Flamingo Newsletter 14, 2006

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Flamingo Newsletter 14, 2006 Flamingo ABOUT THE GROUP Bulletin of the IUCN-SSC/Wetlands International The Flamingo Specialist Group (FSG) was established in 1978 at Tour du Valat in FLAMINGO SPECIALIST GROUP France, under the leadership of Dr. Alan Johnson, who coordinated the group until 2004. Currently, the group is coordinated from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge, UK, as part of the IUCN-SSC/Wetlands International Waterbird Network. The FSG is a global network of flamingo specialists (both scientists and non- scientists) concerned with the study, monitoring, management and conservation of the world’s six flamingo species populations. Its role is to actively promote flamingo research and conservation worldwide by encouraging information exchange and cooperation among these specialists, and with other relevant organisations, particularly IUCN - SSC, Wetlands International, Ramsar, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, African Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement, and BirdLife International. FSG members include experts in both in-situ (wild) and ex-situ (captive) flamingo conservation, as well as in fields ranging from field surveys to breeding biology, infectious diseases, toxicology, movement tracking and data management. There are currently 185 members around the world, from India to Chile, and from France to South Africa. Further information about the FSG, its membership, the membership list serve, or this bulletin can be obtained from Brooks Childress at the address below. Chair Assistant Chair Dr. Brooks Childress Mr. Nigel Jarrett Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Slimbridge Slimbridge Glos. GL2 7BT, UK Glos. GL2 7BT, UK Tel: +44 (0)1453 860437 Tel: +44 (0)1453 891177 Fax: +44 (0)1453 860437 Fax: +44 (0)1453 890827 [email protected] [email protected] Eastern Hemisphere Chair Western Hemisphere Chair Dr. Arnaud Béchet Dr. Felicity Arengo Station biologique, Tour du Valat American Museum of Natural History Le Sambuc Central Park West at 79th Street 13200 Arles, France New York, NY 10024 USA Tel : +33 (0) 4 90 97 20 13 Tel: +1 212 313-7076 Fax : +33 (0) 4 90 97 20 19 Fax: +1 212 769-5292 [email protected] [email protected] Citation: Childress, B., Arengo, F., Bechet, A. & Jarrett, N. (eds.) 2006. Flamingo , Bulletin of the IUCN-SSC/Wetlands International Flamingo Specialist Group, No. 14, December 2006. Wildfowl Number 14, December 2006 & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, UK. ISSN 1680-1857 Cover photographs by Niall Riddell: Andean Flamingos at Laguna Hedionanda, Bolivia; See full report of his photographic expedition to the high Andes on: www.projectflamingo.co.uk Flamingo 14, December 2006 Flamingo 2005-06 FLAMINGO SPECIALIST GROUP ANNUAL REPORT Number 14, December, 2006 ___________________________________________________________________________ CONTENTS Aim of the Group The aim of the Flamingo Specialist Group (FSG) is to actively promote study, monitoring, 2005-06 Flamingo Specialist Group Annual Report …………………………………… 2 management and conservation of the world’s six flamingo taxa by: In-situ Breeding Summary ………………………………………………………………... 5 • Ex-situ Breeding Summary ...……………………………………………………………. 9 Developing and maintaining an active and comprehensive international network of in situ and ex situ flamingo conservation specialists (both scientists and non-scientists) In-situ Ringing Summary ..………………………………………………………………... 10 Research Reports …………………………………………………………………………. 11 • Stimulating and supporting information exchange among flamingo conservation specialists Banding program for threatened high-Andes flamingos. Rocha, O.O and Rodríguez, E. …. 11 • Encouraging development and implementation of conservation action plans for the three Abundancia poblacional de flamencos altoan dinos: resultados preliminares del último taxa of greatest conservation concern: P. andinus , P. jamesi and P. minor . censo simultáneo internacional, 2005. Caziani, S.M., Rocha Olivio.O., Romano, M., Tálamo, A., Derlindati, E.J., Ricalde, D., Rodríguez Ramirez, E., Sosa, H. y Sureda, A.L. .. 13 • Promoting innovative conservation approaches, such as coordinated management Winter abundance in Laguna Melincué, Argentina. Romano, M., Barberis, I., Pagano, F. of wetland networks to secure flamingo population processes (e.g. dispersal and seasonal and Romig, J. ………………………………………………………………………………………. 17 movements) and reconciliation of water conservation for people and for flamingos in the Abundancia de tres especies de flamencos en le Lago Uru Uru, Oruro, Bolivia. Rocha context of climate change and predicted water shortage Olivio, O., Vargas, M. y Palenque, K. ……………………………………………………………. 17 Breeding and banding Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus in Algeria, August 2006. • Providing information and advice in support of the programmes of Wetlands International, Boulkhssaïm, M., Houhamdi, M., Saheb, M., Samraoui, F and Samraoui, B. ………………. 21 IUCN - SSC, BirdLife International, Ramsar and others that promote the conservation of flamingos and their habitats Caribbean Flamingo breeding at Cienaga de Los Olivitos Wildlife Refuge and Fishing Reserve, western Venezuela. Espinoza, F. and Perozo, H. ………………………………….. 24 Significant short and long term programmes Septic arthritis and disseminated infections caused by Mycobacterium avium in Lesser To accomplish its strategic objectives, the FSG has organised its 2004-08 work plan into four Flamingos, Lake Bogoria, Kenya. Oaks, J.L., Walsh, T., Bradway, D., Davis, M. and programme areas corresponding to the objectives: Harper, D.M. ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 30 Exposure to selected agents in three flamingo species from the high Andes wetlands. Programme 1: Developing and maintaining an active and comprehensive international Uhart, M., Arengo, F., Nallar, R., Caziani, S., Karesh, W. and Marull, C. …………………… 32 network of in situ and ex situ flamingo conservation specialists Other News ……………………………………………………………………………….... 32 Four-year objective: To develop an international FSG membership that includes the flamingo Nairobi action plan workshop for the Lesser Flamingo ………………………………………… 32 specialists in each flamingo range state, those working on flamingo conservation at zoological High-Andes flamingo conservation action plan workshop …………………………………..... 33 societies and scientific institutions, and others interested in flamingo conservation, wherever BirdLife International-Rio Tinto partnership to focus on flamingo conservation in Andes …. 33 located. New Caribbean Flamingo conservation network launched ……………………………………. 34 We propose to achieve this objective by: Africa’s first artificial flamingo breeding island ………………………………………………..... 35 1. Updating the FSG membership list extant at the end of 2004, including contacts, focal Lesser Flamingo die-offs continue in East Africa ………………………………………………. 36 species and expertise or special interests Important Lesser Flamingo site documented in South Africa ……………………………….... 37 2. Conducting an active membership drive early in 2005, with the goal of increasing the geographical coverage and expertise of the membership Lesser Flamingos in Europe, the Mediterranean and Middle East …………………………… 38 3. Updating the membership list continuously during the four-year period Lesser Flamingo breeding success at WWT Slimbridge ……………………………………… 38 Tracking Greater Flamingo movements in SW Asia ………………………………………….. 39 Progress during 2005-06: During 2005-06 membership grew 12%. Currently, there are 190 members from 52 countries, 135 of which are involved primarily with the conservation of Other Articles and Reports ………………………………………………………………. 41 flamingos in the wild ( in-situ ), while 55 are involved primarily with ex-situ conservation. Florida’s forgotten flock. Showler, B. ………………………………………………………….... 41 190 members from 52 countries Recent Scientific Articles and Reports, General ………………………....................... 45 135 involved with "in-situ" conservation Recent Scientific Articles and Reports, Lesser Flamingo Mortality in East Africa …. 49 55 involved with "ex-situ" conservation Instructions to Authors ……………………………………………………………………. 53 2 Flamingo 14, December 2006 Flamingo 14, December 2006 Country No. Members Country No. Members Four-year objective : Develop a single-species action plan for the Lesser Flamingo ( P. minor ) for submission to the Technical and Standing Committees of the African-Eurasian Migratory Algeria 6 Mauritania 1 Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) in 2007. Argentina 6 Mexico 2 Develop a similar action plan for Andean (P. andinus ) and James’s ( P. jamesi ) Flamingos for Belgium 4 Morocco 1 presentation to the ninth Congress of Parties (COP 9) of the Convention on Migratory Species Bolivia 1 Namibia 2 (CMS) in 2008. Botswana 3 Netherlands Antilles 1 Canada 1 Paraguay 1 We propose to achieve this objective by: Chile 9 Peru 2 1. Compiling a biological assessment report for each species containing current data on Cuba 1 Poland 1 population size and trends, breeding biology, feeding ecology, habitat requirements, Cyprus 3 Portugal 1 conservation status, threats and priorities for future conservation action from information Czech Republic 2 Senegal 3 supplied by FSG members and specialists in each of each of the species’ range states Denmark 1 South Africa 8 2. Organising and supporting action planning workshops to finalise the conservation priorities Djibouti 1 Spain 4 for each species Egypt 1 Suriname 1 3. Drafting, reviewing and editing a Lesser Flamingo action plan for submission to the AEWA Equador 2 Switzerland
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