Council is pleased to announce six new Conservation Awards.

Population assessment of White-collared Kite

Sergio Seipke et al. were awarded the US$1,350 Swarovski–NBC Award. The team searched in coastal Alagoas and Pernambuco, Brazil, for Whitecollared Kite Leptodon forbesi a species known only from two specimens and a few undocumented sightings, and Critically Endangered. The team aimed to find the species and document its presence with photographs and/or soundrecordings, identify forest remnants where the species still occurs, its breeding areas and assess the minimum population size. They will write articles for local newspapers, to raise awareness of their work, and also plan to produce a conservation briefing for use by NGOs, as well as seeking necessary funding for further conservation work. The team found a total of c.20 pairs, at a number of locations. Its only congener, Grey-headed Kite L. cayanensis, was observed in at least one of the same locations.

Distribution of Colourful Puffleg in the West Andes of Colombia

Juan Pablo López Ordóñez et al. have been awarded US$1,350 to determine the current and potential range of the Colourful Puffleg Eriocnemis mirabilis in the West Andes of Colombia. Until recently, this Critically Endangered species was known solely from Swarovski Natural Reserve, in Parque Natural Nacional Munchique, but has now been found 20 km away at a site with the same habitat and very steep terrain as the type locality. The team will survey other sites with these characteristics in the West Andes. At each, they will record potential threats and habitat state (which in many areas is severely affected by deforestation). These data will be used to identify conservation priorities for the species.

Bird monitoring in forest fragments in the West Andes of Colombia Council awarded Carlos Mario Wagner and Asociación Río Cali US$650 to design and print a leaflet promoting the ‘San Antonio cloud forest— Km 18’ Important Bird Area (IBA) in dpto. Valle de Cauca, Colombia. The project team will also strengthen the monitoring programme for birds at the site. The leaflet will focus on Multicoloured Tanager Chlorochrysa nitidissima, a Vulnerable species used as the emblem for the IBA.

Conservation of Ruddy-necked Goose in Argentina NBC Council has awarded Daniel MacLean US$1,000 for his work on Ruddy-necked Goose Chloephaga rubidiceps on its wintering grounds in southern Buenos Aires. His project includes an awareness-raising element, producing leaflets on identifying other Chloephaga geese, running participative educational campaigns and workshops, and encouraging local businesses to use logos and photographs of the species. He will undertake a census and investigate the species’ use of fields and waterbodies, and organise a survey of farmers and growers. In addition, Daniel will address immediate threats by distributing the legislation that protects the species in Argentina, by organising training for the local police force. Ruddy-necked Goose is not globally threatened due to the large population on the Falklands, but the mainland population would otherwise be considered Endangered or Critically Endangered. Council has rejected project proposals on the species on the past, but felt that this project was quite exceptional, and is being undertaken by an experienced biologist, making it of sufficient priority to merit an award.

Status of Apolinar’s Wren in El Cocuy National Nature Park, Colombia

Francisco Javier Cortes et al. have been awarded US$900 for their project on the páramo forest population of Apolinar’s Wren Cistothorus apolinari in Colombia. They will map the range of this Endangered species in El Cocuy National Park, assess its population and habitat use in the park, identify potential threats, and encourage local communities to become involved in the species’ conservation, through environmental education and distributing relevant literature and a calendar.

Chestnut Seedeater in Rio Grande do Sul: ecology and identification of priority sites for conservation

Council awarded Dra. Marilise Mendonça Krügel US$900 to map the distribution of Chestnut Seedeater Sporophila cinnamomea in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and to investigate its status and biology. Marilise will search for new sites for this Vulnerable species, but will focus on a population recently discovered on two fazendas. She is conducting an awareness-raising campaign among landowners, following discussions with the owners of the two sites. The seedeaters are dependent on capinzais—dense areas of taller grass or rushes in open pastures or marshy depressions. The education campaign focuses on protecting these areas from drainage, burning, cultivation, replacement with non-native grasses and forestation with Eucalyptus. A range of Vulnerable and Near-Threatened species present in the area will also benefit, including Marsh S. palustris and Entre Rios Seedeaters S. zelichi, Sharp-tailed Tyrant Culicivora caudacuta, Saffron-cowled Blackbird Xanthopsar flavus and Bearded Tachuri Polystictus pectoralis.

Conservation of birds in the Laguna de Castillos, Uruguay

Carlos Calimares was awarded US$1,050 to undertake his community-based project at Laguna de Castillos in the Bañados del Este Man & Biosphere Reserve, Uruguay. Laguna de Castillos harbours several thousand Coscoroba Coscoroba coscoroba and Black-necked Swans Cygnus melancoryphus, as well as significant numbers of colonial waterbirds. The lagoon is highly saline around the stream connecting it to the sea, but much less so elsewhere. Carlos established a bird-monitoring programme and an education programme, bringing schoolchildren to see birds at the lagoon. The children learnt about conservation, and schools from local villages and Castillos are keen to continue visiting the lagoon. Carlos generated much support for the monitoring programme and an educational project in the local village, Aguas Dulces, whilst the landowner will continue to host the monitoring and educational activities. In addition to breeding waterbirds, Carlos’ monitoring has revealed that the area harbours important populations of Black-and-white Monjita Xolmis dominicana (Vulnerable). In spring and summer, it is also important for Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis, with flocks of 20–25 typical at several points. A noteworthy population of Straight-billed Reedhaunter Limnoctictes rectirostris—like the sandpiper, a Near-Threatened species—was found breeding in Eryngium sp. Saffron-cowled Blackbird Xanthopsar flavus and Greater Rhea Rhea americana were also observed, bringing the total numbers of Vulnerable and Near- Threatened species present in the area to two and three, respectively.

Birdwatching courses in the foothills of southwest Colombia

Cristian Flórez Pai et al. were awarded the 2006 Swarovski–NBC Award, of US$1,950, for an environmental education project in Nariño, southwest Colombia. They worked with partner organisations to conduct field excursions, giving training in birdwatching and take classes for children and young people in the area. Twenty children learned to watch birds and 47 attended the training classes. The team also designed a book about the most important birds in the Carbonera Valley. The painting element was particularly useful in engaging the children and in opening their eyes to values they and the wider community already attributed to birds and conservation. The children also helped produce two large murals in Río Ñambí Nature Reserve education and interpretation centre. The team also conducted a week of surveys at sample points between 1,000 and 1,450 m; over 100 species were recorded, including the Near-Threatened Toucan Barbet Semnornis ramphastinus.

Palkachupa Cotinga

Asociación Armonía received US$1,440, cosponsored by NBC and Ultimate Voyages, for Madidi National Park guard William Ferrufino to work on the population and conservation of Palkachupa Cotinga Phibalura (flavirostris) boliviana. William recorded over 80 nests in 2007, mainly around the village of Aten, which has become the focus of conservation effort on the species. Armonía are working with William and the Aten community on species monitoring, habitat protection and are investigating the possibility of creating a private reserve.

Blue-backed, Wire-tailed & Striped Manakins
(Clive Byers)