Strange Tails
We're delighted to have a strong population of strange-tailed tyrants at the reserve. So much so that we've adopted these beautiful and endangered birds as the symbol of the Trust
The growing diversity of the animals of Reserva Don Luis is a fresh source of delight every time we return. We don't play favourites, but it's impossible not to engage more with some of our more conspicuous guests. One of these is the strange-tailed tyrant. The male is stoic in his tolerance of one of nature's strangest - and it would seem least practical - adaptations. He's willing to suffer to be beautiful, and somehow manages to fly with tail feathers that were surely designed for a bird three times his size.
We love his perseverance; his resolution to succeed against challenge, and his ability to prove that anything is possible. He's appearing in growing numbers on the Reserva Do Luis, and his success has become an allegory for, and a symbol of, our own.
When we started the process of updating and redesigning our website, we wanted to adopt an image that symbolised our aims and our challenges. This brave little flycatcher, with his indomitable character, was the perfect choice.
The logo is a stylised profile of a male tyrant, silhouetted against the sunrise. We coloured the sun the blue of the Argentinian flag in honour of this country's beauty, its climate and the breathtaking span of magnificent animals that it nurtures.
Bat Research
Our bat team is conducting bat research both in the Ibera Marshes and in other provinces. We are especially concentrating on Misiones at the moment where we find the largest bat in Argentina, Chrotopterus auriitus and Myotis ruber, two species that we are researching.
The Collett Trust for Endangered Species
Reserva Don Luis, Cambyreta, Corrientes, Argentina
Thank you for visiting our website. We're a small trust dedicated to preserving endangered species and defending the habitats that are essential to their survival.
Our wildlife reserve is made up of 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres) of grassland/wetland in north-east Argentina. We purchased this former cattle ranch in 2010 and have since worked constantly to restore its ecological balance and provide a safe, sustainable habitat for its magnificent flora and fauna. We are primarily a research station and welcome visiting naturalists, biologists, ornithologists, Bat workers, experienced bird ringers and keen amateurs interested in conservation. We also look for volunteers from time to time. See our page on Volunteering.
Our Trust is also involved with the Jersey Bat Group in the island of Jersey, UK, where we have put up around 100 bat boxes in the island's woodlands in an effort to learn more about our local bats.
The Collett Trust for Endangered Species
Our Transport at Reserva Don Luis
We have several photo galleries that we hope you will look at including Birds of Ibera, Mammals of Ibera, Bats of Ibera, Reptiles of Ibera, Endangered Species, Fauna of Iguazu amongst others.
The Collett Trust for Endangered Species
Strange-tailed Tyrant, Alectrurus risora, Yetepa de Collar
We have a healthy population of Strange-tailed Tyrants at the reserve between August - February. During the autumn/winter months they disappear - to where we are not sure. One day we need to attach a GPS transmitter to an individual and track it to discover more about its migration. We believe that it only travels a short distance but no one really knows where it goes.
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The Collett Trust for Endangered Species
Blastocerus dichotomus, Marsh Deer, Ciervo de los Pantanos
Our reserve is renowned for the endangered (VU) Marsh Deer that inhabit and breed in it. Here is a picture of a juvenile Marsh Deer of around 3 months.
The Collett Trust for Endangered Species
Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris, Capybara, Carpincho
We have an army of Capybaras in our garden and sometimes you can see 50 plus during the nighttime. Even during the day there are usually several around.
