A study carried out in the **Bahía de San Antonio Protected Natural Area** in the province of **Río Negro** revealed that most of the stranded **Magellanic penguins** on the coast were **juveniles**, and among them, **females significantly outnumbered males**.
This trend, documented for the first time in the region, could have key implications for the [species conservation](https://noticiasambientales.com/animales/conservacion-en-europa-mapean-corredores-ecologicos-del-lince-iberico-y-otras-especies-en-la-cuenca-del-rio-duero/).
## Scientific research with unpublished data
The work was carried out by **Victoria Pizá and Patricio Pereyra** (CIMAS/CONICET) and **Juan Pablo Seco Pon** (National University of Mar del Plata), and published in the scientific journal **El Hornero**, edited by [**Aves Argentinas**](https://www.avesargentinas.org.ar/).
Between **June 2020 and June 2022**, the team systematically surveyed two beaches in the **Golfo San Matías**, recording **288 stranded individuals**, of which **51 were analyzed in detail**. The results show:
– 90% were juveniles
– Ratio of 3.75 females to each juvenile male
– Biometric differences between sexes, especially in wing length and middle finger
## Causes of death: no traces of contamination or evident wounds
The researchers found no evidence of [hydrocarbon contamination](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/panama-enfrenta-criticas-de-ambientalistas-por-evaluar-la-exploracion-de-hidrocarburos-en-el-caribe/), and only a **small percentage** showed **wounds attributable to fishing or predators**.
The cause of death remains uncertain, although **environmental factors and juvenile vulnerability** are pointed out.
## Migration and vulnerability: key to understanding strandings
The **Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)** is an emblematic species of the coasts of **Argentina and Chile**, with an estimated population of **one million breeding pairs**.
Although resident in the study area, **strandings occur outside the breeding season**, when juveniles migrate following the **anchovy**, their main prey.
“The lack of experience in food search could explain their greater vulnerability,” the authors said.
## Why more females?
Recent studies suggest that **juvenile females** tend to move towards **shallower coastal waters**, where they would be **more exposed to threats** such as fishing and pollution. In addition, their **smaller body size** could hinder survival in adverse conditions.
## Citizen science and continuous monitoring: tools for conservation
The researchers emphasize the importance of **systematically monitoring strandings of seabirds**, recording data on **age, sex, and physical characteristics**. They propose:
– Involving volunteers in the survey
– Using new technologies to improve data collection
– Studying the relationship between strandings and oceanographic factors
“This study provides an initial characterization of strandings on the coast of Río Negro and can serve as a basis for designing management and conservation strategies,” the authors conclude.
*Cover photo: Patagonia Ambiental*
