The Story
I photographed this Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) at Reserva Natural El Encanto de Guanapalo in Casanare, Colombia. The Least Sandpiper migrates in flocks to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. In winter plumage it is gray above. The young feed themselves and can fly within about two weeks of hatching. El Encanto de Guanapalo brings together three ranches, Mata de Palma, Altamira and Montana, in a reserve of almost 9,000 hectares of flooded savanna and gallery forest in San Luis de Palenque. IUCN lists the Least Sandpiper as Near Threatened, with a decreasing population.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/800 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100. El Encanto de Guanapalo pays for its conservation through traditional cattle ranching, ecotourism and carbon credits, using the Cataruben Foundation’s Co2Bio model.
©2019 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) belongs to the family Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2024), with the population trend listed as decreasing. Source: IUCN Red List