In the wind-swept wetlands of the high Andes, these high-altitude drifters glide across cold, mineral-rich waters with quiet resilience. They dabble for aquatic plants, algae, and tiny invertebrates, filtering life from lakes that seem almost too harsh to sustain it. What makes them extraordinary is their role in sustaining fragile alpine wetlands — by grazing vegetation and recycling nutrients, they help keep these remote waters balanced and alive. Modest in color, yet enduring caretakers of the sky-high lakes.
Puna Teal Ducks 👇
