We didn’t know much about the shorebirds of the Santa Alejandra Salt Flats, in Honduras. In the Salt production facility we see them in the lagoons and enjoy photographing them and finding their nests, but beyond this we knew little else. Thanks to a visit from a friend and member of Honduran Ornithology Association (ASHO, Asociación Hondureña de Ornitología) in 2012, we discovered the first nesting area of the Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia) as well as the first colony of the nesting Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus).
This was our first experience with shorebirds and from then on the curiosity to understand more about these birds grew. Occasionally, we would carry out random monitoring of the birds. From 2012 to 2013 we found between seven to ten nests with a maximum of three eggs. Every discovery was exciting and it became even more so when we began to see the first chicks. We soon understood that the Salt Flats were an important breeding site for these little shorebirds.
Left: An adult of Wilson’s Plover at Salinera Santa Alejandra, Honduras. Right: One Wilson’s Plover chick. Photos: Julia Salazar.
As we became more involved, we began to undertake new conservation projects in an attempt to protect the areas within the Salt Flats where the birds nest. However, we encountered a number of obstacles that made it impossible to carry out the regular annual monitoring required to collect high quality data. Despite these difficulties, it is a project that we are trying to relaunch. This year we recorded far fewer Wilson’s Plover compared to our results from 2013 when the first official count was performed and we recorded the maximum number of nests and eggs. We still need to understand more about the seasonality of when the birds arrive at the Salt Flats and this year the global pandemic means we might miss the most important months as we won’t be able to travel when planned.
We hope to continue monitoring the nests and to install cameras in order to understand potential best practices to help ensure that these birds breed successfully at the Salt Flats.
Left: Searching for shorebirds nests. Right: Wilson’s Plover eggs. Photos: Julia Salazar.
Part of this initiative includes employees of the Salt Flats in the monitoring and search for nests. Participating in the research, raises awareness about the importance of protecting the bird and avoiding disturbing them. It can also also provide an opportunity to provide additional work during the winter season when salt is not produced.
By Plover Appreciation Day (16 September) next year we hope our nest cameras will allow us to celebrate this day with photos, videos, and interesting news about our discoveries
Cover Photo: Wilson’s plovers at Salinera Santa Alejandra, Honduras. Photo: Julia Salazar.
