The Birds of the Renaico River
by Daniel Rivera Cáceres, Field Ornithologist
Flora and fauna don’t just lend a touch of beauty to a particular territory; they also serve essential functions for the ecosystems they inhabit. When we recognize every form of life around us, we not only deepen our understanding of nature—we also learn to better understand our territory and enrich our identity.
On the banks of the Renaico River, located in the town of the same name, you can find beautiful, diverse ecosystems that offer the perfect scenario for a family-oriented afternoon. There are many bird species in the area whose populations have shrunk notably due to human intervention. Even so, they persist thanks to the riches of the Renaico River Basin. The river’s path from east to west is a long one, meaning that the different species of birds that can be found along its course are varied, changing according to seasonal migratory patterns.
The Renaico Riverbank serves as a refuge and a feeding area for species like the Ringed kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata stellata), the Cocoi heron (Ardea cocoi), the Great egret (Ardea alba), the Dark-bellied cinclodes (Cinclodes patagonicus), and the Bronze-winged duck (Speculanas specularis). These birds spend most of their time either on the riverbank or in the water itself, as key regulators of the population of invertebrates, amphibians, and fish. Many of them also stand out for their beauty, as is the case of the Ringed kingfisher, which consistently attracts birdwatchers and photographers. We can thus consider these birds an important tourist attraction.
In the ecosystems around the river basin, we can find wetlands that support life all year long. The species that can be found in the wetlands are in a co-evolutionary relationship with other life forms nearby, so the imminent disappearance of these areas wouldn’t just affect the survival of one particular species—it would affect a number of them. We can find species there such as the Spectacled tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus), the White-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus), the Black-faced ibis (Theristicus melanopis) and the Southern lapwing (Vanellus chilensis), for whom these wetlands function as much as a feeding ground as they do as a nesting area.
Along the river there are also meadows ideal for birds like the Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) to find hidden places to nest. The Chilean tinamou (Nothoprocta perdicaria), the Austral thrush (Turdus falklandii), and the Eared dove (Zenaida auriculata) also inhabit this area. Most of the birds here belong to the order of passeriformes—they are small, with large wings and four toes. Some of them travel in large flocks, entertaining us every spring with their beautiful songs: these include the Diuca finch (Diuca diuca), the Rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis chilensis), the Long-tailed meadowlark (Leistes loyca), the Grassland yellow finch (Sicalis luteola), the Austral blackbird (Curaeus curaeus), and the Black-chinned siskin (Spinus barbatus).
Despite ongoing human intervention in the area surrounding the river, some traces of native forest can still be found, which offer wooded ecosystems for species like the Rufous-legged owl (Strix rufipes), the Chilean hawk (Accipiter chilensis), the Rufous-tailed hawk (Buteo ventralis), and the White-throated hawk (Buteo albigula), all of which visit every summer. Although these birds of prey are of different species, they share one particular characteristic: they make their homes in the forest. This means that their relationship with the native trees is much closer than that of other birds. This is why it’s so important to protect and restore the Renaico River basin.
The presence (or absence) of these birds is an indicator of the relative health of the ecosystem, since they are at the top of the food chain and thus regulate the populations of the organisms they feed upon.
The Renaico River is home to a rich biodiversity that urgently needs protection, given the advance of extractivism that has rapidly changed the configuration of the landscape. It’s important for the community to show interest in the area’s wildlife, whether on their own or with the help of organizations like the “Save the Renaico River Social Collective.”
It’s up to each and every one of us to take care of our surroundings. Once we have detailed knowledge of the species that inhabit them, we will understand that there are countless reasons to preserve it for future generations.
