New and noteworthy waterfowl records at artificial wetlands from Baja California Sur, Mexico

Abstract

We present 9 recent records of rare waterfowls in Baja California Sur, all of them in artificial wetlands: 3 freshwater sites and 1 concentration area for a saltworks. We present the first records of the Rosss Goose in the state. The remaining 8 species are: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (breeding), Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Greater Whitefronted Goose, Snow Goose, Cackling Goose, Tundra Swan, Mallard and Hooded Merganser. To this list we added an historical compilation of the records of these species in artificial sites of the state. The artificial wetlands are no replacement for their natural counterparts, they are nevertheless an important part of the region's landscape mosaic. As the records of the present work exemplify, this man-made habitat increases the regional species richness, and should be considered as important areas that need to be protected.