La Plata Island, Machalilla National Park, is located 30 km off the Ecuadorian coast. In June 2000, I surveyed the avifauna of La Plata Island. In total I observed 57 species of birds (25 families). At least 17 species are known to breed on the island; in fact, for mainland Ecuador, Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata, Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus, Nazca Booby Sula granti, and Red-footed Booby Sula sula only breed in La Plata. Long-tailed Mockinbird subspecies Mimus longicaudatus platensis is the only endemic bird taxon of the island. House Sparrow Passer domesticus is the only non-native species of the island. Brown Booby Sula leucogaster, Ecuadorian Ground-Dove Columbina buckleyi, Little Woodstar Chaetocercus bombus and Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster are reported for the first time on the island. Isla de La Plata maintains an important biodiversity, and it is necessary to implement conservation, management and tourism plans on a sustainable way along with long-term monitoring studies of the fauna and flora.
Birds of La Plata Island, Machalilla National Park, Ecuador