Evaluación de las Poblaciones de Aves Acuáticas y su Estado de Conservación en El Salvador

Total of 135 waterbird species are recorded in El Salvador. Ten sites are known to contain large concentrations of 10,000 to 140,000 individuals, among which the Cerrón Grande Reservoir (freshwater) and Jiquilisco Bay (coastal, estuarine) stand out. Twelve breeding colonies, with 18 especies, have been documented, but only five of the colonies have protection and are established within protected areas. Just one species is threatened with extinction at the global level (Pink-footed Shearwater, Puffinus creatopus), while at the national level, 32 species are considered threatened or endangered. Only 35 waterbird species breed in El Salvador. Ducks (Anatidae) populations have been monitored during the last five years and recently several breeding colonies have also been monitored. Marine species seem to have the lowest populations (or at least the fewest reports), while Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors), Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor), Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (D. autumnalis), Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus), Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), and American Coot (Fulica americana) figure among the most abundant and widely distributed species. A total of 24 species show population increases, including American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius), White Ibis (Eudocimus albus), Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), and Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger). Two species are considered to be in decline: Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus). In all, we estimate the resident waterbird population in El Salvador to range between 259,000 – 397,000 birds, including 95,000 – 197,000 non-breeding visitors (transients or passage migrants not included) and 164,000 – 200,000 individuals of breeding species. On the topic of regulations, El Salvador has adhered to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Ramsar Convention (three sites are declared Ramsar sites, three other sites are proposed). National laws for wildlife conservation and protected areas exist, but are poorly enforced