Multisource data reveals relevant trends in a Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis population at an important coastal wetland of Southern Brazil: implications for conservation and planning

Abstract

The Lagoa do Peixe National Park is one of the most important wetlands in southern Brazil, serving as a contranuptial or breeding site for several species of birds, including the Chilean Flamingo. Despite being the only area where Chilean Flamingo can be seen all year round, the population dynamics of the species in the area is still poorly known. To fill this gap, we reunite populational data from three different sources: literature, fieldwork census, and citizen science data. We use Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to detect population trends over the years and within the years. The most significant models reveal that the number of Chilean Flamingos in the park decreased from the 1970s until the early 2000s, stabilizing after 2010. During the year, the dynamic of Chilean Flamingo match the dynamics of other contranuptial colonies, with an increase in individuals during winter and early spring and a reduced number from December to May. We discuss how these trends can reflect general populational trends for the species across its distribution, but also changes in the conservation and management administration in the park. We also discuss how the demographic knowledge of Chilean Flamingos in the area can be affected by ongoing activities at Lagoa do Peixe, mainly the artificial opening of the lagoon, shrimp farming, fishing, and tourism, recommending further actions that consider the flamingos in the park and maintain a healthy relationship between human activities and bird conservation.