Strange Tails

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.

More about strange-tailed tyrants>>

Platyrrhinus lineatus

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.

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Fauna of Antarctica and Ushuaia

In late December 2012 we embarked on the MV Ushuaia from the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, and departed on a ten-day cruise to Antarctica.

We were lucky with the weather and had 6 near perfect days, although the last four were not so good.

This gallery contains photos of the fauna we saw on our visits ashore along with the birds and mammals seen in the National Park of Tierra del Fuego. Some of the icebergs were spectacular and are included.

Antarctica is a very special continent that must be protected at all costs, including keeping the oil exploration companies out. I hope you enjoy these photos of this amazing place.

 
Pygoscelis papua Chloephaga picta Leptonychotes weddellii Pygoscelis antarctica Balaenoptera bonaerensis Pygoscelis papua Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis Campephilius magellanicus Daption capense Chloephaga picta Hydrurga leptonyx Pygoscelis antarctica Balaenoptera bonaerensis Icebergs Leptonychotes weddellii Balaenoptera bonaerensis Larus dominicanus Lophonetta specularoides Diomedea melanophrys Megaptera novaeangliae Campephilius magellanicus Phrygilus patagonicus Campephilius magellanicus Lessonia rufa Pygoscelis papua   Pygoscelis antarctica Catharacta maccormicki Pygoscelis papua Pygoscelis papua Enicognathus ferrugineus Lagenorhynchus cruciger Pygoscelis antarctica Theristicus melanopis Lycalopex culpaeus Sturnella loca Turdus falcklandii Pygoscelis adeliae Aphrastura spinicauda