Effects of motorized tourboats on the behavior of nonbreeding American flamingos in Yucatan, Mexico

We assessed the effect of motorized tourboats on the behavior of nonbreeding American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) in the Celestun Estuary, a Special Biosphere Reserve in Yucatan, Mexico, from November 1994 through February 1995. We measured these effects by comparing activity budgets between flocks of flamingos disturbed and undisturbed by tourboats. Disturbance reduced feeding time from 40% before disturbance to 24% after, a 40% loss. Boat disturbance increased alert behavior by 400%. Tourboats averaged 13 per day and caused a disturbance 75% of the time or 3.3 hours per day. Potential loss of feeding time for individuals was estimated at 13% but is likely much higher on days with excessive numbers of tourboats. Flamingos returned to normal feeding rates (40%) within 20 minutes after disturbance. Most tourists (52%) were from Mexico, followed by Germany (14%), and 88% of Mexican visitors were willing to pay an entrance fee to the Celestun Reserve. Conservation efforts should focus on education of tourboat operators to reduce disturbance to flamingos, eduction of tourists through a visitor's center and brochures produced in Spanish and English, and expanded involvement of local people.