Laguna Mar Chiquita, a WHSRN Site of Hemispheric Importance, recently witnessed a groundbreaking achievement in shorebird conservation. An international team of researchers successfully deployed eight radio-transmitters on individuals of Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) in their non-breeding grounds—a significant first in South America after many years of unsuccessful attempts. This milestone is part of a larger collaborative effort to study and protect this species, whose populations face growing challenges due to habitat degradation.
The operation began with field surveys to understand the behavior and flock dynamics of Wilson’s Phalarope at the lagoon. The researchers dedicated a month to conducting visual assessments of the species flocks and reviewing previous analyses of the Wilson’s Phalarope region occupancy in the last five years. Radio transmitters were fitted to individuals to track their migratory movements, shedding light on critical stopover sites across the Western Hemisphere. These data will enhance conservation strategies for the species and inform the protection of saline lakes, a vital habitat for the Wilson’s Phalarope that has been increasingly threatened by water level declines and salinity fluctuation.
Conservation efforts for Wilson’s Phalarope in Mar Chiquita, started long before these captures. Marcela Castellino began ground-based surveys and habitat studies in 2013, initially funded by National Audubon and private donors, and she continued to work with the species as part of a PhD project until 2019, with support from Tracy Aviary, CONICET and other donors. Between 2016 and 2019, she conducted capture efforts, surveys, and research on the foraging ecology of the species. In 2019, Marcela joined the WHSRN-Manomet team and established collaborations with Aves Argentinas and Natura Argentina to conduct aerial surveys on the site. Given that phalaropes are long-distance migratory birds, efforts also focused on developing and strengthening international connections with key sites for the species, primarily in the United States and Canada. As a result of these collaborations, since 2023, Manomet, together with Oikonos and ECCC, has been coordinating efforts to study Wilson’s Phalarope movements. In 2024, an NMBCA grant was secured to survey and monitor Wilson’s Phalarope movement within and among sites and install MOTUS receiver stations. This project is conducted in partnership with Fundación Líderes de Ansenuza (FLA), University of Connecticut (UConn), Oikonos Ecosystem of Knowledge, Environmental and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), University of Saskatchewan (USak), Thomson Rivers University.
The first Phalarope ever tagged in South America’s history, released on the shores of Laguna Mar Chiquita. The NanoTags enable researchers to study migration and stopover ecology using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System.
The team has been working on installing MOTUS wildlife tracking towers around Laguna Mar Chiquita. The MOTUS system, a collaborative international network of automated telemetry stations, detects radio signals from tagged wildlife, including birds, bats, and insects within an 11-mile radius. This innovative technology allows researchers to monitor animal movements across vast landscapes and is a powerful tool for advancing conservation science. These efforts are being led by Pablo Gigy Gregoret, the newest member of Manomet’s Flyways team, who is following in the footsteps of Marcela and working in close collaboration with her. This achievement marks a continuation of the legacy of dedication to shorebird conservation at Mar Chiquita. Pablo described the experience: “This historic step in the study of Wilson’s Phalarope signifies the genuine connections between work groups from different regions and cultures with shared goals. Working on species conservation in this context is truly inspiring and is reflected in every flock that flies over our saline lakes“.
The project was made possible through funding from the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) and the U.S. Forest Service, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada and Tracy Aviary’s Conservation Fund. The fieldwork was carried out by a diverse team comprising staff from Manomet Conservation Sciences, researchers from CONICET’s Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, a researcher from Thompson Rivers University, students from Weber State University, and outstanding participants from Fundación Líderes de Ansenuza’s Conservation Academy.
The research team placed the mist nets, one of the techniques used to capture Phalaropes. Photo: Pablo Gigy Gregoret
The campaign consists of extended periods in the field with a technical-scientific camp set up, where specialists work. Photos: left – Ezequiel Vivas and right – Pablo Gigy Gregoret.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to address pressing conservation challenges for the Wilson’s Phalarope and saline lakes throughout the Americas. These lakes form a network of irreplaceable habitats critical to hundreds of thousands of individuals of Wilson’s Phalarope during their annual cycles. However, the species faces declining population trends at both local and hemispheric scales, underscoring the urgent need for data-driven conservation actions.
The project’s objectives are ambitious but necessary:
- Assess migratory ecology by tagging 50 phalaropes at multiple sites and installing six MOTUS stations.
- Monitor population size and trends through surveys in North and South America.
- Increase public knowledge and appreciation for Wilson’s Phalarope and saline lakes via expanded educational curricula and community engagement events.
- Build capacity through international exchanges and technical training for local managers and researchers.
The work at Laguna Mar Chiquita highlights the power of collaboration and innovation in tackling the complex challenges of ensuring the conservation of this long-distance migrant. By combining cutting-edge technology with international partnerships, this project is paving the way for a brighter future for Wilson’s Phalarope and the vital ecosystems they depend on.
More efforts to tag individuals of Wilson’s phalarope will be made during 2025 both in Chaplin Lake (Canada) and Mono Lake (USA), where researchers aim to deploy 15 new tags at each site. Increasing the number of tags deployed is crucial to gather new information about the species’ movements at the site, regional and hemispheric scale. By increasing knowledge about habitat use, migratory connectivity and migratory ecology of species, we will be able to identify priority sites and actions and design and implement conservation actions specifically targeted for the species, increasing our conservation outcomes.
Specifically, there is a need to:
- Research breeding and staging ecology, migration routes, and migratory connectivity in Wilson’s Phalarope;
- Investigate the “wintering” (“stationary” non-breeding season) ecology of Wilson’s Phalarope at key sites in South America.
Together with local partners, Manomet’s Flyways team and WHSRN’s Executive Office will continue to work to fill critical information gaps regarding the migration ecology, stopover ecology and site-based ecology (breeding and non-breeding) of Wilson’s Phalarope throughout its distribution, identifying key sites for the species and generating information that can help inform management decisions for the conservation of this species.
For more information about the work with Wilson’s Phalarope in Laguna Mar Chiquita, contact Pablo Gigy Gregoret
Cover Photo: A group of Wilson’s Phalarope in non-breeding plumage. Photo: Tetsu Esposito.
