Project Flamingo

AIM: ”To document photographically the Flamingo's in the Altiplano of South America in light of developing ecotourism, increasingmining pressure and historical hunting"

Expedition timing
The current proposed expedition dates are 9th April – 20th May 2006 which coincides with the autumn on the Altiplano. During this period minimal impact will be had on any breeding behaviour of the Flamingos as the majority of chicks will nearly be fledged. The expedition will be in the field for 6 weeks with approximately 5 weeks on location.

South American Flamingo Conservation
There are four species of flamingo (Family Phoenicopteridae) in the New world; the Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber), the Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), the Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) and the James Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi). The former is only found in the area surrounding the Gulf of Mexico and the Carribean Sea. The remaining three species are found in the Andean Altiplano in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. Both the Chilean and James’s flamingo are considered threatened and are classified on the IUCN red list as “Near Threatened (NT)” species and the Andean Flamingo is considered as “Vulnerable (VU)”.

Flamingos inhabit the high altitude saline lakes feeding on microscopic crustaceans that thrive in the hostile water conditions. James Flamingos and Andean Flamingos are believed to have only three key breeding colonies in the altiplano surrounding the tri-national border of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. This tri-national area contains three key reserves protecting flamingo species including the Vilama Reserve in Argentina, the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa in Bolivia, and the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos in Chile, which protects the area of highest conservation value for James and Andean flamingos.

Threats to flamingo species include reduction of water level of the saline lakes they inhabit in order to provide water for irrigation and drinking, mining that destroys habitats and pollutes the water systems and disturbance through increasing tourism. There is also a historical legacy of hunting by the inhabitants of the Altiplano who utilise Flamingo flesh and eggs as a part of their diet, although it is not known how much this still occurs or impacts on the flamingo populations.

Laguna Colorada in the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa in Bolivia is “by far the most important site in South America for James’” flamingos (Flamingo Specialist Group, 1998) It is now guarded, to prevent disturbance by the ten thousand visitors the region receives each year however the guards of the region cannot afford to buy fuel for their vehicles. This is one example of the kind of location I would aim to visit.

Photography as a conservation tool
Images are powerful tools in modern conservation and often persuade individuals more than the thousand words they represent. The aim of this project is to document both the positive steps made to protect the species and their habitats, and negative areas where these measures have failed or are missing altogether. Examples of the former include monitoring & banding of chicks at Laguna Colorada in Bolivia, and release of captivity bred Flamingos at the Salar de Atacama in Chile. Examples of the later include illegal dumping of pesticides and egg collecting at Mar Chiquita in Argentina and lack of resources for Reserve guards at Laguna Colorada in Bolivia.

The images taken on the expedition will be offered for use to local NGO’s international NGO’s and other specialist bodies to promote their causes and to draw attention to the issues still being faced by Flamingos of the Altiplano. Follow up articles and an exhibition in the UK will aid in educating public opinion and allowing people the opportunity to understand the delicate balance of life on the Altiplano and the beauty of this part of the world. The intention is also to assist these conservation bodies by providing images that can be used as an educational resource.

Host country collaboration & international partnerships
The expedition aims to work closely with the host countries involved and this will be developed further as the expedition planning progresses. The Flamingo Specialist Group (FSG – a global network of flamingo specialists) which is coordinated by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) as part of the specialist group network of Wetlands International (formerly IWRB), and the IUCN Species Survival Commission has a number of regional experts in the countries of interest and discussions are being held to develop this project. This expedition is working closely with these organizations to ensure maximum benefit from the work being carried out.

Within the host country local guides will be utilized for their expert local knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting flamingos regionally. Where the expedition is working within National Parks or Reserves the intention is to liaise closely with the park officials and guards to ensure minimum adverse impact. The regional group for the conservation of high Andes Flamingos (Grupo para la Conservacion de los Flamencos Altoandinos) is a key organization to be included within this study. As mentioned previously it is hoped the results of this work can be utilised by these groups.

Personal Experience
Niall has been passionately pursuing his love of photography for the last six years. As a young photographer he developed his skills and experience and so far has been published in a number of magazines (Practical Photography, Outdoor Photography, Birdwatching Magazine), and is represented by the Sylvia Cordaiy picture library, UPPA (Universal Pictorial Press Agency) and Alamy.com. Niall’s images have been printed as postcards, in the Travel Photographer of the Year book “Journey One” and most recently he reached the final round of judging in The Eric Hosking award of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2005 and achieved a 9th and a 21st in Travel Photographer of the Year.

He favours 35mm Canon film equipment for his photography and uses lenses ranging from 24mm-300mm with Fuji or Kodak slide film. He also utilises specialist equipment such as extension tubes, tele-converters, flashes and neutral density filters where required.

Niall’s skills as an active volunteer with the RSPB (Black throated diver monitoring, Caithness, Mammal surveys, Oxfordshire), BTO (Nest monitoring) will aid him in tackling the challenges presented by this project. Niall has written and maintains his own website (www.lyonimages.co.uk) where more of his images can be seen. A separate expedition website will be set up in due course to further the aims of this project.

He has travelled in South America previously in 2003 visiting Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. During this trip he travelled through the Altiplano of Bolivia and was captivated by its stunning beauty and unusual inhabitants. In the region surrounding Laguna Colorada in Bolivia he saw Vicuña, Andean foxes, Viscacha as well as the three species of Flamingo. Due to this visit he already has contacts in the region and speaks Spanish to a conversational level. Therefore his experiences match the skills he will require to complete this expedition successfully.

Expedition logistics
The expedition team will consist of two individuals; Niall Riddell and a local guide where applicable. Prior to departing to the field destination, background research will be carried out in the UK to identify the best study sites to visit. It is proposed that this is carried out in conjunction with Flamingo specialists (possibly those at the WWT Slimbridge) and this phase could potentially include images showing captive breeding and other conservation efforts in the UK

International flights will be taken to Buenos Aires and on to Salta. Local transport will then be utilised to reach the study site and if necessary private hire vehicles will be used to get to the specific locations especially where these are less accessible. Arrangements will be made with National Park or Reserve authorities for extended visits or transport if required. It is likely that of the intended six weeks in the field a few days will be spent making contact with local authorities and experts. The language of the expedition in the field will be Spanish however it is expected that in more remote areas other local languages may be spoken.

The main area of interest at this stage in the planning is the trinational area which includes the Vilama Reserve in Argentina, the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa in Bolivia, and the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos in Chile. Additionally the areas of Mar Chiquita and Laguna Pozuelos, in Argentina, and Lago Poopo -Uru-Uru in Bolivia will be considered at this stage in the planning.

During these periods a local guide or National Park/Reserve guard will be employed to assist with finding the best photographic locations and assisting with local logistics. Where possible local accommodation will be sought and this will provide for opportunities to interact with local populations and establish and photograph their attitude toward resident flamingo populations. During visits to areas of mining or habitat destruction extra care will be taken due to the sensitive nature of the project.

A provisional picture list includes the following subjects but it should be noted that this is optimistic and depends on the specific situations encountered.