Authors: PhD. Joaquín Aldabe, PhD. Nicolás Marchand, and Eng. Santiago Medina
The “Migratory Birds and Ranching” Program, promoted in Uruguay by the Fundación Lagunas Costeras, the CURE of the University of the Republic, and the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN), aims to create the necessary habitat conditions for grassland shorebirds. To achieve this, we promote cattle grazing management as the primary tool. Livestock producers host these birds, providing them with suitable conditions when they return to the South every austral spring after their arduous annual migrations covering 9,942 miles.
In the Eastern region of Uruguay lies the coastal lagoon landscape. This system comprises Laguna de José Ignacio, Laguna Garzón, Laguna de Rocha (WHSRN site), Laguna de Castillos, and Laguna Merín, all located along the Atlantic Ocean. These lagoons cover approximately 247,100 acres of potential habitat for grassland shorebirds within a broader landscape of almost 2,5 million acres. The “Migratory Birds and Ranching” program identified potential areas for grassland shorebirds, finding that most are on private and productive lands (predominantly cattle systems). Once the producers responsible for managing the grasslands in these areas were identified, an intense and rich interaction with them began. As a result, 17 formal cooperation agreements were established with producers who manage about 17,297 acres distributed along the five main lagoons that make up the coastal lagoon landscape of Uruguay.
Left: Group of Ranchers getting ready for birdwatching during the field day. Photo: Atenea Colectivo Films. Right: Entrance sign at Laguna de Rocha WHSRN Site. Photo: Veronika Beyhaut
With the perspective of improving production while respecting natural limits (ecological intensification) through collaborative work with producers (co-innovation), the goal is to implement practices that enhance agricultural production efficiency on each property and the conservation of migratory bird habitats. By managing grazing, the grass height can be kept below 6 centimeters in the areas where the birds congregate from early October to mid-February. This grass height is optimal for these birds to detect arthropods and other invertebrates, which are the basis of their diet. Each producer committed to maintaining this grass height through grazing management in the low areas surrounding the lagoons, the areas most used by the birds. In other areas of the property, higher grass heights are promoted, including reserving standing forage for the winter months when grass growth is practically nil.
Exchange of Experiences
The Coastal Lagoon Producers Network promotes the exchange of experiences among producers during field days on different properties implementing actions; it fosters the transfer of good practices that benefit both bird habitats and agricultural production. It is important to mention that the 17 producers are members of two rural organizations in the area, with around 330 members in the region. Members of the rural organizations who are not yet part of the lagoon producers’ network have shown great interest in the program and have requested to participate in the field days. This indicates that a broader audience is indirectly receiving new ideas and knowledge about birds and conservation and, in the future, could join the Coastal Lagoon Producers Network.
Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Photo: Brad Winn.
On April 20, 2024, the first field day of the year was held at two family cattle ranches implementing projects at Laguna de Castillos. With about 25 participants, the properties “Mis Abuelos” and “Tierra de los Abuelos” were visited. On both properties, the recommendation was to keep the grass short by adjusting the cattle load in the lowlandsbetween October and February. This also optimizes the forage used by the cattle before the lagoon flooding removes that forage.
Subsequent grass height measurements showed that the low fields’ height always remained below 6 cm in both properties. The season was quite rainy (which favored grass growth), and with the specific management implementations, the shorebird habitat can be suitable. Moreover, the cattle’s body condition was very good, suggesting that it is possible to produce well and conserve.
On May 18, 2024, the second field day was held at the “3 Juanes” family cattle ranch at the WHSRN site Laguna de Rocha. Thirty people learned of a system of subdivisions to utilize natural and exotic pastures in high areas and the ecological restoration of parts of the property invaded by exotic pastures, common in many lagoons. The group included visitors from Argentina’s WHSRN site Laguna Mar Chiquita, Córdoba. Ecological restoration involves intense grazing for short periods in the invaded paddocks, avoiding cattle selection (inducing cattle to eat all grass species equally), and leaving exclusion periods to recover and reproduce native species (the most grazed when cattle can select) to give them a greater chance to thrive and regain ground.
On both field days, booklets with images of grassland shorebirds of the coastal lagoons and binoculars were distributed to participants to identify, record, and distinguish the habitats of different bird species and to discuss them in a final exchange round.
All the participants found the field days highly valued and productive. One producer noted, “At the first meetings, we greeted each other with a distant handshake; today, we hugged each other. It’s nice to feel part of this group!” The need for such exchanges was highlighted as they strengthen and motivate producers to continue incorporating knowledge and practices beneficial to their productive establishments and the surrounding environment.
For more information on the “Migratory Birds and Ranching” Program click here
Cover Photo: Aerial view of Laguna de Rocha WSHRN Site. Photo: Héctor Caymaris.
