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The Diademed Sandpiper-Plover is
resident in one of the world's strangest shorebird habitats. These
photos were taken at an altitude of 4800 metres (15748 ft) in the
Peruvian Andes, South America on 2 November 2014. This unusual and
rare shorebird was the highlight of my recent trip to Peru. Our
guides: Alejandro Tello, Alex Durand and David Beadle. |
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The Diademed Sandpiper-Plover is
probably naturally rare because of limited habitat in the harsh
climate at high altitude. Its estimated population is less than
10,000 and declining. It is poorly known, yet widely dispersed in
the Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. It isn't globally
threatened but is considered near threatened (Birdlife
International). Conservation efforts may be needed to protect bogs
where it lives. We saw boggy areas with peat strips cut out. It may
also be necessary to prevent other intrusions into the breeding
habitat. |
