Birds and Marine Fauna
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Uruguay is a natural country of unique charm.
Surface area Land
176.000 km2
Territorial sea
137.567 km2
Temperature
2
Winter (June - September)
6ºC - 17ºC
Summer (December - March)
21ºC - 28ºC
It has a special magic that can only be found in few places around the world. The national territory is a never ending source of natural scenery only some kilometers away from each other, populated areas, and Portuguese-Spanish style architecture seemingly stopped in time. Uruguay was ranked third in the world in the 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index prepared by the University of Yale. Given its
geographic location it enjoys a m ild su bt ropical climate. It has a semi-humid climate given its closeness to the sea and the lack of orographic barriers. A pleasant climate without extreme temperatures and plenty of natural richness, make of Uruguay a country to be enjoyed all year round.
3
Vast areas of natural grasslands, various types of river and hill forests, carob tree forests, remnants of sub-tropical forests tucked along rocky streams, excellent fluvial landforms, a chain of shallow lagoons along the Atlantic coastline, and large wetlands create a great patchwork of natural landscapes. In a world that is running out of water, Uruguay is a paradise of freshwater. Numerous rivers, streams, brooks, wetlands and lagoons create a dense hydrographic network which is full of life and sculpts the landscape. Hundreds of kilometers of coastline, mostly pristine white sand beaches, stretch out uninterrupted into the 4
Atlantic Ocean. The Río Negro (Black River) is a sight on its own. It crosses the national territory from east to west, most of it is navigable (like the majority of rivers in Uruguay), and it offers a myriad of opportunities. Due to the good climate conditions that foster the growth of varied and abundant vegetation, as well as its amazing hydrographic network, Uruguay is home to a very rich fauna. Over 450 bird species, 4 of the 7 existing species of marine turtles, the Southern Right Whale, and more than 320.000 sea lions; are
only a part of “Uruguay Natural”. The Uruguayan road network throughout the country features all the necessary services for you to relax and enjoy your holidays. Not many countries in Latin America have focused as much on road safety as Uruguay. Visitors will find good hotel accommodation, farms offering rural tourism, and camping sites very close to the places recommended for watching birds and other wildlife.
Uruguay offers tourists the tranquility and comfort needed to live an unforgettable experience in touch with nature. Uruguay is a word of Guarani origin and its most broadly accepted definition is “River of the Painted Birds”. 5
Bird watching in Uruguay is easy and fascinating.
The Oriental Republic of Uruguay was named after the birds, and this symbolism is well defined because of its tremendous variety in bird species, one of the outstanding natural characteristic of South America, known as “The Bird Continent�. The geographical position of the country is the main reason for the great diversity of bird species. The Atlantic coast, next to the Rio de la Plata Estuary, has its share of many marine and coastal birds.
In only one day, as many as 70 to 80 species can clearly be observed and identified. 6
The national territory is home to more than 450 bird species, and given the open and low native vegetation characteristics, they can easily be seen in different
environments within short distances of each other. Although more than 65% of the bird species live in the region throughout the year, there are four main migratory flows: birds that nest in North America and visit the region during the southern hemisphere summer; species that nest in Uruguay in spring and in fall season fly to the north of South America; birds that nest in the far south of the continent and migrate to Uruguay during the southern winter; and marine birds such as penguins, albatross and petrels that come to our waters in winter. 7
Saffron-Cowled Blackbird
Chestnut-Backed Tanager
Many bird species present in Uruguay are native to the region, geographically distributed only in the south of Brazil and east of Argentina, such as the CurveBilled Reedhaunter (Limnornis curvirostris), the Straight-Billed Reedhaunter (Limnoctites rectirostris), the Diademed Tanager (Stephanophorus diadematus), and the ChestnutBacked Tanager. Worth highlighting among the species that are globally under threat of extinction, but can still be seen in Uruguay are: the Saffron-Cowled Blackbird (Xanthopsar flavus), the Black and White Monjita (Heteroxolmis dominicana), the Yellow Cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata), the Entre Ríos Seedeater (Sporophila zelichi), and the Pampas Meadowlark (Sturnella defilippi). In the grasslands, covering over 70% of the country’s surface, it is common to find The American Rhea, The Spotted Nothura (Nothura maculosa), the RedWinged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens), the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), The Field Flicker (Colaptes campestris), the Great Pampa-Finch (Embernagra platensis), and the White-Browed
Greenfinch
Dusky-Legged Guan
Snowy-Crowned Tern
Blackbird (Sturnella superciliaris). In the native forests, found mainly along rivers and hilly regions of the country, it is frequent to see the Dusky-Legged Guan (Penelope obscura), the Gilded Hummingbird (Hylocharis chrysura), the White-Throated Hummingbird (Leucochloris albicollis), the White-Spotted Woodpecker (Veniliornis spilogaster), the Scimitar-Billed Woodcreeper (Drymornis bridgesii), the Chicli Spinetail (Synallaxis spixi), the Rufous-Capped Antshrike (Thamnophilus ruficapillus), the Glaucous-Blue Grosbeak (Cyanoloxia glaucocaerulea), the White-Rimmed Warbler (Basileuterus leucoblepharus), and the Blue and Yellow Tanager (Thraupis bonariensis). The wetlands, including swamps, marshes, scrublands, rice fields, and lagoons are home to the Plumbeous Ibis (Harpiprion caerulescens), the Black-Necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus), the Southern Screamer (Chauna
torquata), the Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba), Ringed Teal (Calonetta leucophrys), Silver Teal (Anas versicolor), th Giant Wood-Rail (Aramides ypecaha), the Spot-Flanked Gallinule (Porphyriops melanops), the Long-Winged Harrier (Circus buffoni), the Spectacled Tyrant (Hymenops perspicillata), the Brown-and-Yellow Marshbird (Pseudoleistes virescens), and the Scarlet-Headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus). Along the coast it is common to find various species of seagulls and terns, like the Olrog’s Gull (Larus atlanticus), and the Snowy-Crowned or Trudeau’s Tern (Sterna trudeau). On the islands near the coast and especially in winter, it is possible to see the Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis alba), and further into the sea albatrosses and petrels, such as the Black-Browed Albatross (Diomedea melanophrys), and the Southern Giant-Petrel (Macronectes giganteus).
Burrowing Owl
Black and White Monjita
Field Guides (English)
American Rhea 8
Black-Necked Swan
• Birds of Argentina & Uruguay. Narosky e Izurieta. Vázquez Manzini. Oct 2004.
• Birds of Southern South America and Antarctica. M.R. De la Peña y M. Rumboll. Princeton University Press. Jan 1998. 9
Places recommended for bird watching:
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Embalse de Salto Grande
21
Cuchilla Negra Valle del Lunarejo
31
12
Laureles
28 9
22 27
30
L
23
11
29
Bosques del Queguay
13 25
10 9
10
8
14
11
Esteros de Farrapos e Islas del Río Uruguay
21
7
Quebrada de los Cuervos
28
5
19 12
I
6
Pº Mazangano R. 44 sobre R. Negro
3
Paso Pache
17
BuenaVista Ruta 8 km 420
4
Juan Lacaze
18
Paso Centurión
5
Santo Domingo Soriano
19
Barra Río Tacuarí
6
Palmitas
20
Punta Quiroga
7
Farrapos
21
Quebrada de los Cuervos
8
San Javier
22
Barra Río Cebollatí
9
Guichón
23
Laguna Garzón
10
Río Queguay
24
Sierra de los Caracoles
11
Termas San Nicanor
25
Arroyo San Francisco
12
Río Arapey
26
San Carlos
13
Valle Edén
27
Laguna del Diario
14
Estación km 329
28
Valle del Lunarejo
A
Parque Lecocq
Route 1, km 19.200
B
Balneario Guazuvirá Nuevo
Route IB, km 57.300
C
Balneario Solís
Calle de la Laguna
D
Laguna de Rocha
Route 10 y Ruta 15
E
Parque San Miguel
Route 19, km 8.300
F
Parque Indígena
Cno. A. Saravia, Rincón del Indio
22 H
18
Chamangá
Route 26 sobre Río Negro
16
As well as having an adequate tourism infrastructure, there is also an interesting network of “hides”.
20
19
Bosques del Río Negro
15
Playa Penino
Viewpoints
Paso Centurión
15
24
Rincón de Melilla
2
18
17
16
1
G 17 13
J
San Miguel
3
K
2
15
A
B
1
Isla de Flores
10
1
24 4
26 C
7
6
M
20
Parque Santa Teresa
F
4
La Coronilla
Verde
Arequita
25 Humedales del Santa Lucía
2 Cerro 3
8
16
5
E
Cabo Polonio
23 D
27
11
Pinnipeds and Cetaceans of Uruguay. To date, records show that the Uruguayan coast and sea has seen the presence of 35 different marine mammal species: 3 Pinniped Otarid (sea lions and eared seals), 4 Pinniped Phocidae (true seals), 20 Cetacean Odontocet (dolphins and porpoises with teeth in their jaws), and 8 Cetacean Misticets (“large whales”, with baleen plates or whalebone in their jaws).
Cetaceans: Whales, porpoises and dolphins.
Southern Right Whale 12
One of the species that visits Uruguay’s coast is the Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis). Its body is large, rotund, oval shaped, and it does not have a dorsal fin or ventral pleats. The average length of an adult is 14 mt (males) and 16 mt (females), and the average weight is 45 tons. The two distinctive characteristics which make the Southern Right Whale different from other
species of “large whales” are: the wide V-shaped blow rising about 4mts above the surface of the water; and callosities (roughened patches of skin) on their heads that can be as thick as 5 cm. The oldest records that document this species presence in Uruguayan sea date back to 1761 and 1920, a time of whaling operations in the Maldonado Bay. 13
The Whale Route. Today, in order to foster the conservation of the species, hunting these cetaceans has been banned. From July until November, this into our oceanic waters; and there, in those calm waters, three of the
most important events in their lives take place: mating, giving birth, and nursing the calves. It is spring season in Uruguay, the perfect time to follow the “Whale Route” along the coast and watch these beautiful animals. Punta Quiroga
Punta Gabito
Treinta y Tres
Punta Cebollatí
Cebollatí
Punta Magro
Tourists can enjoy 350 kilometers of coastline and be amazed by incredible landscapes such as: Punta Colorada, Punta Ballena, Merín Punta del Este, La Pedrera, Cabo Polonio, Barra de Valizas, Laguna La Coronilla, and Punta del Diablo; as well as the astounding lighthouses and their views of José Ignacio, La Paloma, and Cabo Polonio. 8
Punta Pelotas
Rí o C ebollatí
Arroyo de las Pel
o t as
Arroyo del Cei b
o
Punta San Luis
19
San
Lui s
Mu
er
ta
bo llatí
Rí o
A r ro
In d
ia
Ce
yo
de
la
In
ro y
o de la
Río
d ia
M u er ta
Faro
14
Ar
15
Bañados de San Miguel
La Coronilla
Punta Rabotieso
available with trained guides and crew that provide accurate information during the trips. Uruguay strictly follows a code of good conduct, designed for safe sightings both for tourists and whales, and follows conservation practices procedures. The presence of theses mammals in our coastal waters increases every year, therefore there are very good chances of seeing them, but because they swim freely in the ocean, sightings are not assured. Uruguay is undoubtedly the country chosen by these friendly animals to find tranquility in our calm waters.
Cerro Verde
16
Embalse de la India Muerta
Laguna Merín
Six viewing platforms have been strategically located along the coast for whale and bird watching, an invitation to discover our territory’s biodiversity. It is not surprising to see right whales only a few meters away from the shore; visible even from the roads that run along the coast. It is also frequent to see Odontocetes (franciscanas, dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, porpoises, and false killer whales). Leaving from the ports of Punta del Este and La Paloma, cetaceanwatching boat excursions are
Playa La Moza Playa del Barco
Laguna Negra
13
Faro
13
Punta del Diablo
Montevideo
Rocha
9
Castillos
8
16
Lavalleja 15
109
Minas
Laguna de Castillos
Faro
10
Faro de Cabo Polonio
Rocha
39
15
12
Laguna de Rocha
Maldonado
60
93
Laguna Garzón
Laguna del Sauce
10
Piriápolis
Laguna José Ignacio
Maldonado
Punta Chileno
Punta del Este Faro
Isla Gorriti Faro Isla de Lobos
14
La Pedrera
La Paloma
9
9 10
Faro
Costa Azul
Faro
Faro Cabo Santa María
At
la
nt
ic
Oc
ea
n
Faro de José Ignacio
Viewpoints Other strategic marine fauna viewpoints 15
Watching seals and sea lions in their natural habitat is amazing.
Laguna Merín Punta Rabotieso
Punta Quiroga
Punta Gabito
Treinta y Tres
Punta Cebollatí
Cebollatí
8
S.O.S. Marine Fauna Rescue
93
Laguna José Ignacio
39
Maldonado Punta del Este
Isla Gorriti
o
San
Lu i s
Mu
er
ta
bo llatí
In d
ia
A r ro
yo
In
o de la
ro y
d ia
Muerta
Bañados de San Miguel
14
Ar
15
Embalse de la India Muerta
16
13
13
9
16
o Garzón
Rocha
There is restricted access to Isla de Lobos. Boat trips leaving from the port of Punta del Este are available for passengers to enjoy this outstanding experience.
Punta San Luis
Faro
Tourists will also be delighted to watch this natural wonder from solid ground. At the Punta del Este, Piriápolis, and La Paloma docks, Southern Faro Sea Lions can frequently be seen coming close to local fishermen who clean their catch and feed them the leftovers.
In Cabo Polonio, South American Fur Seals, mostly males, can easily be seen in front of the lighthouse, on the rocks next to the sea. Punta Colorada also offers many different activities. There are guided tours to S.O.S. Marine Fauna Rehabilitation and Rescue Center, where voluntary work and training workshops are available.
Cabo Polonio
15
Laguna de Rocha 9
Laguna Garzón
An unbeatable experience.
Punta Pelotas
Laguna Merín
Laguna de Castillos
15
A r ro y
io
n ac
Jos é I g
Laguna del Sauce Piriápolis
Río
10
Montevideo
o ta s
19
Arroyo
60
Arroyo de las Pel
Arroyo del Cei b
39
12
La Paloma 10
Faro
At
la
Oc ic nt
Faro
ea
n
Faro Faro
Isla de Lobos 16
Río C ebollatí
109
Minas
10
one of the largest populations of South American Fur Seals breed and live; on its north and east shores there are also adult and young Southern Sea Lions and Southern Elephant Seals. Ce Owners of 45 hectares of Río completely natural landscapes, mostly rocks and sandbanks, about 180.000 South American Fur Seals (Arctocephalus australis) share the territory with more than 7.000 Southern Sea Lions Laguna Negra (Otaria flavescens). An estimated 35.000 pups of the first species, and 1.000 of the latter,Castillos are born annually on the island. la
Among the seal species that visit our latitudes, the one that stands out is the Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonine) coming from breeding colonies in Argentina. It is the largest of the Pinnipeds. This enormous seal can be found on our beaches and also on some islands. Leopard Seals (Hydrurga leptonyx), Crabeater Seals (Lobodon carcinophagus), and Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) are also frequently seen, although not as much. Not far from the coast, there are several islands that conserve their natural values. On8 Isla de Lobos,
Sea Lions
Punta Magro
de
9
For over two centuries, until 1991, commercial exploitation of sea lions was carried out at Isla de Lobos and Cabo Polonio. Today, the protection, management, and conservation of all marine mammal species are included in the legislation.
Island regions where Pinnipeds live.
Southern Elephant Seal 17
Ce
b Río
Chuy Faro
Discovering sea turtles on Uruguayan shores is an astounding experience.
15
9
14 16
Laguna Negra
13
Isla Verde Isla Coronilla
Parque Nacional Santa Teresa Faro
Punta del Diablo
Montevideo
13
La Coronilla
Cerro Verde
Castillos 8
Leatherback Turtle Loggerhead Turtle
18
Laguna del Sauce
Piriápolis
yo Garzón
ce O ic
10
Faro
Maldonado
Río de la Plata
Punta del Este Isla Gorriti
Of the seven species of sea turtles, five can be found in Uruguayan waters. The Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is commonly seen on rocks and shores with abundant seaweed, their main food source. Young turtles with shell lengths of between 30 cm and 60 cm come to our shores. The Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) is found in coastal waters and further out to sea, where they prefer to eat mollusks and crustaceans. It is common to see immature and adult turtles with shells measuring 50cm - 110 cm in length. The Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a tropical species, that rarely can be found in uruguayan waters. Juvenile turtles can be found sporadically in coastal waters, with shells measuring 30 - 50cm. The Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivácea) is the smallest of the sea turtles. It feeds on mollusks and crustaceans; and out of the four species that live in our waters, this is definitely the most difficult to find.
Laguna José Ignacio
39
93
La Paloma Faro
Laguna Garzón 10
Turtle sighting areas
15
Arro
o
ac i
J os é I gn
9
Faro
Cabo Polonio
Laguna de Rocha 9
Arroyo
60
In accordance with international laws and treaties, our legislation protects these species in risk of extinction throughout our national territory and territorial sea. Uruguay fosters the conservation of sea turtles and the sustained development of communities, and invites you to enjoy the wonderful experience of watching them in their natural habitat.
10
Rocha
Valizas
nt
Rocha
39
12
Laguna de Castillos
la
109
At
9 15
Minas
an
16
Faro Faro Isla de Lobos
Green Turtle
The Lea t h er ba ck tu r t le (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest of all living sea turtles, growing to 2 mt in length. Adults weigh about 300 kg - 700 kg and feed primarily on jellyfish and other ocean drifters. During the summer months, Green turtles are sighted basking on rocks, mainly in Maldonado and Rocha. They come from Ascencion Island (United Kingdom), Surinam, Isla de Aves (Venezuela), Brazil, and Africa. With a good amount of patience they can be seen feeding. Research has found that the region of Cerro Verde in Rocha is their feeding and development habitat. Places such as Cabo Polonio, Valizas, Punta del Diablo, Santa Teresa, and Cerro Verde have high probability of sightings. The latter has a natural path that can be visited all year round. Access is from Ruta 9, km 314, entering the Parque Oceánico and walking 4 km
to Cerro Verde. Marine and coastal birds like American Oystercatchers, Terns, and Neotropic Cormorants, among many other, can be spotted along the way. If you carefully examine rocky areas, you will find stunningly beautiful seaweed and anemones. If you are lucky enough, you might also see the bottlenose dolphins riding the waves. Once you reach Cerro Verde you will find natural viewpoints where you can watch the Green turtles. Guides from the Sea Turtle Center are available to accompany you along this path during weekends in high season (December - March). It is important to book in advance. 19
More information AVESURUGUAY/G.U.P.E.C.A. Canelones 1164 - Montevideo
Tel.: (598) 2902 8642 e-mail: gupeca@adinet.com.uy Web: www.avesuruguay.org.uy
Birdlife International
Web: www.birdlife.net
Proyecto Ballena Franca/OCC
Tel.: (598) 4479 8318 Cel.: (598) 99 124144 e-mail: info@ballenafranca.org Web: www.ballenafranca.org
(Cetacean Conservation Organization) La Paloma - Rocha
International Fund for Animal Welfare - IFAW
Web: www.ifaw.org
Proyecto Karumbé
Cel.: (598) 098 614 201 e-mail: karumbemail@gmail.com Web: www.karumbe.8k.com
Av. Rivera 3245 Montevideo
SOS Rescate de Fauna Marina (SOS Marine Fauna Rescue) Ruta 10 Costanera - Bahía Delfín Punta Colorada - Maldonado
Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca (MGAP) (Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries)
A.C.U.O.
Tel.: (598) 4432 7244 Cel.: (598) 94 330795 e-mail: sos-faunamarina@adinet.com.uy Web: www.sos.elacuarista.com DINARA Web: www.dinara.gub.uy RENARE Web: www.mgap.gub.uy/renare/areasprotegidasyfauna/fauna Tel.: (598) 2525 9565 e-mail: acuo@adinet.com.uy
(Uruguayan Association for the Conservation of Ornithology)
REPÚBLICA ORIENTAL DEL URUGUAY Area
176.215 km2
Population
3.314.466 inhabitants
Capital
Montevideo
Official language
Spanish
Currency
Uruguayan Peso
Temperature
Winter 6º/17º C
Summer 21º/28º C
Rambla 25 de Agosto de 1825 y Yacaré | Tel.: 00 (598 2) 1885100 Montevideo, Uruguay
www.uruguaynatural.com | www.uruguaynatural.tv uruguaynatural.fb | uruguay_natural For more information and downloadable maps visit: www.uruguaynatural.com
Photographs and texts: AVESURUGUAY / G.U.P.E.C.A. (Agustín Carriquiry, Walter Pérez, Adrián Stagi, Juan J. Culasso y Pilar Reimondo), Lic. Alberto Ponce de León, DINARA- MGAP, Dr. Jorge Cravino, RENARE - MGAP, Proyecto Karumbé (Alejandro Fallabrino), Proyecto Ballena Franca - OCC (Rodrigo García y Martín Gutiérrez), SOS Rescate de Fauna Marina (Julio Etchart), Martín Rodríguez, A.C.U.O. - Asociación Conservacionista Uruguaya de Ornitología (Gabriel Rocha), Revista Gente, Archivo Fotográfico Ministerio de Turismo y Deporte. This material is to take away | Octubre 2012