PROTECTION BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER HABIT

The Barba Azul Nature Reserve, a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site, is a critical stopover area in Bolivia for the Buff-breasted Sandpiper and protects six threatened bird species, including the Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw.

Now in its sixth phase, the objectives of this project are to continue to: 1) maintain 17,297 acres of tropical savanna on Barba Azul Nature Reserve; 2) manage 3,706.6 acres of Sandpiper foraging habitat on the Reserve; 3) conduct patrols of the reserve; 4) monitor Sandpiper populations; 5) research Sandpiper preferences for different cattle stocking rates; and 6) conduct community outreach and education to improve the quality of Sandpiper foraging habitat on private cattle ranches.

The activities will improve knowledge of tropical grassland foraging conditions for Sandpiper, improve habitat conditions on the Reserve and on private cattle ranches, and share data that will support conservation efforts.