Red Knot conservation and research in Uruguay 
The nongovernmental organization Karumbé, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has recently begun a study to identify areas that are key to conserving Red Knot habitat in the La Coronilla – Barra del Chuy coastal zone of Rocha, Uruguay, as well as the possible threats to birds in this region. Karumbé was formed in 1999 by a diverse group of partners dedicated to conserving Uruguay’s marine resources, particularly sea turtles. Its work has expanded to include other coastal species and, since December 2008, Natalia Martínez Curci and Alejandro Fallabrino have been studying the ecology of the rufa Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa), particularly aspects of its migration. The results of their study will form the basis of a proposal to include this zone within the recently recreated “Cerro Verde e Islas” Coastal Marine Protected Area. The project was presented during the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group meeting this March in Sinaloa, Mexico; a project summary sheet is available online at scribd.com. Natalia and Alejandro also invite you to learn more about their project on its own Facebook page.
