Tierra del Fuego

Birding Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego (officially Provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur) is an Argentine province entirely separated from mainland Argentina by the Strait of Magellan. It includes the eastern part of the Isla Grande of Tierra del Fuego (the western part is the Chilean province of Tierra del Fuego). It is a spectacular part of the world. Birders arriving in the world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia (the departure point for many Antarctica, South Georgia and Falkland Island cruise ships) will be treated not only to some extremely special birds, but also beautiful jagged, snow-capped mountain peaks on one side and the Beagle Channel on the other (not to mention quaint buildings). The most sought-after of all the birds around here is the massive Magellanic Woodpecker, not uncommon in the well-developed beech forests in the nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park. These same forests are also home to Austral Parakeet, Austral Pygmy Owl and White-throated Tree-runner. Two species of steamer ducks and several other rather attractive, localised duck and goose species are also easy to find around here. Among birders, Ushuaia’s rubbish dump is famous for White-throated Caracara along with a couple of more widespread caracaras, vultures and gulls (including the attractive Dolphin Gull). Heading up into the high mountains near here, the tough to find White-bellied Seedsnipe is a real prize – with luck you might see a couple of them when they decide to walk over a snow patch; otherwise you’ll have to contend with their camouflage. Andean Condor and other raptors should put in an appearance, along with several other excellent birds.The Beagle Channel is of course very exciting. Without trying hard, you’ll get close-up views of Southern Giant Petrel from the shore, but will see other pelagics and Magellanic Penguin if you take a boat trip (if you’re not already sailing the Beagle Channel on your way from here to Antarctica or the Falklands). Magellanic Diving Petrel must be more reliable in the Straight of Magellan which forms the northern boundary of Tierra del Fuego – do watch for this if you’re taking the ferry.A birder can happily spend three or four days exploring the whole of the island (of Tierra del Fuego), although most birders only have a day or two around Ushuaia itself. The other most visited destinations, are the Tren del Fin del Mundo, Fagnano Lake, Museum of the End of the World, Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, the old jail, and the Isla de los Estados.

There are low mountains and sandy beaches at the north of the island, ascending to the south. The north is somewhat similar to the steppe of the Santa Cruz Province. In the middle of the island, the end of the Andes mountain system runs horizontally, and its highest peak, Mount Cornú, rises only 1,490 meters. There are also a number of short rivers (Grande, Moneta, Ona, Lasifashaj, etc.), and due to the low temperature, there are many small glaciers that descend towards the sea. The annual average temperature of the island is 5.3 °C, with precipitation of 300 mm in the north and 550 mm in the south. Oil and gas production and sheep farming are the main impacts on the land although there is a growing manufacturing base and development of tourism.