Highly variable movements by Andean Flamingos ( Phoenicoparrus andinus ): implications for conservation and management

Abstract

The Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) is endemic to the central Andes Mountains, with the majority of the population distributed between Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. It is the rarest of the six flamingo species on the planet and is one of the least studied flamingos. Little information exists about its annual cycle, including which wetlands individual Andean Flamingos use at different times of year, posing an obstacle to developing effective conservation planning for its populations. In 2020 and 2022, we attached GPS-enabled satellite transmitters to four Andean Flamingos in northwestern Argentina, tracking their movements throughout the year to provide an initial assessment of their movement patterns, including timing, rate, and distances of movements between wetlands. We found highly variable movement patterns between individual flamingos. After the breeding season, which they spend at high elevations, some flamingos moved northwards to overwinter in the central Andes of Bolivia, whereas others moved south to overwinter near sea level in the lowlands of central Argentina. All tracked flamingos moved rapidly between wetlands, some of which were used by multiple flamingos. One flamingo visited sites in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile during one annual cycle, highlighting the need for international conservation cooperation. Given the growing threats to this species, including climate change and a recent, rapid increase in lithium mining, we call for further research on this and other flamingo species in the Andes.