Subject: Re: High Altitude Shorebirds
Date: Aug 31 10:56:18 1994
From: Alvaro Patricio Jaramillo - jaramill at sfu.ca


I found it interesting that Dennis Paulson mentioned that one of the shorebirds
that is most likely to be found in the Washington highlands is the Baird's
Sandpiper. In my travels in South America I found Baird's to be THE highland
shorebird, with flocks present at Andean lakes well over 4500m up. A good
proportion of the Baird's Sandpipers actually winter in the Andes, with the
majority wintering in Patagonia. It makes me wonder exactly what makes Baird's
like the highlands? Any guesses or answers? I find it rather puzzling.

BTW- other North American shorebirds that I have seen up high in the Andes
include Wilson's Phalarope, and Lesser Yellowlegs.

Al Jaramillo
jaramill at sfu.ca
Vancouver, B.C.