Status of the Hudsonian Godwit in Llanquihue and Chiloé provinces, southern Chile, during 1979–2005

We present data on the status of the Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica in different localities of the 10th Region, southern Chile, based on censuses carried out in July and February 1980–2005. We also make comparisons with counts for Bahía Lomas, Tierra del Fuego, for January–February 2002–2005. For one site, Pelluco, near Puerto Montt, we report monthly counts carried out during 1979–2005. Together, these sites support two-thirds to three-quarters of the world population of the species in the non-breeding season. We speculate that most of the birds that over-summer in the Chiloé Island area are from the Alaskan breeding population and that, at least on southward migration, they may fly most of the distance without stopping. We discuss threats to the wintering sites in the Chiloé Island area from urban development, the fishing and shellfishing industries and pollution.