On October 30th, Aves Argentinas, a member of BirdLife International, hosted a lively conversation in Buenos Aires about Deborah Cramer’s award-winning book, Volando a orillas del mar: el viaje épico de un ave playera que une continentes, the brand new Spanish edition of The Narrow Edge, published for distribution in South America by Vázquez Mazzini Editores.
In the book, the author accompanies an endangered shorebird species during its extraordinary migration from the southernmost tip of South America to the frozen tundra of the Arctic – a moving narrative that brilliantly combines the life of the Red Knot with the story of the many people across the Americas dedicated to giving these birds safe passage.
Left: The flyer for the event at AvesArgentinas. Right: A Red Knot and horseshoe crabs read Volando a orillas del mar, the new Spanish edition of The Narrow Edge by Deborah Cramer. Images courtesy of Deborah Cramer.
Deborah defied time zones to join the event by Skype from Zurich. And Patricia González, of Fundación Inalafquen and the International Conservation Fund of Canada, presented Volando to an enthusiastic audience, weaving Deborah’s firsthand accounts following the Red Knot’s epic journey with her own research, conservation work, and field experiences, the struggles and accomplishments of WHSRN partners protecting shorebirds along the flyway, and the in-depth story behind the book’s Spanish translation.
“I was thrilled to join the conversation by Skype, be with everyone in spirit, and answer questions during the discussion,” wrote Deborah. “I am sorry that I couldn’t be in Buenos Aires, but can think of no better person to present Volando in Argentina than Patricia. She knows the birds, the flyway, and the issues, and she was a critical part of the book and the translation. I loved our ‘team effort’ for this talk and look forward to joining her again.”
Since most of us couldn’t be there either, the WHSRN Executive Office asked Patricia González and two members of the audience to share their reflections on the event and how conversations inspired by Deborah’s book can motivate continued collaboration and conservation action for Red Knots and other shorebirds.
Left: Patricia presents Volando a orillas del mar during the event at AvesArgentinas. Photo: Mirta Carbajal. Right: Deborah takes careful notes for her book as Patricia explains her Red Knot research. Photo courtesy of Deborah Cramer.
“The night before this presentation, at the closing ceremony of the 8th Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group Meeting in Panama, I gave Volando, as part of the Lew Oring Award, to Roberto Carmona, a Mexican researcher whom I admire. And this is how I began my own journey ‘Volando’* back to Argentina to land in Buenos Aires on the same day as my presentation at Aves Argentinas.
Upon arriving, and entering through a hallway decorated with infographics and shorebirds designed by Rocío Landívar for our Shorebird Festival in Bahía de San Antonio, I was greeted with two joyful surprises: seeing the renowned naturalist Marcelo Canevari, the brother of Pablo Canevari, who introduced me to the world of shorebirds many years ago, and meeting the naturalist and photographer Alec Earnshaw in person for the first time – in 2014, he photographed the famous Red Knot Moonbird B95 without realizing it! And his photo was part of Deborah’s presentation.
With Deborah’s virtual presence, I felt as if we were together as part of the same flock! I couldn’t help but be moved at the end, remembering words quoted in Volando from Maria Belén Pérez of Eco Huellas (Ecological Footprints), a teen conservation group based in Río Negro, Argentina: “…to have a Red Knot in my hands is to feel the heart of the earth beating.” Because without a doubt, that is my feeling too.
I was grateful for the many comments received at the end of the presentation, mostly highlighting the intersection between science and emotions. Later, several people who attended the talk gathered for dinner – much like a flock of Red Knots – and we shared our concerns, reflections, and hopes for shorebird conservation.
– Patricia González
*“Volando” means “flying” in Spanish
Río Grande, Argentina, 27 January 2014. Alec Earnshaw didn’t realize he was looking at the famous B95 when he took this photo – the Red Knot nicknamed “Moonbird” for flying farther than the distance between the earth and the moon during his life of at least 22 years. He couldn’t read the inscription on the flag because it was worn with age, but he sent the picture to Mirta Carbajal who had a suspicion and forwarded it to Patricia González. When she saw the photo, she knew without a doubt that this was B95. “The bands identify it,” she said, “especially the black band, which we put on the bird on February 20th, 1995 in Río Grande, Argentina. We made them by hand back then by cutting a black flag, which is why it has a small overhang (hard to see in this photo). We only used these bands on Red Knots during that capture and never again. A few months after Alec took this photo, when B95 arrived to Delaware Bay it had lost this black band!” Photo: Alec Earnshaw.
“That day, many partners of Aves Argentinas had the privilege of traveling with Patricia and Deborah to accompany the flight of the Red Knots, learning new facts about the protagonist of this impressive epic. Patricia’s kindness and deep knowledge of the species captured the full attention of everyone present. At the end of the talk, we had the joy of seeing and hearing Deborah via Skype. I hope that this book, which I continue to recommend, will become a powerful ally in awakening an awareness of the new and tremendous challenges faced by this small hero, whose population is shrinking year after year due to the profound damage humankind is causing to our planet.”
– Naturalist Marcelo Canevari, brother of Pablo Canevari, Manomet’s first director of the WHSRN Executive Office who is remembered for his dedication, extraordinary enthusiasm, and personal and professional commitment to shorebird conservation in the Americas.
Left: On April 9th, 2019, Patricia Gonzalez was thrilled to see a Red Knot that had been banded twenty years ago at the Natural Protected Area Bahía de San Antonio. It is a bird as exceptional as Moonbird B95, who we know lived at least 22 years. Photographer Fabían Pinasco proposed to find this bird, SAO98, and managed to capture this image of the bird in flight! Photo: Fabian Pinasco. Right: A sign that says “We are All Shorebirds” in Las Grutas, Argentina. Photo: Rocío Landívar.
“In her very personal style, and of course with her mastery of the topic, Patricia delightfully walked us through the slideshow presentation, illustrated with wonderful photos. It was a great feeling to know that the author herself was also present, through Skype. With the slideshow over, Deborah took center stage to tell us how she researched for the book, and her experiences visiting such extreme parts of the world.
While most of us who attended the talk are birders that flock to Aves Argentinas’ weekly meeting every Wednesday, we also pride ourselves in having a serious interest, and a conservationist’s concern, for a wider cross section of nature. So it was great to learn about the mysterious horseshoe crab, and of the positive impact the book has had in averting this ancient species from disappearing. The interest and questions posed to Deborah would have extended further, were it not for the audience’s concern that on other side of the video link it was about 3 am! So we wrapped up with a round of applause for Patricia and for Deborah, wishing her much success in her future projects.”
– Alec Earnshaw, Naturalist and Creator of www.fotosaves.com.ar
To purchase your copy of
Volando a las orillas del mar:
In South America: buy directly from Vázquez Mazzini Editores. Free shipping within Argentina.
If you are in Argentina, you can also get the book from WHSRN partners Aves Argentinas (Buenos Aires) or Fundación Inalafquen (San Antonio Oeste)
In the United States: Buteo Books in Arlington, Virginia is distributing Volando in the United States.
Cover Photo: A flock of Red Knots in the Bahía de San Antonio Natural Protected Area in Argentina, April 2019. Photo: Fabian Pinasco.
