Habitat

Reddish, dark, and white herons, along with roseate spoonbills and other waterfowl, are skilled fishermen of Uruguay's wetlands, rivers, and lagoons. Oxygen, present in both water and air, sustains life. The importance of keeping these two elements clean and pure becomes evident in the face of the threats posed by human intervention.

The conquistador arrives on the shores of Uruguay and encounters the urubú. Because of its resemblance to a European scavenger bird, he calls it a "raven," a symbol of death. European and pre-Columbian perspectives clash as myths surrounding these protagonists begin to fall away. Far from being horrible creatures, they prove to be essential to a remarkable ecosystem.

Horacio Quiroga's tale intertwines with real life in the lagoons of eastern Uruguay, where flamingos, swans, and coscorobas are not searching for coral snake stockings, but for the perfect place to hold their grand dance. Among owls, dolphins, and sandpipers, coots help them in their search. Will these lagoons be safe enough for them to nest and raise their young?

Birds of prey from Uruguay's grasslands, such as the black-and-chestnut eagle, the long-winged harrier, and the southern crested caracara, reveal their many different facets. Beneath the ground lies the vast Guarani Aquifer-a sea of fresh water-the true treasure that must be protected in this tribute to the Spaghetti Western genre.

Arctic migrants arrive at the coastal lagoons of eastern Uruguay, traveling more than 13,000 kilometers to feed in the natural grasslands surrounding aquatic environments. Here, they coexist with resident species and other migrants, such as the southern right whale, sea turtles, and the vermilion flycatcher, in a brief journey through the history of migration across the continent.

The rhea, the largest bird in the Americas, shares its habitat with pampas deer, a native species that has inhabited these grasslands for millions of years and is now globally endangered. In a poetic tribute to environmental activists who are killed each year across our continent, the final episode of Habitat invites us to reflect on our place as a species within the vastness of time and space.