Watch this live interview with Patagonian ornithologist, Santiago Imberti, to learn about Antarctica’s diverse species of birds including the spectacular wandering albatross, his conservation work, and why protecting Antarctica and the Southern Ocean is so important. This interview is hosted by SOI alum and fellow birder Brendan Kelly.
About Santiago Imberti
An ornithologist, photographer, fisherman, climber, and writer, Santiago Imberti has been an integral part of SOI’s Antarctic expeditions since the very first expedition in 2000. Born in southern Patagonia, Argentina Santiago’s passions are conservation and research. He obtained a degree in ornithology and later in tourism, which over the years allowed him to combine his love for nature and the outdoors with his work as a birdwatcher, naturalist, fly-fishing, and mountain guide. He has been guiding trips in Patagonia, the Antarctic, Arctic and around the world for 30 years now.
He is the current President of Asociación Ambiente Sur; an NGO that seeks to protect the environment and educate the new generations on a sustainable way of life in southern Patagonia. From 1999 to 2014 he coordinated the project to save the now critically endangered Hooded Grebe, an endemic bird in Patagonia and also the creation of Patagonia National Park, a massive protected area that aims to save the grebe and some of the least known habitats in South America.
His many articles and stories have been published in scientific journals and popular travel magazines and a few books. Since his singing abilities are rather poor, he has produced a couple cds of the beautiful bird sounds of South America, Patagonia and Antarctica.
He lives in Punta Arenas, southern Patagonia, Chile, with his wife Melissa and son León.
About Brendan Kelly
Originally from Newfoundland & Labrador, Brendan recently moved to Ottawa in 2019 and is thrilled to be part of the SOI Team!
Brendan is an Alum of the 2012 SOI Arctic Expedition where he fell in-love with the Arctic. Since then, he has returned to the North multiple times to research Arctic-breeding shorebirds with the Canadian Wildlife Service.
After graduating from the Wildlife Conservation Program at the University of Prince Edward Island, Brendan worked for two seasons with the Island Nature Trust to help conserve and protect avian species at risk in PEI.
When not working, you can find Brendan watching or photographing wildlife, building nest boxes for birds, or educating the public about conservation issues and the environment.
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