Laguna Torca National Reserve

Home to the Black-necked Swan, and one of the special places to visit on your vacation to Chile.

The Laguna

The Reserve is divided into three very differemt areas. The first area is the main Lagoon area, where 120 species of birds, have been spotted,according to Head Ranger Don Luis. Black-necked Swans (1600 at the last count including some ringed birds from Valdivia), fill the Laguna . The feeding swans add to the tranquility of the scene,and the main road runs through the side of the laguna giving a wonderful close up view of the Wildlife. Coscoroba Swans, Pimpollo (White tufted Grebe), Tagua (Coots),and many more, all mix happily together, in fact I have never seen so many Tagua's at the monent ,the lagoon is black with them all!. Bird watchers will like the excellent viewpoints available,including the private one on the farm. A short walk up the hillside in the farm gives a panoramic view of the Laguna, Lago Vichuquen, and the Pacific Ocean.

On the farm, adjoining the Laguna, there are many Golondrina (Swallow),the electric lines sag with the numbers! Sol's nesting boxes have been full this year.

Chercan (Wren), Perdiz (Partridge), Codorniz (California Quail),are here too, to name a few of the many bird visitors and residents we have.

Waking up in the morning is to a riot of sound,. Many birds nest in the roof and Sol keeps building more bird boxes!

Fish in the laguna such as the Liza, Tench, and Carp. However you wont see any as there is a no fishing, swimming, boating policy in the park! (Remember Lago Vichuquen is next door and is open to the public, as is the Pacific Ocean , a 10 minute drive away). If you are very lucky you may see a wriggling grass snake, (note there are NO poisonous snakes in Chile), they just scare you as they wriggle AWAY from you!) Coypu (spotted one last week) Fox, or the rumored Puma,( my friend and neibour Ugo swears he has heard one !) However you will see Rabbits!

The reserve is a true sanctuary staffed by dedicated , knowledgeable, and very friendly Rangers. Viewing stations and a small reception centre is located at the Laguna.The main road cuts through the one of the side arms of the lagoon and gives a great vantage point to see the many swans feeding.

Beautifully presented reference for Birds of Chile

The Chilean Bird Reference site "Aves de Chile"

Cattle Egret , Follows the Horse!

Picaflor, Green backed Firecrown,male

Black-necked Swan is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is the biggest aquatic bird in Chile. Black-necked swans spend almost all of their time in water. They actually have difficulty walking on land, since their legs are set so far back on their body (to help in swimming). And though this makes it difficult to get up the speed for take-off, once the swans are in the air they are very strong flyers. They’ve been clocked at speeds of nearly 50 miles per hour! Mainly vegetarian, but will eat insects and fish eggs. It nests in dense reeds,with clutches of 4 to 7 off white colored eggs. The female is the only one that sits on the eggs, and she can lose quite a lot of weight during this incubation period. Once the chicks hatch, however, both parents take good care of them. They can often be seen swimming with their babies on their back. But the male usually does most of the “childcare” duties so the female can work on regaining the weight she lost -- he even guards the nest while she leaves to feed. Young swans are covered with light gray down feathers. Their neck feathers begin to darken at three months but they don’t get their pure white and black coat until the second year of life. Black-necked swans are very social and companionable most of the year, but during breeding season they become territorial and aggressive. (A male and female swan usually mate for life, but will find a new partner if one should die.)

Press to Hear the Black-necked Swan

This years hatchlings by Yerko

Check out our "Stunning Yerko" page for some more local great birding photos

Other photos by Yerko at Foto Naturaleza.cl , my favorite Chilean orientated birding and wildlife photo site.

How the babies have grown!

Coscoroba Swan is the smallest species of swan. This swan has white plumage except for black tips to the outer six primary feathers. The bird has a red beak, legs and feet. They look somewhat more like geese than swans. The female looks almost identical to the male. The Coscoroba is also lacking the black mask that other swans have where their lores are between the eyes and beak.

 

California Quails  (Cordoniz)

The California Quail is a highly sociable bird that often gathers in small flocks known as "coveys". These birds forage on the ground, often scratching at the soil. If startled, these birds explode into short rapid flight, called "flushing". Given a choice, they will normally make their escape on foot.

Stick Insect

We use ' Bird's of Chile' by Alvaro Jaramillo(Helm Field Guides), as our field guidebook. Truly excellent!

Llico Forest

The second section of the National Reserve is Llico forest,(Bosque de Llico) an area which was forested with exotic species. This area is accessed through a long wooden bridge in the middle of Llico, and is a couple of kilometers from the Laguna. The sheer size of these old trees is something that is seen very rarely in this area with the modern forestry industry geared up for quick growth and replanting .Walking through the park under the shade of these giants gives a glimpse of the older times . The trees were planted originally to stop the inland march of the sandunes from the lovely beach at Llico playa.It worked, and later the family who owned the land, kindly gave it too Conaf to be kept in original condition for the benefit of the public.

Cerrillos Island

The third area of the National Reserve is Cerrillos Island ,and is to be found in Lago Vichuquén. Unihabited, with a forested area of two hectares.

Google Earth view of the area,showing all the natural lakes in the area .