, and discuss the approach by labored running and flapping of significance of the Puerto N atales area in terms wings, without taking off, much in the manner of numbers and conservation of swans in par- of Steamer-Ducks Tachyeresspp. These swans ticular and in terms of waterbird conservation in were clearly molting their wing feathers and Patagonia in general. were flightless. However, I saw several swans in flight near the waterfront at Puerto N atales, DESCRWTION OF OFFSHORE both Cygnus melancoryphus and Coscoroba CONCENTRATION coscoroba,thus indicating that not all swans were flightless. Clearly, the swans in the huge con- The offshore concentration of waterbirds inclu- gregation offshore consisted mostly of molting ded large to very large numbers of 6 species, birds, however. Fjeldsa & Krabbe (1990: 117) estimated as follows: about 100 Great Grebes stated that Cygnus melancoryphus "Non-breeders Podicepsmajor, 400-500 Neotropic Cormorants assemble to molt in large flocks on some large, Phalacrocorax olivaceus, 2,000-3,000 Imperial clear lakes on Andean foothills of w Sta Cruz Shags Phalacrocorax atriceps, 800-900 Chiloé and Chubut" (Argentine Patagonia). Unfortu- Wigeons Anas sibilatrix, 4,000-5,000 coots nately Fjeldsa & Krabbe (1990) did not give Fulica sp. (too far to be identified with certainty, numbers of birds. but likely White-winged Coots Fulica leucoptera), and 2,000-3,000 Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus. IMPORTANCE OF PUERTO NATALES Ten other specieswere present in the offshore flocks, but in much smaller numbers: about 12 FOR SWANS AND amER WA1ERBIRDS Magellanic Penguins Spheniscusmagellanicus, 1 The Puerto Natales area, at the head of the Golfo Silvery Grebe Podicepsoccipitalis, 1 White-tufted Almirante Montt and at the entrance of Seno Grebe Rollandia rolland, 50 Chilean Flamingos Ultima Esperanza, about 200 km NW of Punta Phoenicopterus chilensis, 30 Upland Geese Arenas, the main city of Chilean Fuego-Pata- Chloephaga picta, about 15 Crested Ducks gonia, is known for its concentrations of water- Lophonetta specularioides, about 10 Flightless birds, especially Black-necked Swans Cygnus Steamer-Ducks Tachyerespteneres, 15-20 Yellow- melancoryphus and Chilean Flamingos Phoeni- billed Pintails Anas georgica, about 12 Dolphin copterus chilensis (Markham 1971). Thus, on 25 Gulls Larus scoresbii, and 100 Brown-hooded February 1987 and 17 January 1988 (austra1 Gulls Larus maculipennis. The most remarkable summer), I saw 400-700 Black-necked Swans concentration of all, however, was that of the along the waterfront at Puerto Natales, an two species of swans, Coscoroba coscoroba and experience shared by previous observers. Else- Cygnus melancoryphus. where and at other times of the year, Bernath SWANS IN CHILEAN PATAGONIA

(1965: 97), Markham (1971), Jory et al. (1974), sector number 12, Ultima Esperanza, around Venegas & Jory (1979: 66), and Venegas (1994) Puerto Natales. Markham (1971) counted other have mentioned the autumn (April-May) and large concentrations on 14 July 1971 at Lago winter aune-July) congregations of Black-necked Toro-Canal FitzRoy southeast of Puerto Natales Swanson the mainland of Magallanes and on the (1,347 swans, 1,569 flamingos), and on 15 July island of Tierra delFuego. Earlier, Olrog (1948: 1971 near Porvenir in northeastern Tierra del 468) had written that he had sighted "Centenares Fuego (2,304 swans, 3,834 flamingos). Markham de cisnes en migración. ..en el Seno Skyring y (1971) estimated the total number of swans in Seno Otway, Territorio de Magallanes, an abril y Magallanes in July 1971 at 11,204 individuals, mayo" (hundreds of [Black-necked Swans] swans 10,801 of which were Cygnus melancoryphus and in migration [ were noted] in Seno Skyring and 403 were Coscorobacoscoroba. Thus, m y estimate' Seno Qtway, Magallanes Territory). Seno Sky- of 20,000 Cygnus melancoryphus in 1995 is twice ring and Seno Otway are located about 100 and as high as Markham's (1971) for 1971 and more 150 km, respectively, southeast of Puerto N atales than three times as high as the 1992 census toward . reported by Blanco & Canevari (1993: 27), and I believe, however, that the numbers of swans m y estimate of 1,000-2,000 Coscoroba is 2.5-5 I observed near Puerto Natales on 28 April1995 times higher than Markham's 1971 census. were exceptionally high, as can be gathered by Insofar as flamingos Phoenicopterus chilensis are comparing my estimates with those of Markham concerned, note that Markham (1971: 156) did (1971), and of Blanco & Canevari (1992, 1993), not see any on 2 May 1970, and that I saw only which appear to be the only ones available in the small numbers on 28 April1995 (both dates are literature. Thus, the five published "Censos in the austral autum), but that Markham (1971) Neotropicales de Aves Acuáticas", 1990-1994 counted large numbers of flamingos in the (Carp 1991, Blanco & Canevari 1992, 1993, Puerto Natales area in July 1971 (austral winter). 1994, 1995) either do not mention the Puerto Do the higher numbers of swans I recorded Natales area (1990 report, Carp 1991; 1994 in the Puerto Natales area in 1995 mean that the report, Blanco & Canevari 1995), or, when they two speciesof swans have increased numerically do, cite smaller total numbers of waterbirds of all since 1971 (and also since 1991-1993), or that species (6,349 individuals of 14 species in 1991, there were more swans in 1995 in this part of Blanco & Canevari 1992; 22,162 individuals of Magallanes, but fewer elsewhere in Patagonia, 26 species in 1992, Blanco & Canevari 1993; than in previous years? Without further cen- 12,920 individuals of 21 species in 1993, Blanco suses,it is not possible to choose between these & Canevari 1993). In 1991, 1678 Cygnus melan- alternatives. Markham (1971: 151) thought that coryphus were censused in Seno Ultima Esperan- "Es muy probable que los aproximadamente za (Blanco & Canevari 1992: 30-31) and in 11.000 cisnes de cuello negro contados en este 1992, 5,788 individuals were counted there (Blan- estudio [en Magallanes] representen la mayor co & Canevari 1993: 37). Numbers of Black- parte de la poblaci6n total de la especie" (It is necked Swans were not given for 1993 (Blanco & quite probable that the approximately 11,000 Canevari 1994: 39), although the grand total of Black-necked Swans counted [in Magallanes] Black-necked Swans for Chile was 8,792 for that during this study represent the main part of the year, many of these birds apparently having been total population of the species).Markham (1971: censused in Magallanes. 151) also stated that the Coscoroba Swan was On 2 May 1970 (austral autumn), Markham concentrated in Magallanes in winter. (1971: 156) counted 2,608 Black-necked Swans and 22 Coscorobas near Puerto Natales, but no STATUS OF COSCOROBA COSCOROBA flamingos. During five days inJuly 1971 (austral AND CYGNUS MELANCORYPHUS winter), Markham (1971) carried out aerial surveys in Magallanes, in order to census swans Whereas Cygnus melancoryphus seems to have and flamingos wintering in this province. On 30 healthy populations in southern , July 1971, Markham (1971: 154, his Table 1) including several relatively large breeding con- counted 5,566 swans and 1,022 flamingos in his centrations in some areasof Patagonia [for exam-

3 VUILLEUMIER pIe in Parque Nacional Laguna (or Lago) de los conocido por el público" (The important Cisnes in Chilean Tierra del Fuego, 53 ° 14'S, [breeding] population of Black-necked Swans ... 70 °22'W (Paynter 1988: 50), Jory et al. 1974; and of the Laguna Blanca, together with a diverse in Parque Nacional Laguna Blanca, Neuquén, and abundant aquatic avifauna, was the main , 39 °03'S, 70 °23'W (Paynter 1985: reason for the creation ofthe National Park, and 39), Daciuk 1968, personal observations, 1992], is its feature best known by the public) (Ramilo by contrast Coscoroba coscorobaseems to occur et al. 1993: 10). According to Ramilo et al. (1993: in small numbers throughout its range. In 10), Laguna Blanca National Park has the largest fact, Venegas (1994: 25) called the Coscoroba breeding population of Black-necked Swans in "vulnerable" in Magallanes, and "in danger of Argentine Patagonia. Estimates of the numbers .extinction" in other parts of Chile. of Black-necked Swans breeding at Parque Na- Glade (1988: 5) listed the Coscoroba Swan cional Laguna Blanca vary from 2,000 to several coscoroba coscorobaas "endangered" for Chile as thousands. Clearly, if such a concentration a whole, and (Glade 1988: 19) as "endangered" warranted the creation of a National Park by the for Regions VI, X, and XI, and "vulnerable" for Argentine authorities, the autumn and winter Region XI (Magallanes). Glade (1988: 7) gave the concentrations in Magallanes, which are one Black-necked Swan Cygnus melancoryphus as order of magnitude higher, are more than "vulnerable" for Chile as a whole, and (Glade sufficient to consider similar action there by the 1988: 19) as "rare" for Regions IV and VI, Chilean authorities. "vulnerable" for Regions V, VII, and XI, and Markham (1971: 153) had already suggested "out of danger" for Regions X and XII. In the that the three areasof major swan and flamingo second edition of the Red List of Chilean concentration he had surveyed in Magallanes, Terrestrial Vertebrates, Glade (1993: 19) gave the including the Ultima Esperanza area near Puerto Coscoroba Swan as "endangered" for Chile as a Natales, be set aside as bird sanctuaries. This idea whole, as "endangered" for regions V, X, and XI, must now be implemented. The salt-water bays and as "vulnerable" for Magallanes (Region XII). of the Puerto Natales area, with autumn and The Black-necked Swan was classified by Glade winter concentrations of swans between 12,000 (1993: 19) as "vulnerable" for Chile, and "out (in July 1971) and 22,000 birds (in April1995), of danger" for Magallanes (Region XII). The and with concentrations of several other species presence of thousands of swans of both speciesin of waterbirds, each with 1,000 to 5,000 in- the southern hemisphere autumn near Puerto dividuals, constitute a wetland zone of para- N atales, and apparently in greater numbers in mount importance, not only in Fuego-Patagonia, the 1990s than in the 1970s, may be cause for but in South America. rejoicing, but is also good enough reason for Interestingly, Schlatter & Espinosa's list of environmental action. wetlands in Chilean Fuego-Patagonia (in Scott & Carbonell1986: 127-131) did not mention the Ultima Esperanza-Puerto Natales area specifical- CONSERVATION OF SWANS AND ly, although it included it, but without naming OTHER WATERBIRDS IN PUERTO it, in the large biotic zone they called "The NATALES Chilean Fjordland." If Markham (1971: 151) was In spite of, or perhaps because of, the large right that a substantial portion of the total concentrations of waterbirds, especially swans, in southern South American population of both the Puerto Natales area, it is appropriate to Coscoroba and Black-necked Swans spend the consider, once again, the problem of conser- austral autumn and winter in Magallanes, vation of these birds there and elsewhere Chilean Patagonia, then the Puerto Natales area, in Patagonia. In Neuquén, Argentina, "La im- having apparently the highest concentrations, is portante poblaci6n de cisnes de cuello negro of crucial significance for the long-term survival (Cygnus melancoryphus) de la Laguna Blanca, of these species. acompañada por una diversa y numerosa avi- In view of the data reviewed in this paper, faupa acuática, fue la principal raz6n de la I strongly recommend to the authorities of the creaci6n del Parque Nacional y su rasgo más Chilean Forest Service (Corporación Nacional SWANS IN CHILEAN PATAGONIA

Forestal, CONAF) that they establish an Blanco, D. E., & P. Canevari (eds.). 1995. Censo "Ultima Esperanza Waterbirds National Park" neotropical de aves acuáticas 1994. Humedales para ("Parque Nacional Aves Acuáticas Ultima las Américas (WA), Buenos Aires. Esperanza") in the Puerto Natales area, with the Carp, E. 1991. Censo neotropical de aves acuáticas 1990. IWRB, Slimbridge. specific goal of totally protecting the numerous CONAF. 1995. Guia de Parques Nacionales y otras species of waterbirds, and especially the swans, areas protegidas de Chile. . that use these shallow bays as wintering and Daciuk, I. 1968. La fauna del Parque Nacional Laguna molting areas. At present, the province of Blanca (estudio zoo-ecol6gico preliminar). Anales Ultima Esperanza and the comuna of Puerto Parques Nacionales Buenos Aires 11: 225-304. Natales are only listed as National Reserves Fjelds.1,I., & N. Krabbe. 1990. Birds of the high Andes., and/or National Monuments (pp. 262-263 in Zool. Mus., Univ. Copenhagen. Glade, A. A. (ed.). 1988. Red list of Chilean terrestrial CONAF 1995). It is necessary to go one step vertebrates. CONAF, Santiago. further. Glade, A. A. (ed.). 1993. Red list of Chilean terrestrial vertebrates (second edition). CONAF, Santiago. Iory, I. E., c. Venegas C., & w. A. Texera. 1974. La ACKNOWLEDGMENTS avifauna del Parque Nacional "Laguna de los I am gratefulto the L. C. Sanford Fund for finan- Cisnes" Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Anales Instituto cial assistance that permitted me to carry out Patagonia Punta Arenas 5: 131-154. field work in Chilean Patagonia in 1995 and in Markham, B. I. 1971. Censo invernal de cisnes y flamencos en Magallanes. Anales Instituto Pata- previous years. The officers and crew of the ferry gonia Punta Arenas 2: 146-157. boat Puerto Eden, especially Captain Jorge Silva Olrog, C. C. 1948. Observaciones sobre la avifauna de Aravena, greatly facilitated my observations by Tierra del Fuego y Chile. Acta Zool. Lilloana 5: kindly allowing me free access to all parts of 437-531. their vessel. I am grateful to an anonymous Paynter, R. A., Ir. 1985. Ornithological gazetteer of referee for useful critical comments on the Argentina. Cambridge, Mass. Paynter, R. A., Ir. 1988. Ornithological gazetteer of manuscript. Chile. Cambridge, Mass. Ramilo, E. I., Chehebar, C. E., Mazzucchelli, S., REFERENCES Fernández, D., Rusak, S., Rabagliatti, C., Antil, T., Giannantonio, A., Govetto, R., Chiesa, R., Olsen, Bernath, E. L. 1965. Observations in southern Chile T., Cortés, G., & F. Vuilleumier. 1993. Plan general in the southern hemisphere autumn. Auk 82: de manejo Parque Nacional Laguna Blanca. Ad- 95-101. ministraci6n de Parques Nacionales, Buenos Aires. Blanco, D. E., & P. Canevari. 1992. Censo neotropical Schlatter, R. P., & L. A. Espinosa. 1986. Chile. Pp. de aves acuáticas 1991. Programa de Ambientes 105-131 in: Scott, D. A., & M. Carbonell (eds.). A Acuáticas Neotropicales (NWP), Buenos Aires. directory of Neotropical wetlands. IUCN, Cam- Blanco, D. E., & P. Canevari. 1993. Censo neotropical bridge, and IWRB, Slimbridge. de aves acuáticas 1992. Humedales para las Amé- Venegas C., C. 1994. Aves de Magallanes. Punta ricas (WA), Buenos Aires. Arenas. Blanco, D. E., & P. Canevari (eds.). 1994. Censo VenegasC., C., &1. Iory H. 1979. Guia de campo para neotropical de aves acuáticas 1993. Humedales para las aves de Magallanes. Inst. Patagonia Punta las Américas (WA), Buenos Aires. Arenas, Ser. Mon. No.11.

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