05/06/2026
As many of you have likely heard, the MV Hondius cruise ship is currently under international scrutiny due to a tragic outbreak. The leading theory from investigators is a scenario that hits close to home for many field birders: a Dutch couple may have contracted the virus while visiting a landfill in Ushuaia (the very southern tip of Argentina, on the main island of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago) during a birding tour. To non-birders, a landfill might sound like the last place for a vacation. However, for many birders, these sites offer sightings of rare species that are otherwise elusive. For cruise passengers with only a few hours in port, a quick cab ride to a landfill is often the fastest way to 'tick' several rare raptors. While landfill birding isn't part of my own practice, understanding why these sites are such a draw provides important context for this story. My research shows the target species in that region include the White-throated Caracara, Andean Condor, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Dolphin Gull, along with Kelp Gulls and Chilean Skuas. These sites offer a reliable food source for both scavengers and the rodents they hunt...
I’m sharing this photo of a juvenile Crested Caracara as a reflection on the different ways we experience nature. I photographed this back in March along Joe Overstreet Road, where the open fields provide a natural hunting ground.
