Nacho holds a degree in biology from Universidad Nacional de La Plata and is finishing his PhD on the evolution of the seedeaters in the Capuchinos group, a topic that fuses his interests in natural history, evolution, and conservation. He was raised in the northern Patagonia city of Neuquén, Argentina where he enjoyed walking the barren “bardas” chasing lizards with his brothers, without knowing that in these places he would later find and tape-record the Argentine-endemic Patagonian Canastero (Asthenes patagonica) and the White-throated Cacholote (Pseudoseisura gutturalis). A passionate sound recorder since 1999, he has obtained a wealth of recordings of birds from Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela.

Deeply concerned about natural and cultural conservation, Nacho has worked extensively with Proyecto Elé in the Chaco region for the conservation of the Turquoise-fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva), and he is also part of Proyecto Pino Paraná, working to conserve the Atlantic Parana Pine forest in Misiones province. He also gained significant field experience with Venezuelan birds while searching for nests during a study on the effects of latitudinal location upon species trait variation. Nowadays, he is studying the association of some bird species like Temminck’s Seedeater (Sporophila falcirostris) and White-bearded Antshrike (Biatas nigropectus) to bamboos in the Atlantic forest of Misiones, and working on the use of vocalizations to solve systematic riddles of South American birds. One of his most desired goals is to make a recording of the elusive Purple-winged Ground-dove (Claravis godefrida), a critically endangered dove which he was lucky enough to see at least once in nature after days and days of field work amongst bamboo seeds. He is also convinced that the world could be a better place if we all spoke using scientific names of birds and local names, instead of the abominable constructions called “common names” — hence, he will be happy to argue on the pros and cons of each naming system. A very proud member of the revolutionary ornithological anti-system Grupo FALCO, Nacho maintains a loyalty to their principles, among which birding is a priority together with the conviction that serious science is compatible with huge doses of humor and informality.

While he spends most of his time researching (and certainly not taking frequent showers), Nacho has also been working as a guide for three years throughout South America, especially from Argentina’s northern Puna plateau to the southern sub-Antarctic forests of Tierra del Fuego.

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