CHICAGO—April 20, 2026—The American Ornithological Society (AOS) is pleased to announce the grantees of the 2026 Latin American/Caribbean Conservation Research (LACCR) Grants for early-career researchers. The expanding research grants program, which began in 2023 to provide funding for early-career scientists from Latin America and the Caribbean, offers research grants of up to $5,000 to support conservation-related research on either migratory or resident birds in those regions. This year, the AOS awarded LACCR Grants to Alexis Díaz , Patricia Ferreira , Luis Felipe Peixoto , E stefania Isabel Muñoz Salas , Érika Figueredo Guzmán , and Fernando Medrano-Martinez .
“This year’s awardees reflect a stronger diversity of research topics and regions across Latin America and the Caribbean,” AOS Conservation Committee co-chair Angelina Ruiz-Sánchez remarks. “We are pleased to see a focus on endemic species across different systems, from high Andean lakes and tropical forests to wetlands and arid coastal landscapes. We look forward to the important knowledge these projects will generate, which will support conservation at local scales and contribute to broader efforts across the region, strengthening our collective capacity to better understand and protect birds.”
“This year’s grant recipients are well poised to make important contributions to the understanding and conservation of a range of bird species,” AOS President Sara Morris states. “The AOS is proud of this grant program that recognizes the importance of studying birds throughout this hemisphere. We know that conservation issues affect both the local and endemic bird species and the migrants whose ranges cross many countries including those in Latin America and North America. Likewise, we know that conservation can only be successful with research that provides an understanding of the biology of birds.”
“We are delighted to continue the LACCR Grants program to support deserving early-career researchers based in Latin America and the Caribbean conducting timely research related to avian conservation in these regions,” AOS Councilor, LACCR Grant coordinator, and Conservation Committee member Anna Chalfoun says.
Congratulations to these grantees! Read on for more information about the researchers and the projects being funded by this year’s Latin American/Caribbean Conservation Research Grants.
Research Associate, Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI)
Alexis Díaz, Ph.D., is a Peruvian ornithologist and evolutionary biologist whose research focuses on the population genomics, evolutionary history, and natural history of birds. Díaz is a research associate at the Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI) in Lima, Peru. His research combines genomic approaches with extensive fieldwork to investigate evolutionary processes, population structure, and adaptation in birds, particularly in high-Andean ecosystems. In addition to genomic research, he integrates data from bird banding, museum specimens, and citizen science to study multiple aspects of the natural history of Peruvian birds, with particular emphasis on molt patterns, breeding biology, and diet.
Díaz is also actively involved in strengthening ornithological research capacity in the Neotropical region. He is a certified instructor of the North American Banding Council (NABC) and coordinates bird banding initiatives that support long-term ecological monitoring, student training, and bird conservation research. His work has been recognized with awards from the Savage Fund at the University of Miami and the Society of Systematic Biologists. He earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal (Peru) and his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Miami (USA).
Follow Díaz’s research: ORCID ; ResearchGate
Project title: “ Genomic Insights for the Conservation of an Endangered Lake Endemic: The Titicaca Grebe ”
Abstract: Rollandia microptera (Titicaca Grebe), an endangered, flightless bird endemic to Lake Titicaca, has experienced marked population declines in recent decades. However, its genetic status remains unknown, representing a critical gap for effective conservation planning. No contemporary genomic material previously existed, as available museum specimens are historical skins unsuitable for modern analysis. This project provides the first genomic assessment of the species in the Peruvian sector of the lake to evaluate whether genetic erosion, inbreeding, and reduced effective population size are compounding extinction risk. Using whole-genome resequencing (~20× coverage), we will quantify genome-wide diversity, genomic inbreeding coefficients, and effective population size. Samples suitable for genomic analysis were recently obtained through a community-based project addressing incidental fisheries bycatch, ensuring no additional capture or handling of live individuals. Results will provide early-warning indicators of extinction risk and directly inform management decisions, including the potential need for population reinforcement or future genetic rescue from other parts of the lake or surrounding water bodies. Findings will be translated into conservation action through technical briefs, community engagement, and the deposition of modern specimens and tissue samples in Peruvian museum collections, establishing a lasting genomic foundation for conservation and outreach.
Early-career Researcher, São Paulo State University (UNESP)
Patricia Ferreira, M.Sc., is an ecologist trained at São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil, where she completed her master’s degree in the graduate program in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity. Her research focuses on ornithology, seed dispersal ecology, and the conservation of Atlantic Forest birds. She is currently affiliated with the Conservation Biology Laboratory (LABIC) at UNESP in Rio Claro. Her previous research has been supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).
Follow Ferreira’s research: GOOGLE SCHOLAR
Project title: “ Valuing the Environmental Services of Large Frugivores: Seed Dispersal Effects of the Rewilding of the Black-fronted Piping-Guan (Aburria jacutinga) in the Atlantic Forest ”
Abstract: Large frugivorous birds play a key role in tropical forest regeneration by dispersing seeds over long distances and promoting the recruitment of large-seeded tree species. However, defaunation has disrupted many plant–frugivore interactions, compromising seed dispersal processes and ecosystem functioning in tropical forests. Aburria jacutinga (Black-fronted Piping-Guan), an endangered frugivorous bird endemic to the Atlantic Forest, is an important disperser of large-seeded plants, yet its functional contribution to forest regeneration remains poorly quantified.
This project investigates how the recovery of A. jacutinga populations contributes to restoring seed dispersal processes and functional connectivity in defaunated Atlantic Forest landscapes. Fieldwork will be conducted in the Serra da Mantiqueira region, southeastern Brazil, where reintroduction efforts led by SAVE Brasil have established recovering populations of the species.
Using field observations, fecal sample analyses, germination experiments, and GPS telemetry, the study will quantify seed dispersal effectiveness by integrating quantitative and qualitative components of dispersal. Movement data combined with gut retention time will be used to estimate seed dispersal distances and model the contribution of A. jacutinga to landscape-scale connectivity. By linking feeding ecology, movement behavior, and plant functional traits, this research will provide a process-based understanding of how the recovery of a large frugivore can restore ecological interactions and support forest regeneration in the Atlantic Forest.
Postdoctoral Researcher, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Luis Felipe Peixoto is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratório de Ornitologia e Bioacústica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, where he has been active since 2013. His research focuses on owl biology, integrating bioacoustics, field experimentation, systematics, and citizen science, with emphasis on vocal communication, behavior, and sensory ecology of Neotropical Strigiformes. He has over 10 years of field experience in the Atlantic Forest and co-authored the rediscovery of Pulsatrix pulsatrix after a near-50-year detection gap. He is an experienced wildlife sound recordist, and has taught ornithology modules at UFRJ and UNIRIO, co-supervises undergraduate and graduate students, and coordinates the science outreach program of the Árvore da Vida exhibition (UFRJ). He is also a nature photographer, recognized for high-magnification macrophotography of invertebrate diversity, with work featured in exhibitions and educational workshops on Brazilian biodiversity. Peixoto holds a B.Sc. in Zoology (Instituto de Biologia, UFRJ), an M.Sc. in Zoology (Museu Nacional, UFRJ), and a Ph.D. in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (Instituto de Biologia, UFRJ).
Follow Peixoto’s research: ORCID
Project title: “ Rediscovered but not yet saved: assessing the distribution and threats to Pulsatrix pulsatrix, the most endangered owl in the Americas ”
Abstract: Pulsatrix pulsatrix (Short-browed Owl) is a critically endangered species endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Known from less than 20 specimens and only three vocal recordings, the species went undetected for nearly 50 years until its rediscovery in 2022. Recently, museomics data further corroborated its specific status after nearly 200 years of taxonomic uncertainty. No population has been located, and its distribution, vocal repertoire, and interactions with the expanding P. perspicillata remain unknown. Rare citizen science records suggest the formation of mixed pairs and co-occurrence between the two species, raising concerns about hybridization and competitive displacement. This project will employ passive and active acoustic surveys across southeastern Brazil to address three objectives: (1) locate remnant populations through surveys at sites selected from possible citizen science detections, historical records, and large preserved Atlantic Forest fragments; (2) characterize the vocal repertoire to enable future acoustic monitoring; and (3) map the contact zone with P. perspicillata to assess whether competitive exclusion or hybridization is occurring. Results will directly inform IUCN and Brazilian Red List assessments, support conservation planning, and guide management of an emerging interspecific threat. Data will be directly shared with key stakeholders, including ICMBio and BirdLife international.
Conservation Consultant, Paso Pacifico
Estefanía Isabel Muñoz Salas is a marine biologist from Mexico and a Conservation Consultant with Paso Pacífico. Her work focuses on the ecology and conservation of shorebirds, including long-term monitoring and the study of how environmental conditions influence bird communities in coastal and wetland ecosystems. She has participated in monitoring initiatives through the Migratory Shorebird Project in the Baja California Peninsula and Marismas Nacionales.
At Paso Pacífico, Muñoz Salas supports biodiversity conservation initiatives in Central America, contributing to community-based monitoring programs and projects focused on migratory birds and other priority wildlife species. She earned her B.Sc. in Marine Biology from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur and her M.Sc. in Marine Ecology from the Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Mexico. Muñoz Salas was also a 2023 recipient of an AOS Student Travel Grant.
Project title: “ Spatial and temporal variation of the shorebird community and marsh species as indicators of habitat condition in Lake Cuitzeo ”
Abstract: Inland wetlands of central Mexico are critical yet under monitored components of continental migratory flyways. Lake Cuitzeo, the second largest inland lake in Mexico and a recognized priority site for shorebird conservation, supports both migratory and resident shorebird populations as well as endemic marsh-dependent species. In recent decades, the lake has experienced marked hydrological instability driven by prolonged droughts, water extraction, agricultural expansion, and wastewater inputs. These pressures have altered the availability of mudflats and the structure of emergent marsh vegetation, directly affecting habitat suitability throughout the annual cycle.
Despite its ecological importance, no continuous monitoring program currently evaluates how local habitat fluctuations influence bird communities at fine spatial scales. This project will establish a systematic, year-round monitoring framework focused on shorebirds and endemic marsh specialists as bioindicators of habitat condition. Fixed sampling units will be surveyed every three weeks across a full annual cycle, integrating standardized bird counts with hydrological measurements, habitat characterization, and indicators of human disturbance.
Targeted surveys will evaluate habitat use by two endemic marsh species, Geothlypis speciosa (Black-polled Yellowthroat) and Rallus tenuirostris (Aztec Rail), both closely associated with dense emergent vegetation. By linking bird community dynamics with hydrological conditions and habitat structure, this project will provide a fine-scale ecological baseline for the lake and help identify sectors of high conservation value. The results will contribute to improving ecological understanding and supporting conservation planning for inland wetlands in central Mexico.
Investigator, SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico
Érika Figueredo Guzmán, M.Sc., is a biologist from the Universidad de La Salle and is currently a member of the organization SELVA, where she participates in research projects focused on the study of biodiversity within production systems and its conservation at the landscape level. Her primary areas of research are ecology and biodiversity conservation. She holds a master’s degree in Biodiversity Conservation and Use from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia.
Project title: “ Habitat conservation strategy for the design of a birdwatching route to protect umbrella species in the Sumapaz region ”
Abstract: The Sumapaz region hosts the world’s most extensive paramos, yet it faces critical habitat fragmentation driven by extensive cattle ranching. This project proposes the design of community-based birdwatching routes as a strategic socioeconomic alternative to traditional livestock farming, focusing on the protection of three "umbrella species": Chalcostigma heteropogon , Dubusia taeniata , and Iridosornis rufivertex . By identifying specific habitat requirements and landscape elements within high-altitude forests and paramos, we will establish high-probability detection routes grounded in ecological data. In partnership with the PROCAMSU association, the project integrates scientific findings with ancestral local knowledge to foster territorial appropriation and economic diversification. Key outputs include the first detailed characterization of habitat requirements for these three focal species, a georeferenced participatory trail map, and technical capacity-building programs for local guides. Furthermore, by engaging strategic stakeholders—including National Natural Parks, the Reserva Campesina Sumapaz, the Auras Aqueduct, and the Jaime Garzón School—the initiative ensures the continuity of avitourism as a permanent tool for biodiversity conservation and the safeguarding of vital ecosystem services in the region.
Science Director, Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC)
Fernando Medrano, Ph.D., is a Chilean ornithologist with a long-standing commitment to birds, conservation, and making high-quality biodiversity knowledge accessible, and bridging local impact and global collaboration. As Science Director at ROC, he helps guide science and conservation priorities across dozens of species and key sites in Chile. In parallel, he supports the development of Birds of the World, from the Cornell Lab, helping keep species accounts current and expanding participation and access in the Global South by coordinating a network of 40+ partner organizations.
Medrano has been a key contributor to Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC), supporting bird monitoring and conservation, managing eBird Chile since 2015, and serving on the editorial committee of La Chiricoca. Within ROC, he led Chile’s first Breeding Bird Atlas—the first in continental South America to use eBird as its primary data source—showcasing how citizen science can drive national-scale ornithology. He also contributed to landmark discoveries in the Atacama Desert, participating in the documentation of the first known breeding colonies of several Storm-Petrels.
Medrano earned a Ph.D. at the Universitat de Barcelona, specializing in seabird movement and foraging ecology, with fieldwork across Spain, Mexico, and Cabo Verde.
Project title: “ Spatial ecology and critical habitat identification for the vulnerable Peruvian Thick-knee ( Hesperoburhinus superciliaris) in the agricultural valleys of northern Chile ”
Abstract: Hesperoburhinus superciliaris (Peruvian Thick-knee) is one of the world’s least-studied shorebirds and is classified as vulnerable, with an estimated 2,700–3,600 mature individuals remaining. Endemic to the coastal deserts of Peru and northern Chile, it faces accelerating habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urbanization across its restricted range. In Chile, the species occupies agricultural valleys and dry riverbeds under intense development pressure. Despite its conservation status, no important bird areas or key biodiversity areas have been identified for the species, and fundamental information on its movements, habitat use, population connectivity, and site-specific threats remains lacking. Building on preliminary GPS tracking conducted in November 2025, this project will expand monitoring by deploying eight additional GPS-GSM tags in the Arica and Parinacota region (five recovered and re-deployed, three newly deployed), alongside marking individuals for long-term identification. The study will quantify space-use patterns, identify critical roosting and foraging sites, assess habitat selection in modified desert landscapes, and conduct a structured risk assessment evaluating predation, human disturbance, infrastructure expansion, agricultural intensification, and projected development pressure. This research will generate the first comprehensive data on the species’ spatial ecology, informing priority conservation areas, improving population estimates, and supporting Chile’s National Shorebird Conservation Plan.
Follow Medrano-Martinez’s research: GOOGLE SCHOLAR
The American Ornithological Society (AOS) is an international society dedicated to connecting ornithologists, science, and bird conservation by supporting science that advances the understanding and conservation of birds; promoting broad access to ornithological science; supporting ornithologists throughout their career paths; and fostering a welcoming, diverse, supportive, and dynamic ornithological community. The AOS publishes two top-ranked international scientific journals, Ornithology and Ornithological Applications , and hosts an annual conference that attracts ornithologists from across the globe. Its robust grants program supports student and early-career professional research initiatives. The society’s check-lists serve as the accepted authorities for scientific nomenclature and English common names of birds in the Americas. The AOS is also a partner with The Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the online Birds of the World , a rich database of species accounts of the world’s birds. The AOS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving about 3,000 members globally. For more information, see www.americanornithology.org .